P.S.: Mulțumiri National Geographic

So you´ve finally managed to get the money together to buy yourself that nice new Audi TT. But since the R8 showed up the TT isn't a real conversation piece anymore. So what to do? It's simple. Get yourself a 3rd party bodykit that makes your TT look just like real audi R8..... with down's syndrome.

>> Audi R8 Bodykit for TT by Niche Tuning

>> Audi R8 Bodykit for TT by B&B Tuning

>> For comparison: The B&B TT R8 Versus a real R8

C. Williams creates retrofit sneakers, building a brand of his own.

“At some point in our lives, we just want to make sense of ourselves. Whether it’s the clothes we wear, the car we drive, or the music we listen to, each and every one of us strives to differentiate ourselves from one another, yet function within a confined society with similar ethics, ideologies and direction.” – C. Williams

We walk in them everyday. They come in different colors, shades and sizes.  They take us where we want to go, whether near or far. Shoes have been around for thousands of years, and have evolved into many types and styles; in various textiles and materials.  While most shoe designers almost always use leather for the majority of their shoe concepts, you won't find Shoe Retrofitter, C. Williams, sticking to the industry standards. 

One of the ways that C. Williams has been able to set himself apart from the pack has been through his use of a broader spectrum of textiles and materials that aren't limited by today's trends and assumptions, including bamboo, cork, suede and even Lego to name a few.  His innovative approach to retrofitting men's and women's shoes has led to some show-stopping creations that have been worn and adored by respected names in the fashion and entertainment industry, including Snoop Dogg, Producer Nottz and Pro Snowboarder Simon Chamberlain.

Some fabrics are rarer than people know.

There is a common belief amongst consumers that the textiles and materials used today must have been designed and produced recently. In actuality, manufacturers have a 12-year plan of what textiles and other materials they'll produce. As they produce these textiles and materials, they slowly introduce them to suppliers who in-turn will distribute them to apparel and shoe manufacturers. From there, designers for these manufacturers will begin designing our wares. As you might expect, working from a common pool of resources can make it much more difficult to produce something that will stand out. As a work-around, some fashion designers stow away textiles and materials for decades, in the hopes that no one else will have them by the time they put them to use.  For anyone familiar with collecting sneakers, you might refer to these types of "stowed" products as "deadstock."

In addition to being custom designed, one-of-a kind and hand-made,  C. Williams shoes typically incorporate rare, deadstock textiles and materials. Because of this, his shoes are not only more extraordinary than your average sneaker, but each one is unique in its own way. In a time when most things are commonly available and mass-produced, "unique" is becoming one of the the most desirable commodities. To find out more about his approach to producing custom footwear and to see his available collection, visit www.libertyboutique.com.

People and trends in modern day society

In a world ruled by automated mass production of everything, it can be difficult to differentiate yourself from someone else. Trends are popular for a reason. What’s trendy is generally easy to access, well marketed, overly hyped and in turn coveted.  Trends are normally easy to become accustomed to and the number of people giving into them makes them seem oh so right.  Unfortunately, following everyone else on the the popular route when you make a purchase has it's downside; everything and everyone starts to look the same.

As consumers of apparel it seems like we’re trapped in a catch 22, but unlike Joseph Heller’s coined phrase, we’ve got more choices than we give ourselves credit for. People want to be able to get clothing, jewelry, shoes, etc. quickly and with ease but we want it to be unique too; we don’t want to waste money on today’s trend that might be tomorrow’s walk of shame; we want quality items that don’t just look good but are well designed and constructed. Then are some people who don’t mind the cost, or the short-shelf-life, as long as they can get the rarest or most trendy thing out there…especially when it’s something that's coveted by all and nearly impossible to acquire.

Long gone are the days when nearly everything that people wore was custom-made.  Years ago, if you wanted a suit, it had to be specially ordered and tailored individually. Even if your neighbor had the same style of suit by the same tailor, it wasn’t necessarily made from the same material, and since it was customized for you it may have had different features (maybe something as simple as an extra pocket or special buttons). On top of all that, it was different because it was measured, designed and made by hand. While supporters of industrialization would argue that consistency and quickness were necessary parts of our progress, it was these differences in the details that gave a person pride in what they were wearing.

Nowadays, it seems like the trends have taken over.  No matter how clever the ideas get, they're still rooted in stagnant ground.

