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Lookers plc’s Charles Hurst business has revealed plans for a new €20M  showroom in Dublin.  The site will be Audi’s largest retail and aftersales service centre in Ireland. Charles Hurst’s current operations at two sites (Ballsbridge and Goatstown) will be relocate to flagship showroom in November 2017. The new facility will create a further 20 jobs.

The purpose built multi-storey terminal, designed by Dublin-based EMD Architects, will be located on Bracken Road, Sandyford. The site is strategically located at Sandyford Interchange of Dublin’s ring road. Construction is set to commence this month with a November 2017 launch date expected.

Donal Duggan, Head of Business at Audi Centre, said:  “This is a significant investment in the Audi brand, in our customers and in our team – and the creation of this stunning, modern showroom confirms the strength of our position in Dublin and across Ireland as a leading supplier of the prestigious Audi marque.”

“The investment, and the creation of a newly-expanded, dynamic and experienced team, marks another important milestone in the development of our business.”

The site is to be based around Audi’s newest design concept, and will offer 10,000 square metres of floor space showcasing the latest in Audi innovations through technology. The ground floor showroom consists of a customer reception area, service reception, new car display and new car handover bays. Customers will arrive at the first floor by escalators where the main new car display showroom awaits. In total there will be 20 new cars on display.

The building will also provide an 18-bay service workshop with a publicly-accessible reception and a parts department, linking into the showroom and car wash and valeting facilities where a water treatment plant has been installed.

Steve Dean, Franchise Director of Lookers Audi, commented:  “Audi Centre already offers customers an exceptional choice and a quality customer experience and soon we look forward to further impressing all of our customers – old and new – with our new premises next year.”

The new Audi Centre showroom will also be Ireland’s greenest – the building envelope has been designed to include several low energy solutions and a wide range of enhanced service systems aimed at reducing energy consumption. The environmentally friendly showroom boasts fast-charging vehicle facilities for both dual fuel and electric models.

Henning Dohrn Managing Director of Audi Ireland added: “Audi is the leading premium car brand in Ireland. Key to this success is our strong and dedicated dealer network. We are delighted to be able to offer customers a market leading showroom from November 2017, which will be the largest Audi dealership in Ireland. Audi Centre will also be the first ‘terminal’ in Ireland to be built with a private Audi digital lounge, a customer experience which takes the next step in the digitalisation of our retail business. The digital lounge is just one of many steps we are taking to maintain our leading position within the premium market in Ireland.”

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