« JK Rowling Gives Commencement Speech at Harvard | Main | Feist Counting to 4 on Sesame Street »
June 20, 2008
Audi marketing, what are you thinking?
I am the proud owner of an Audi A4 2.8 Quattro, 1999 model. I love my car. I love it so much, give me a few minutes and I'll likely convince you to buy an A4 as your next car. When I buy another car, it will likely be another Audi A4. That's why when I read this piece, 2009 Audi A4 makes local debut in the Sacramento Bee, I had to wonder who the heck at Audi is making these types of marketing decisions?
Apparently, Audi had its "North American debut" of its new 2009 A4 in El Dorado Hills last week. Yadayada. Catered by Bistro 33, I like that place, I'm sure the food was great. But what about this part, "Prime Time Boxing provided entertainment, with eight semiprofessional boxing matches announced by professional boxing announcer Michael Buffer"? What? What the heck does boxing have to do with a new car? Especially an A4, which given its compact size is just as much of a girl car as a boy car. They're trying to appeal to women buyers with boxing matches?
No, wait, here's the appeal for women, in the next sentence, "Area clothing boutiques such as Blush Boutique, Luxe, Taylor James and Studio T held fashion shows between bouts." A friggin fashion show? Give me a break guys. (I'm saying guys because I can't imagine a woman coming up with such a lame idea.)
Oh boy, it gets better, "After the last boxing match, the A4 -- or "undisputed champion," as Buffer introduced it -- was unveiled after the last match by Sacramento Kings cheerleaders, who uncovered two A4s that flanked the boxing ring." Looks like someone took a page out of the American Idol finale boxing gimmick. You know, the one that BOMBED. Regarding cheerleaders, I like cheerleaders, like watching them, AT GAMES.
Hey Audi. I love my A4. I really do. But boxing, fashion shows, and cheerleaders to introduce a car? Maybe I should be pointing the finger at Niello Audi, my local dealer who put on the event. Perhaps it wasn't really the "North American debut" as the paper said, but just a local PR event. Maybe it was a big hit, maybe the good people of El Dorado Hills actually give a damn about boxing, fashion shows, and cheerleaders, and I'm just totally out of touch. That's the likely scenario come to think about it. Sigh.
</rant>
Technorati tags: audi
Posted by elise on June 20, 2008 to Social Commentary
| Comments (2)
Comments
I think boxing is the event promotional fad of the summer, as this is the 3rd event I have heard of / read about using boxing as event entertainment.
One of the one's I saw was women boxing...
Bizarre but true. Boxing is an anti-attraction for me.
Posted by: Ms. Jen 
at June 29, 2008 3:41 PM
That car looks fabulous!
PS
Hooray for running into a local Sacramentian :)
Posted by: Lily at July 14, 2008 4:04 PM