Mass production in the making

All of C. Williams work is high quality, hand-made and one-of-a-kind; not being made by massive assembly lines.  In a time when mass production rules you might ask, "how can something made this way hope to compete?" Case in point: Audi, the German manufacturer of premium luxury sports cars on automated assembly lines recently delved into hand-made cars with their R8 model (a small team of 70 people builds 25 R8s per day).  Already being hailed as one of the greatest sports cars ever made, many industry insiders speculate (and track tests suggest) that it might even be superior to  classics like the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and BMW M6.  As with C. William's retrofit shoes, it's this hands on approach to production that that has resulted in  a superior product. 

Still, some may wonder, "Why build by hand when it prevents your from producing and selling as many shoes or cars as competitors?"  From the perspective of a shoe or car fanatic, however, the answer is clear.  It isn't about the quantity, but rather the attention to detail and the quality of the engineering.

Setting an example for other retrofitters.

I started this post with a quote from C. Williams for a reason. For those of you who have visited this blog before or check for updates on sneakerfreaker, slamxhype or hypebeast, you’ve most likely seen his work. If not, let me give you the quick rundown. In his own words, he’s “on a mission to create an everlasting trend that will continue to grow.” But don’t let the word “trend” and its negative connotations sway you the wrong way.  This “trend” is the focus on giving people back a sense of individuality, personality through what we wear, how we wear it and most importantly how it’s crafted…or in my own words,he’s redefining the consumer’s role in fashion by giving them the ability to conceptualize ideas through his hands, craft, design sensibilities and his products. 

For the past 8 years C. Williams has been working with a variety of innovative thinkers to produce custom footwear that has been deconstructed and rebuilt from the ground up to reflect their vision, sensibilities and style. He's bringing a quality of materials and craftsmanship, and elevated levels of style and individuality that most if not all companies are unable to achieve simply because of the way they produce their products. Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t to say that automated mass production doesn’t have certain advantages, such as cost and convenience.  I just think in a time when people are struggling to break free from the crowd, rather than stumbling upon something that happens to suit them, people should find a product that represents them individually.  This is the direction we should be looking towards.  Whether it’s sneakers, clothing, your car or even your home, C. Williams philosophy on infusing your personality by applying yesterday's craft to today's technology is a trend that I hope will catch on with the masses, even more than it already has.

 A partir de julho, a Audi mostrará também sua tecnologia nas páginas de revistas. As inovações não são tão somente características do automóvel da marca, que veiculará uma série de quatro páginas de anúncios com um sistema de luz de seta literalmente inserido em uma foto do Audi R8, último lançamento da marca no Brasil.

 Criada pela AlmapBBDO, a peça começa a piscar quando o leitor abre a página, em alusão ao sinal que os motoristas dão para ultrapassar um outro veículo à sua frente. O encarte, composto por quatro páginas seqüenciais, será veiculado na edição do mês de julho das revistas VIP e Audi Magazine. A primeira página traz uma imagem do superesportivo Audi R8, correndo para o lado direito, com a frase: “Conheça o item de série mais utilizado da Audi”. Nas duas páginas seguintes é exibida a imagem do carro de frente, quase saindo da página, com a luz de seta piscando e a revelação: “A ultrapassagem”.

 

 Na quarta e última página da peça, um texto sobre o Audi R8 vincula a construção do superesportivo à história da marca, que já possui 100 anos de investimentos em tecnologia.

 A campanha da Audi teve investimento de R$ 1,3 milhões e envolveu três peças diferentes. A primeira delas, em página dupla, trazia uma foto do Audi R8 com sua frente imponente e o design moderno. Ao lado, uma breve história da marca Audi, que terminava com a frase: “Audi R8. Um carro pensado por mais de 100 anos de história”. Esse anúncio foi veiculado nas revistas Veja, Exame e em títulos automobilísticos.

Já imaginaram o cuidado com o transporte e em todos os apetrechos que a revista deve ter para comportar uma inovação como essa?! A AlmapBBDO está de parabéns surpreendendo mais uma vez à todos!

En el Salón del Automóvil de Detroit, Audi nos mostrará un R8 con un motor Diésel de 500 CV que presenta una estética aún más deportiva, unas prestaciones mayores y un consumo más ajustado. De momento es tan sólo un prototipo.

Después de ver semejante aspecto, he ido rápidamente a consultar algunos de los datos de su motor y me encuentro con que los 420 CV del R8 que ya está en las calles se ven superados en este TDI que llega hasta los 500 CV. ¡Madre mía!

