Audi R8

21 November 2007 by Silky

From Our Sponsors

It all started with a potty-mouthed dog and, as hard as it is to believe, TVs Worst Adverts has made it up to 100 entries.

So as a treat for you all I thought I’d give you a break from reading the rubbish I write and hand the keys to TWA to one of our regular readers, Mike.

Cheers, Mike!

Audi R8

There’s something not quite right about the Audi R8 advert and E-mails to Audi UK may show why.

First off the mobile phone giant T-Mobile had a complaint:

Date:          18/10/07
To:              Audi UK
From:         T- Mobile UK

Dear Sirs

It is with consternation that I saw your latest advertisement for the Audi R8 last night.

Whilst the quality of the advertisement was excellent I feel obliged to point out that you are in breach of the Advertising Agency Standards Code (2005); specifically sub-section 4 which clearly states "The use of recorded material by folk singers and/or singer/songwriters is exclusively reserved for mobile phone companies."

We ourselves would not have used The Beep, Beep Song by Simone White as it is bloody annoying but still consider the genre to be for our exclusive use.

Yours etc.

The next email was from respected motor journalist and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson:

Date:          21/10/07
To:              Audi UK
From:         Jeremy Clarkson

Sir

When oh when will you car companies have the balls to say what you really mean? Stop faffing around with ironic punch lines such as "The slowest car we’ve ever built." Nobody cares that the car is more hand-intensively made than others. They care about one thing and one thing only. Here’s my slogan for you and please feel free to use it: The Audi R8…Shit off a shovel!

Yours

Jeremy

And finally Porsche had a point to make:

Date:          24/10/07
To:              Audi UK
From:         Porsche UK

Dear Sir

We hear that you are trying to compete with us in the supercar category. You will have noticed of course that Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini don’t advertise on television as mass advertising for a £77,000+ product doesn’t seem to work.

In the wise words of Nelson Muntz: "Ha, Ha!"

15Responses:

clangnuts

November 22nd, 2007 3:47 pm

This advert isn’t about selling A8’s to the great unwashed - it’s all about raising the profile of AUDI. Most people seeing this advert will be buying an Audi A3, and dreaming of the day when their ship comes in and they can afford a Â£70,000 car.
Mike Empuria

November 26th, 2007 8:56 pm

I have to do this. Gosh!

http://www.rs6.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13760
Maurice

January 8th, 2008 4:43 pm

i belive Simon Cowel is geting one audi of course should have banned him from buying one
Chubbzz

January 9th, 2008 9:36 am

Well porsche have seemed to show them who is boss..
Chubbzz

January 9th, 2008 9:42 am

Also how can a company make a super car whane they have made cars like:

http://www.madle.org/ms06audi.jpg

http://www.motorimania.it/manifestazioni/sportive/images_audi/c_audi_quattro_spyder_111.jpg
Car Blog

February 3rd, 2008 4:25 pm

The advert isn’t one of the best from Audi, but a least it is a break from the norm. I think Audi should take Jereny’s advice and say what they actually mean!!
mooch

February 11th, 2008 12:09 am

As adverts go, I love it and really quite like the soundtrack but, and it is a point you have already made. I was sat around yesterday (it has taken me that long) and did realise that yes, Porsche have not once produced a televised advert. Yet, you think sports car, they’re right there with Ferrari and a Lambo!? Now that is a powerful brand. Even Coke has to advertise on the old box…
Joanna Butler

February 11th, 2008 6:23 pm

i hate the song, the way she says ‘beep’ makes me wanna rip my ears off and throw them down the shitter.

thank you please
little jonny

March 5th, 2008 5:42 pm

the advert works!! advertising is all about getting noticed, whether it be good or not so good, you’ve all seen the advert and seend its an audi and you wont forget it, so it works!
graham

March 13th, 2008 12:45 pm

well what can i say as been a motor mechanic for over 25 years and by the way that was the tme the porshe company change there shape so thats why they do not advertise every one knows that ferrari is a super car and most people who who talk about porshe relate to 911turbo.
as for audi they are pushing there brand name further than any production car has done before giving the the general public a chance own a family car that comes from the same stable as the superb fantasic looking engerneered excelence R8.
eric shaun

March 14th, 2008 3:44 pm

go fuck yourself its an amsing car:)
Rene Dwight

April 21st, 2008 9:50 am

At over Â£70,000 this id is not selling the R8 it is simply selling the brand, has a nice song [ depending on your taste of course ] that gets it noticed and when the next Â£20,000 audi comes maybe then will it have an affect. Maybe… Job done.?
Dan Gresly

June 9th, 2008 9:05 pm

Its all about Semiotics. Not sure what I mean then go to http://fatbadger88.blogspot.com/2008/04/essay-on-semiotics.html as I have used it as a case study. Its certainly not one of the worst adverts, in fact I would class it within the top 100. If you see the sort of effort that goes into making a single car then even if the others are made by robots with smaller engines, cheaper parts and badly designed then you still think to yourself I remember seeing an Audi and it was something put together with care.
Walter Sobchak

June 10th, 2008 7:51 am

Good essay, Dan.

You must be getting nervous as it’s not long until the GCSE results come out now. What are you hoping to get?
Dan Gresly

June 10th, 2008 12:53 pm

I’m doing an Honours Degree but got a B+ for that essay.