Nielsen: Chevy's Miss Evelyn the Most Watched Ad Ever, but VW's Little Darth Varder was the Super Bowl Favorite

The numbers are in for last week's Super Bowl event and they show that the winner is General Motors with its Chevrolet’s spot, “Miss Evelyn’s Wild Ride”. According to Nielsen, an estimated 119,628,000 viewers watched two guys describing a woman’s wild ride in a silver Chevrolet Camaro making it the most-watched commercial ever. The previous record holder was a Doritos ad from 2010 with 116,231,920 viewers. GM's winning streak continued with the Chevy Cruze ad that came in second with 119.3 million views.

However, despite the record viewing number, Chevy's lovely ladies couldn't beat Volkswagen's little Darth Vader in the Passat ad for the most favorite commercial of the game with a Nieslen likability index of 186 (the average score for the Super Bowl ads is 100, meaning VW's Passat ad was almost twice as liked as the average commercial).

The German firm's second TV spot starring the Beetle was the 6th most favorite ad [146 score], while Chrysler's 200 with Eminem, 8th [138 score] and Audi's A8 10th [127 score]. You can watch the ads after the jump.

Source: Nielsen

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The Audi A8 Says, "Long Live the T-Shifter!"

When Hyundai launched the i30 small car on the Australian market, it marked the end of not only the Excel/Accent lineage down under but also the end of the automatic T-shifter. The Accent, a subcompact design available in either a four door sedan or five door hatchback body style, was the last car sold here to feature the venerable (if archaic) T-shaped automatic gear stick.

The T-shifter was born in the 1960s, as American automakers moved away from the steering column mounted automatic and towards a system that reduced complexity and design differentiation between its automatic and manual models. As the ‘80s moved into the ‘90s, automakers - for whatever reason - moved away from the T-shift and toward the semi-ubiquitous, upright “drumstick” shifter.

It seems that the T-shifter is back, at least for one car. The new Audi A8’s ergonomically friendly, chunky automatic gear shift has that distinct T-shaped that many of knew and loved from the pre-‘90s. Some bloggers believe that the automotive behemoth’s unique choice of shifter will influence other carmakers to return to the classic T. Personally, I’m not convinced. Feel free to leave your comments below if you disagree, or have some fond T-shifter memories to share.

By Tristan Hankins

Via: WSJ

Hit the Slopes in Style with Audi Carbon Ski

If you're looking to add some style to your winter-time outdoor activities, you may want to take a look at these cool skis from Audi. Initially designed and developed as a concept study at the Audi Concept Design Munich, the Carbon Ski is now heading for production with the Ingolstadt-based automaker estimating that it could be available for sale as early as this year.

As its name implies, the Audi Carbon Ski is made out of carbon fiber for reduced weight as well as optimal stiffness. More precisely, a cab of high-strength carbon fiber encloses layers of aluminum and titanium, as well as a wood core. The result is 170cm-long ski that tips the scales at 1,550 grams. According to Audi, the ski weighs 200 grams less than comparable models.

“As a long-time partner and sponsor of the German Ski Association, a ski produced by Audi is a logical consequence of this partnership. This is how the Audi Carbon Ski concept came about. And the ski’s brilliant handling characteristics have been confirmed by professionals from the sport,” said Wolfgang Egger, Head of Design for the Audi Group. “The serial-production ski was able to borrow from the concept study, and it features outstanding technical properties. At the same time, its minimalist design underscores the technical nature of the carbon.”

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VW Group to Display Up to Seven Concepts at the Geneva Show

It seems that the VW Group will do just about anything to become the world’s biggest automaker by 2018. After announcing a €51.6 billion (US $70.3 billion) investment plan last November, the Germans also want to showcase their future intentions at the Geneva Motor Show in March, by displaying up to seven concepts.

Walter de Silva, head of the group’s design department, told ANE that the concept lineup will include Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen models, plus “one – if not two” Audis.

Furthermore, the Italdesign Giugiaro design studio, acquired by the automaker last spring, will also present two Volkswagen concept cars.

Seeing this kind of commitment, one has to wonder what exactly has Volkswagen is store for us. With the Golf Mk7 said debut in late 2012 or early 2013, we're inclined to say that it’s too early for a design study and the same goes for the next generation Audi A3, due for a release in the summer of 2012. While the manufacturer did say that it wants to expand its North American SUV lineup, information on the subject is scarce, so we wouldn’t bet on an SUV concept either.

In any case, if you have an opinion on the matter, now is the time to share it with us in the comments section below.

*Note: Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept featured in the gallery

By Csaba Daradics

Source: ANE [Subscription required]

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Record Audience to Make Super Bowl Advertisers’ Financial Efforts Worth While

Paying $3 million or more for a Super Bowl ad could be a stretch for automakers, even though the economic climate is slowly improving. However, according to New York advertising executives Peter Gardiner of Deutsch Inc. and Andy Donchin of Carat North America, a record audience is expected for this year’s game, which means that, overall, manufacturers might end up with a bargain.