La verdad es que este coche es espectacular y, si algún día llegase a las calles tal y como lo vemos ahora, sería una gran noticia. Además, tengo ganas de que esto suceda para poder algún día escuchar el 'rugido' de este TDI V12. Tengo curiosidad de ver si realmente 'ruge' o más bien 'maúlla' ya que los R10 TDI que vencieron en las 24 horas de Le Mans corrían un montón pero lo que es sonar, no sonaban apenas, una lástima.

The Audi R8 at a glance

Audi R8 4.2 FSI:

Engine: displacement 4,163 cc, power output 309 kW (420 bhp) at 7,800 rpm, maximum torque 430 Nm between 4,500 and 6,000 rpm. Performance and consumption: 0 – 100 km/h in 4.6 s, top speed 301 km/h, consumption (combined) 13.6 litres of Super Plus fuel per 100 km.

Sheehy Motors brings you the Audi R8. Audi is entering the most challenging segment of the car market with its R8 mid-engine sports car – and immediately taking up a position among the leaders: equipped with the expertise that Audi has gathered from its involvement in motor sport and from building sporty premium-class cars, the R8 is the embodiment of superlative road behaviour, pioneering technology and fascinating design. The 420 bhp V8 FSI engine, quattro permanent four-wheel drive and the aluminium space-frame body endow the R8 with outstanding qualities to challenge for leadership of this segment, as do its excellent everyday suitability and the characteristic Audi standards of perfection in quality and finish. The basic price is EUR 104,400, and deliveries will commence in the second quarter of 2007.

Following on from rally success with the revolutionary Audi quattro and the triumphs of its touring car, Audi has added another chapter to the history of motor sport with the R8 racing car: with five wins to its name in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the R8 is the most successful model ever to have competed on the legendary circuit at Le Mans. In a total of 79 starts at venues all over the world, this exceptional athlete has emerged victorious on a total of 62 occasions.

Last week, the ever present Nurburgring experts Bridge to Gantry spotted the R8 V10 do some laps, today we have thank for some up-close-and-personal photos of this powered-beast V10.

The audiphiles among us will immediately spot the missing "fin" under the headlamps, while the rear is missing two of the horizontal fins. Far beyond the two larger exhaust pipes (instead of two dual exhaust) and the side air intakes balls have a greater need for the cooling of the engine.

Read more (photo)!!

We are not sure, but the R8 V10 looks alike, but also could only be a clever aesthetic illusion by Quattro body kit.
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Vestea mai buna e ca aseara a inceput seria 11 din Top Gear, episod in care vor sa faca o mashina sa "zboare", sa rezolve criza de petrol, si sa faca mashinile de politie mai bune. asta ultima e sub deviza "how hard can it be" :) Ca sa ma faca sa plang un pic e printre mashinile prezentate si audi R8 meu ala care trebea sa-l castig la kent numai cu 10 coduri trimise (asta dupa teoria mea ca daca trimit numai 10 o sa zica ca fumez si alte marci de tzigari si o sa-mi dea audi-ul ca sa ma fidelizeze,sau din cauza ca imi era lene sa le introduc). All in all o ora si un minut plina de voie buna si veselie, ca la nunta asa.

More photo (how it was)!!

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Com estratégia arrojada, a Audi aposta em uma campanha institucional voltada para o mercado de luxo. De olho nos consumidores de produtos de luxo apaixonados por carros, a Audi investe R$ 1,3 milhões na campanha institucional criada pela agência AlmapBBDO.

Nos últimos três anos as ações de marketing da Audi foram focadas em lançamentos de produtos e campanhas de varejo, estratégia elaborada em virtude da fase de mudança de portifólio pela qual passava a empresa. Este ano, com muitos lançamentos e composição da linha de produtos todo o investimento desta campanha será para reforçar o posicionamento da marca no mercado automotivo de carros de luxo.

O mercado de luxo tem demonstrado grande crescimento no Brasil nos últimos anos. Segundo dados do Renavam (Registro Nacional de Veículos Automotores), a venda de carros luxuosos no Brasil subiu de 8.177 em 2006 para 9.130 em 2007. E a Audi acompanha a tendência do mercado, com o aumento de 10% nas vendas dos modelos importados no primeiro trimestre deste ano, em relação ao mesmo período do ano passado.

