Audi and N.Y's Mayor Bloomberg Unveil New R8

AUDI & NEW YORK CITY MAYOR UNVEIL R8 AT NEW AUDI FORUM GRAND OPENING

by Marty Bernstein
Marketing & Advertising Editor
The Auto Channel

NEW YORK (Moments ago) – a procession of Audi vehicles paraded down Park Avenue under police escort, led by the new Audi R8 sportscar, flanked by two Audi classic racecars to celebrate the opening of the new Audi Forum at 47th and Park Avenue. The Audi Forum is the first U.S. brand experience center for the brand.

In honor of these two events, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will deliver the R8 to the Forum on its inaugural drive on U.S. soil. Located at 250 Park Avenue, The New York City Audi Forum is the ninth Audi Forum worldwide. Other markets include Ingolstadt, Berlin, Munich, Neckarsulm, London, Madrid, Beijing and Stockholm.

Each Forum is a uniquely realized brand extension, with individual design and architec-ture, world-class lighting and sound capabilities and the ability to host Audi enthusiasts, media and consumer events.

“We’re honored to have Mayor Bloomberg share in the celebration of these two monu-mental, brand building events for Audi of America,” said Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president, Audi of America. “Visitors to the Forum will have the opportunity to experience the de-sign principles and cutting edge technologies that guide all Audi products.”

The Forum covers 6,400 square feet, and is the largest of nine Audi Forums in the world. It features cutting-edge showroom display technology, including a customizable lighting system from international award- winning German design firm ERCO. The new venue also features a multi-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and three 63 inch Samsung plasma screens; it is . capable of displaying up to five cars at any time.

The centerpiece of the New York City Audi Forum is an eight-foot-by-six-foot moving LED wall capable of displaying high-definition video content from HD-DVD players. Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the motor control in the LED is similar to those used by major Las Ve-gas hotels and Disney parks. With historical visual references and a sleek, modern design aes-thetic, the New York City Audi Form represents the past, present and future of the Audi brand. .