With recent Super Bowls constantly surpassing forecasts for viewers, advertisers didn’t want to risk last minute premiums and bought their ads from New Corp.’s Fox in October.

“This is something we view as a very smart investment,” Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer of Audi of America, said in an interview. “This is our fourth Super Bowl, and every year has over-delivered.”

Advertisement prices peaked two years ago, when the average cost for a spot was $3 million and was marginally reduced in 2010 to about $2.97 million. For 2011, Fox may have charged more than $3 million for an ad, according to Needham & Co analyst, Laura Martin, who also estimates that the Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers game could generate up to $300 million in advertising sales, well over the $213 million recorded in 2009.

“Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, will be the single highest-revenue generating day in the history of Fox,” Lou D’Ermilio, a spokesman for Fox Sports, said in an e-mail, while declining to comment on the actual rates.

The soaring audience numbers have attracted a record number of six carmakers, ordering airtime for nine brands during the game. Mercedes will be promoting its cars for the first time at the Super Bowl XLV, while BMW is back after a 15-year hiatus. Kia and GM are also on the list and, as a general rule, viewers can expect a plethora of creative, humorous ads, meant to deliver a so-called “cinematic moment”.

“You need to entertain and have some humor,” Keogh said. “You also need to tell a story. It’s a cinematic moment.”

So far, we have covered the efforts of Audi, Chevrolet, Kia and Volkswagen, but you can rest assured that there are plenty more clips to come in the next couple of days.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Bloomberg

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Audi Super Bowl Ad: Kenny G, Riot Suppressor【Video】

Audi today announced that Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G will make an appearance in the company's 60-second spot during Super Bowl XLV.

The ad shows an adventurous prison riot scene that culminates with a comical appearance by Kenny G as the luxury prison Riot Suppressor.

The german automaker launched a couple of online long-form teaser videos – neither of which actually features an automobile – for the commercial that you can find after the break, along with details on how you could win prizes from Audi, including the chance to drive an R8 at a racetrack.




Press Release

Audi Taps Musician Kenny G for Super Bowl Spot

• Multiplatinum selling saxophonist Kenny G to make satirical appearance in Audi's 60-second spot during Super Bowl XLV

• Comical online teaser video featuring Kenny G launches today at YouTube.com/AudiofAmerica

Audi today announced that Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G will make a humorous appearance in the brand's 60-second spot during Super Bowl XLV. The ad, set to air in the first break after kick-off on February 6, 2011, will feature an adventurous prison escape scene that culminates with a comical cameo by Kenny G as the luxury prison Riot Suppressor.

Launching today, an online teaser video featuring Kenny G as the Riot Suppressor can be viewed at YouTube.com/AudiofAmerica.

Audi's upcoming Super Bowl spot called "Release the Hounds" follows two pretentious inmates as they attempt to break out of a luxury prison. Challenging viewers to re-think luxury, the ad will feature a number of elements that recall the heyday of old lux. The multiplatinum sax man Kenny G was chosen for his unmistakable music, whose songs and stylings brings the audience back to a certain era.

Audi's 2011 Super Bowl spot also will feature the award-winning 2011 A8 sedan, Audi's most technologically-advanced vehicle and the apex of Audi's new luxury lineup.

The past three years Audi has delivered highly-rated spots, including last year's "Green Car" ad featuring the Audi A3 TDI, Green Car Journal's 2010 "Green Car of the Year," and a soundtrack created by rock legends Cheap Trick. The 2009 spot featured actor Jason Statham in a series of high-speed chase scenes involving luxury competitors, sending the dual message that luxury is evolving. The 2008 Audi spot delivered a parody of the movie "The Godfather" and signaled that the brand was ready to challenge the perceived luxury leaders by "putting luxury on notice."

VIDEO: Audi Says Goodbye to 'Old Luxury' with Super Bowl Ads

As you may have guessed, this year's edition of the Super Bowl football extravaganza will be jam-packed with automotive advertisements. Following the 2012 VW Passat and Beetle TV spots we showed you earlier today, we now bring you two teaser commercials from Audi, both centered around the 'Goodbye to Old Luxury' campaign for the new A8 limo. Click past the jump to watch for yourself.

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Audi Begins Producing A4 and A6 Models in Indonesia

Like many other automakers, Audi is constantly expanding its production network to include new countries. This time, the German premium carmaker has launched a new assembly plant in Indonesia in cooperation with INDOMOBIL /Garuda Mataram Motor, to produce the Audi A4 1.8 TFSI and A6 2.0 TFSI cars in the capital city Jakarta.

The first A4 and A6 models were delivered to Indonesian customers earlier this month, with the German company planning to assemble around 2,700 cars per year by 2015, including 2,000 A4 models, exclusively for the Indonesian market.

Audi said the Indonesian car market is forecast to grow by 15 percent this year, with sales in the premium segment expected to double over the next five years.