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A nova campanha institucional da Audi tem como foco o automóvel Audi R8, superesportivo de luxo que já tem 30 encomendas e fila de espera de seis meses no Brasil. Modelo conhecido no País como o carro de Tony Stark, personagem do filme Homem de Ferro (Iron Man), o carro possui carroceria em alumínio, design elegante, interior sofisticado, suspensão aerodinâmica, além de luzes diurnas com tecnologia LED. “O Audi R8 reúne os principais atributos da marca em design, tecnologia e performance. Resultado de quase 100 anos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento, ele é o símbolo atual da Audi”, explica o gerente de marketing da empresa, Felipe Gomes.

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+ Veja também:

• Ferrari Aurea

• Homem de Ferro (Iron Man)

• Motocicleta Harley Davidson 2008 FLHTCU

The beautifully designed Audi r8 gives a high speed performance and this baby has an optional bang features.When it comes about its speed this hard Rock car is the meanest of all.Now it is available in in convertible features.

2008 Audi R8
Type:
Mid-engine, all-wheel drive sports coupe

Retail price:
$109,000-$134,750

Engine:
4.2-liter V-8, 420-horsepower, 317-pound-feet torque

Transmission:
6-speed manual or automatic

EPA mileage
# Manual: 13 mpg city / 20 mpg highway
# Automatic: 13 city / 19 highway

Report card

Exterior: Excellent.
Smooth, sleek and bulletlike. Its wide stance and deceptively long body add to its intimidating exterior.

Interior: Excellent.
The seats hold you firmly in even the tightest of corners.

Safety: Excellent.
Front, knee and side air bags. Precise handling, stability control and anti-lock brakes.

Performance: Unbelievable.
Fast and furious.

Pros: Beautiful and beastly:
Will be noticed everywhere you go. Other super sports cars are often considerably more.

Cons:
Don't drive it to any Green Peace meetings. Powerful engine gobbles up fuel.

AUDI R8 TEST DRIVE (Link to HD Video)

2008 Audi R8 Performance

• 4,163 cc 4.2 liters V 8 mid engine with 84.5 mm bore, 92.8 mm stroke, 12.5 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
• Premium unleaded fuel 91
• 23.8 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 19.8
• Power: 313 kW , 420 HP SAE @ 8,250 rpm; 317 ft lb , 430 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
• Gasoline direct injection fuel system

Fifth Gear - Audi R8

2008 Audi R8 Handling

• Four-wheel ABS
• Brake assist system
• Four disc brakes including four ventilated discs
• Electronic brake distribution
• Electronic traction control via ABS & engine management
• Immobilizer
• Center limited slip differential
• Driver selectable responsive suspension
• Stability control
• Multi-link front and rear suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs
• Tire kit

Front view of Audi R8 2008

2008 Audi R8 Exterior

• Body color front and rear bumpers
• Day time running lights
• Driver and passenger power heated body color door mirrors indicator lights
  External dimensions: overall length (inches): 174.4, overall width (inches): 79.9, overall height (inches): 49.3, wheelbase (inches): 104.3, front track (inches): 64.3, rear track (inches): 62.7 and curb to curb turning circle (feet): 41.7
• Electric foldable mirrors
• Front fog lights
• Projector beam lens Bi-Xenon headlights
• Luxury trim alloy on gearknob, leather on doors and carbon fiber on dashboard
• Gloss paint
• Fixed rear window with defogger
• Trunk/hatch spoiler
• Tinted glass on cabin
• Weights: curb weight (lbs) 3,450
• Windshield wipers with automatic intermittent wipe and rain sensor

The R8: The Slowest Car Audi Ever Built

2008 Audi R8 Interior

• 12v power outlet: cargo, front and 1
• Air conditioning with climate control
• Diversity antenna
• Peripheral anti-lift anti-theft protection
• Front ashtray
• Manufacturer's own RDS audio system with satellite and CD player CD player reads MP3
• Automatic drive indicator on dashboard
• Cargo area light
• Cargo capacity: all seats in place (cu ft): 3.5
• Front seats cigar lighter
• Clock
• Coming home device
• Compass
• Computer with average speed, average fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption and range for remaining fuel
• Full dashboard console, full floor console with covered storage box
• Delayed/fade courtesy lights
• Cruise control
• Door ajar warning
• Door pockets/bins for driver seat and passenger seat
• External temperature
• Floor mats

