Super Bowl 43 Ad Watch: Audi A6: The Getaway

Audi was in prime form at this years Super Bowl with the highly anticipated Getaway commercial. The ad features everything you could want from a car ad. Chases, cool cars, baddies, and of course premier wheelman Jason Statham.

We start off in the mid 70s trying to get away in a plenty powerful Mercedes 6.3, only to end up blasted by a dumpester and a Lincoln Towncar. Jump to Miami Vice style 1980s with a bright red BMW 5 series and a black Bandit Trans Am, and a Mouse is loose billboard. Thankfully Audi left the 90s well enough alone with a Lexus ES parked outside a theater playing Tommy Boy. You have to love Staham's disgusted face when he sees the Lexus. Next we jump to 2009 in all Statham's Driver glory in his trademark black suit. Swipe the keys from the valet played by Joaquin Garay III(Paco from Herbie Goes Bananas for you car guys). And off we go with baddies on motorcycles. Finally able to get away thanks to the new supercharged Audi A6. Hollywood at its best.



As an added bonus, we're throwing in the Audi R8 Godfather commercial from the 2008 Superbowl.

Detroit 2008: Audi R8 V12 TDI

The Audi R8 has been receiving lots of press and just as many awards recently. And it gets our vote for sexiest car ever built. It's hard to believe that Audi could find a way to top their super car. But they did find a way. Behold the R8 V12 TDI. Yes TDI as in Diesel. Audi took a page from their American LeMans success to combine sports cars with diesel power.

Audi took the 6.0 liter V12 used in last years Q7 concept car from last year and stuffed it into the R8 super car. This R8 has 500 horses on tap while the V8 version stops at 420. Though where the R8 V12 TDI shines is torque. All 738 lb ft of them. This enables the R8 V12 to roar to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds. With a top speed of 186 mph. Being a super car, you'd figure it would get horrible gas mileage. Wrong. 23mpg, that's really impressive for any car in this class. Top that with Audi's Quattro full time all wheel drive and it makes one superb handling car.

The front bumper has been redesigned and looks awesome. And how about the glass roof with built in air scoop to feed air to the motor.

Now this is a concept car, though it certainly looks good enough and feasible enough to be a production car. Hopefully Audi won't wait too long to decide to produce this bad boy.

Source: Audi.

Audi to bring stunning concept to Detroit next month

What exactly is a "Stunning" concept car? We're not sure. But since it's coming from Audi. It's bound to be extremely cool and.....probably stunning.

The rumors are flying that it could possibly be the V-10 powered RS8 or even a roadster version of the R8. And while they might say it's a concept. We know it will more than likely be a production car for a couple years away.

As for a world first. Could it be the TT-S? Maybe a face lifted A3? How about the A/S 5 convertible? We're not sure again. But what ever Audi has in store for us in Detroit. We will bring it to you here.

Source: Audi.

PRESS RELEASE:

2008 Detroit Auto Show

Audi press conference to feature world premier

Visitors will be treated to both a world first and a stunning concept car at the Audi press conference for the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, will present the latest innovations at the Audi Press Conference, Sunday, January 13, 2008, at 02:20 p.m., on the Audi stand in the COBO Center in Detroit, Wayne Hall.

Super Bowl ads. Ford, Chrysler, & VW oddly missing

We got word that there will be four automakers with ads during the Super Bowl this year. General Motors will have a Chevrolet 60 second spot during the second quarter and Cadillac will be sponsor for the pre and post game shows.

Hyundai and Toyota will both have two spots each. Also announced is a spot from Audi. This marks their first time advertising during a Super Bowl in 20 years. Theirs will be a two minute long spot featuring the Audi R8.

Toyota's ad will more than likely pump up the new Sequoia and Tundra pickup. Though I highly doubt that it will do anything to help the Tundra's image right now.

Cars.com will also have a 30 second spot this year.

Strangely though is the lack of an announcement that Ford or Chrysler will be having spots. There is still time for them to jump on the band wagon, so we'll see where it goes.

I watch the Super Bowl just for the car ads. General Motors has always topped our list of favorites. So as a bonus, we're including our favorite GM spot from the Super Bowl in 06.


Source: Automotive News, Audi.

Essen 2007: ABT Sportsline lineup

German tuner ABT Sportsline has always had an interesting group of packages for German cars. For this years Essen Motor Show they pulled out not one, but five new products for Audi and Volkswagen. Each vehicle received upgrades in each department. New body kits, interior upgrades and of course performance upgrades. Below is a summary of what they had.

ABT AS4

Based on the new Audi A4
Abt body kit, suspension, brakes, wheels, muffler 1.8 TFSI w/ Abt Power: 200 hp / 228 lb-ft
1.8 TFSI w/ Abt Power S: 240 hp
2.0 TDI w/ Abt Power: 170 hp
2.0 TDI w/ Abt Power S: 200 hp
2.7 TDI w/ Abt Power: 230 hp
3.0 TDI w/ Abt Power: 270 hp / 405 lb-ft
3.0 TDI w/ Abt Power S: 300 hp / 442 lb-ft

ABT AS5

Based on the Audi A5
Abt body kit, suspension, brakes, wheels, muffler
Abt interior accessories
3.0 TDI w/ Abt Power S: 300 hp / 442 lb ft
0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds

ABT R8

Weight reduction
Abt body kit, carbon fiber side blades and skirts
Abt suspension, brakes, wheels, exhaust
Optional 2-tone finish

ABT Touareg 2

Based on the VW Touareg 2
Abt body kit, level control for air suspension, brakes, wheels, exhaust
2.5 TDI w/ Abt Power: 195 hp
3.0 TDI w/ Abt Power S: 300 hp / 442 lb-ft
V10 TDI in Abt VS10: 360 hp
4.2 TDI w/ Abt Power R replacement turbo: 500 hp

ABT Tiguan

Abt body kit, suspension, brakes, wheels, muffler
1.4 TSI w/ Abt Power: 200 hp
2.0 TDI w/ Abt Power: 170 hp
2.0 TDI w/ Abt Power S: 200 hp

Source: ABT Sportsline

In the dream garage: APR Audi R8

I fell in love with the R8 when I worked at Audi. A super car with crisp lines, awesome performance, and lastly was German. This R8 tuned by performance gurus APR was spotted at the SEMA show in the Michelin display. No info was given as to the cars specs and the Internet turns up very little, but this looks like one sweet ride that takes the R8's performance to the next level. Obvious upgrades would have to include computer reprogramming, and exhaust work. Then you find the upgraded 2 piece wheels, Brembo cross drilled rotors and calipers.

Even in stock form the R8 is worthy of being in my dream garage. After watching the latest Top Gear episode with the Stig and Jeremy Clarkson's hoonage of the R8 with Richard Hammond's 911 Carrera S, it makes me want one even more. But the APR edition would take it to a new level.