“After having done so in key markets like China and India, we’ve now found an outstanding partner for local assembly of our Audi models in Indonesia: INDOMOBIL/Garuda Mataram Motor,” said Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG.

"As one of the most important countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia is one of Asia’s most dynamic growth regions. We’d like to contribute to this growth, since growth is an important component of Audi’s brand strategy,” Dreves said.

Foreign Automakers Review Relationships with Tunisian Partners, which...”happen” to be Relatives of the Ousted President

The looting of the Ferrari 599 GTB owned by former Tunisian president Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali and the smashing of cars owned by his relatives including a Ferrari California may have been eye-catching in an offbeat sort of way, but there are more important automotive-related stories coming out from Tunisia.

It has been reported by several news agencies that Tunisians are also destroying random vehicles made by Kia, Fiat, Porsche and other makers. The reason? Because the companies that distribute them are controlled by members of the ruling family. Now, in light of all the latest developments, many international automakers are reviewing their business ties to the extended family of Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali, according to the Financial Times.

The daily newspaper said that up until now, the country's car market, which totaled just under 60,000 units in 2010, was heavily regulated by its trade ministry that favored importers controlled one way or another by relatives of the former president or his wife, Leila Trabelsi.

Companies controlled or owned by the family members of the ousted presidential couple include:

-Ford, which sells cars in Tunisia through a company partially owned by Belhassen Trabelsi, the former president’s brother-in-law;

-Ennakl, a dealer for Porsche, Volkswagen, Audi, and Seat controlled by Mohamed Sakher al-Materi, the president’s son-in-law;

-Kia, which distributes its models through City Cars, part of the El Materi Princess Holding, another company controlled by the former president’s son-in-law, Mohamed Sakher al-Materi;

-Le Moteur, which acts as an importer for several companies including Mercedes-Benz and Fiat, and is owned by Marouane Mabrouk, the deposed president’s son-in-law;

-Peugeot, which is represented by Stafim, a company in which Mehdi Belgaid – said to be engaged to Halima Ben Ali, the former president’s daughter – owns a stake;

Some carmakers such as Audi have stopped exporting their cars to the country because they are not sure if they would clear customs as well for their safety once they arrive on the dealer lots. The financial daily quoted Audi as saying; “We will have to look at whether we can continue doing business with this partner and whether they are the right partner for us. ”

Ford said it also looking into the matter and reassessing ties with its Tunisian importer, while Mercedes-Benz said it found no wrongdoing on behalf of Le Moteur but will monitor the situation. A Peugeot spokesman said the automaker will wait to see what the new government will do with companies associated with the president's family.

Other carmakers, including Kia and Porsche, said that for the time being, they will continue to do business as usual with their partners. Porsche in particular said it has no plans to change its arrangement with Ennaki “as long as the company is operational and paying for cars”.

The newspaper said that Fiat "would not comment on its business in Tunisia, or its local partner."

Source: Financial Times

VIDEO: Audi A3 Turns Into Icicle after NY Water Main Breaks

An Audi A3 Sportback owner in New York City's East Village received a chilly surprise on Monday after finding his car literally encased in ice. The freakish incident occurred after a pipe broke under the street sometime during the weekend causing a sinkhole that formed a small pond around the Audi. The passing cars splashing water all over the A3 and subfreezing temperatures did the rest. As you can see in the video after the jump, the ice was so thick that the owner's attempts to free the car from its frozen cage with a chisel and a hammer proved futile.

Source: KLG News

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Artis Audi A6 with Diamond-Shape 3D Paint Job

This here shiny black Audi A6 is the work of Japanese paint specialist Artis. The German executive sedan features a special finish with diamond shape grooves that was achieved by applying a patterned film all over the car and then painting on top of it. The Japanese firm also added a custom bodykit along with 20-inch alloy wheels shod in 225/30 rubber, and upgraded the suspension and 3.2-liter V6 engine. See the rest of the pictures in our image gallery below.

Photos: Phil Alex / Carscoop

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New Audi A1 1.4 TFSI S-Line with 185HP Makes its way to Britain

The most powerful version of the new Audi A1 to date, the 185-horse 1.4 TFSI S-Line is now available to order in the UK with prices starting from £20,705 on-the-road (US$32,900). The 1.4-liter supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine comes with a standard S tronic seven-speed twin-clutch transmission that transfers power to the front wheels.

Audi says the car can accelerate from rest to 62 mph (100km/h) in 6.9 seconds, and continue on to a 141mph (227 km/h) top speed, while returning a combined fuel efficiency of 47.9 mpg UK (39.9 mpg US or 5.9 lt/100km).

The A1 1.4 TFSI 185HP is equipped with Audi's S-Line packages which include a sports suspension, a bodykit with different bumpers, side skirts and a rear diffuser, plus 17-inch alloy wheels and part leather-upholstered sports seats.

Other standard features include remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation, Driver’s Information System and a six-speaker single CD audio system with auxiliary iPod connection.

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