• Driver front airbag with multi-stage deployment, passenger front airbag with occupant sensors and multi-stage deployment
• Sports heated electrically adjustable driver and passenger seat with height adjustment, lumbar adjustment, five adjustments and tilt adjustment
• 3-point reel front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat with pre-tensioners
• Two height adjustable active head restraints on front seats
• Headlight control with time delay switch-off and dusk sensor
• Illuminated entry system
• Internal dimensions: front headroom (inches): 37.5 and front leg room (inches): 45.0
• Knee airbags driver and passenger
• Low tire pressure indicator
• Parking distance sensors front, rear and radar
• Remote power locks speed sensing
• Vehicle speed proportional power steering
• Front power windows
• Front reading lights
• Rear fog lights
• Automatic operation rear view mirror
• Steering wheel mounted remote audio controls
• Remote fuel filler door release
• Remote control remote trunk/hatch release
• Alcantara seat upholstery with additional leather
• Seating: two seats
• Service interval indicator
• Front side airbag
• Seven speaker(s) Bose
• Leather covered multi-function steering wheel with tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment
• Tachometer
• Illuminated driver vanity mirror, passenger vanity mirror
• Ventilation system with micro filter

Top Gear New Supercar, Audi R8 V8 4WD

Click for larger image

Robert Downey Jr. has spent the past couple weeks promoting the upcoming Iron Man at premieres across world. Rather than hopping in a limo, at every premiere he pulls up in the car his character drives in the movie. Lucky for Downey Jr. his character is a wealthy Audi R8-owning industrialist.

Own the Parade
We aren’t wealthy industrialists, but we are getting the keys to an Audi R8 next month, so look out for that on MyRide soon.

Click for larger image

You know what I love about the Audi R8? So modest! Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts aren’t even in the upcoming movie Iron Man, and they walk the red carpet at its Australian premiere. The Audi on the other hand has a supporting role in the movie and tries to sneak into the theater unnoticed. That car better win an Oscar.

Own the Parade
One of our own was fortunate enough to share an on-screen role with the R8, check it out here.

O investimento é da ordem R$ 1,3 milhões e a campanha, de exaltação ao luxo, desenvolvida pela AlmapBBDO.
As ações consistem em anúncio, mídia impressa e eventos de posicionamento junto ao lançamento do R8. Além de um trailer exibido nos cinemas, antes do início do filme Ironman.

O vídeo mescla as características do herói e do carro e convida o espectador ao site do veículo.

Lá é possivel navegar de forma bastante interativa entre os atributos do carro, obter informações sobre a Marvel Comics e Iroman, jogar um puzzle game e muito mais.

Audi Está Decidida A Incorporar LEDs Poco A Poco En Su Gama De Vehículos, Pero Se Ha Lanzado A Por Todas En Su Último R8, Que Los Usa Para Prácticamente Toda Actividad Que Incluya La Iluminación. Así, A Las 24 Lámparas LED Que Ya Incorporaba Antes El R8 En Los Pilotos Traseros, Se Suman Ahora Los Los Diodos Empleados En Las Luces Cortas, Largas Y De Giro. En Total, El Vehículo Contará Con 54 Leds Y Ninguna Bombilla Para Las Funciones De Iluminación Exterior.

Como Podrás Imaginar, La Incorporación De Leds No Es Precisamente Barata, Y En Este Automóvil En Concreto Supone Añadir Un Extra De 3.590 Euros Al Ya De Por Sí Elevado Precio. Aunque Bien Pensado, Si Te Vas A Comprar Un R8 No Creemos Que Esto Te Suponga Un Problema.

Fuente

Foto: Allen Qu

Die US-amerikanischen Hersteller Chevy (Corvette Z06) und Dodge (Viper SRT10) waren nicht bereit, ihre Farzeuge für den Test zur Verfügung zu stellen - wahrscheinlich aus Angst davor, dass die direkten Vergleichswerte ihnen nicht schmeicheln würden *g*...

Auf der Rennstrecke stehen schon beachtliche 7:29 Minuten für eine Runde auf dem Nürburgring auf dem Konto des GT-R zu Buche, aber wie sieht es mit einer schmalen Bergstraße aus (Die Tester verwendeten nur eine Spur und nicht die ganze Fahrbahnbreite)? Der bullige R35 konnte auch hier seine Stärken (=Allradantrieb und viel Kraft) ausspielen und den Test mit der schnellsten Zeit für sich entscheiden (2.Platz: Audi R8, 3.Platz: Mitsubishi Evolution X MR).

Nur in engen Kurven konnte der R8 ihm etwas Zeit abnehmen, in allen anderen Streckenabschnitten überzeugte der GT-R mit den besten Ergebnissen. An die Beschleunigung kam kein anderes Auto heran, wobei die Tester hervorheben, dass der Wagen gut zu kontrollieren ist und sich vorhersehbar verhält.

Hierzulande kann man sich den Supersportler vorerst am besten im Playstation3-Spiel Gran Turismo 5 Prologue ansehen. Wer so eine Konsole sein Eigen nennt, kann ab 2. Juni online bei der GT Academy mitfahren. Den schnellsten 3 Fahrern eines Landes (der Wettbewerb findet europaweit in mehreren Ländern statt) winkt eine Einladung nach Silverstone, wo sie den GT-R selber fahren dürfen.

Screenshot aus GT5: impreza1562001

Das Beste zum Schluss: "Die beiden schnellsten Fahrer in Silverstone bekommen dann die Gelegenheit, an einem viermonatigen Trainingsprogramm teilzunehmen, um ihre Rennlizenz zu erwerben und in einem rennfähigen Nissan 350Z an einem richtigen Rennen teilzunehmen - dem 24-Stunden-Rennen in Dubai im Januar 2009."

Esta mañana hemos dado una vuelta por el Salón del Automóvil de Madrid y hemos visto varias cosas interesantes. Lo primero que nos ha sorprendido es no ver a marcas tan importantes como Porsche, Ferrari, Fiat o Saab. Está claro que la crisis afecta y se nota también en los pocos regalos que ofrecían en los distintos stands.

Una buena noticia para todos los que lo visitéis el fin de semana. Hay un montón de simuladores tan buenos o mejores como los que pudimos disfrutar en el paddock de Montmeló durante el pasado Gran Premio de F1 y vale la pena esperar colas para disfrutarlos.

Hemos preparado unas fotos a modo de resumen en este artículo pero tenemos muchas más en nuestra galería pública de Rincones Secretos en Flickrt

]]> http://moviecrackhouse.wordpress.com/?p=14 Thu, 29 May 2008 20:48:49 +0000 moviecrackhouse http://moviecrackhouse.wordpress.com/?p=14

"Suit Up."

As far as comic book heroes go, Iron Man is at the top of our list... because he's F-ing COOL. Robert Downey was perfectly cast as the egotistic, brilliant Tony Stark. The visual effects of this flick were just stunning. We're already excited for a sequel after this movie did all the set-up for the character. The story was well written and the pace was decent. I would have liked to have seen more of the final product, but as an 'origins' movie, it did a great job. I'm not the biggest fan of Gwyneth Paltrow, but she was believable as Pepper Potts. Seeing Jeff Bridges as a bad guy was fun, although the man is not meant to be bald. He has an enormous cranium. It took some getting used to. 

We're going to need to see this one again before it leaves theaters. It was an excellent start to the summer blockbuster season of '08. It would be a sin to miss it on the big screen if you're a fan of action. If you do go, make sure to stay through the credits for a bonus scene. And there's a great 'easter egg' in one of the later workshop scenes for die-hard comic book fans. We missed it the first time around, but got the skinny from a friend who's cousin was one of the lead animators on this movie.

We give this one a 4 1/2 out of 5. Go see it!

Car buffs will enjoy seeing the Audi R8 featured in this movie. One of our favorite cars at the moment.  =)

~ HELENA

Add'l Info: Released: May 2, 2008 • Runtime: 126 minutes • Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content

It wasn't as impressive as I thought it would be. Mainly because the driver was driving with his windows up I guess. I mean if you were driving a car like that, you would want the whole world to know, wouldn't you? Sigh, I jumped and down the first time I saw it drive past but this time, the excitement kinda died down... Dear driver of Audi R8, next time when you go out on the streets please press your accelerator as hard as you can when I'm in your near vicinity...

And then a few moments later I saw this car...

Obviously I didn't take the picture but the dude had his windows down. I had an inkling he pretty much knew what he was driving. A quick search on Drive.com.au estimated the price at a mere AUD 0.9mil (900k)... Which brings me to my next point...

I have no respect for people who drive the following car thinking its the car above...

RRP AUD 0.06 mil... or 60k.

God bless!

You have to excuse my R8 posts. There are many of course. It's just that I am researching well on this car since this is one of my dream cars out there. On one of my pages in this blog, I listed the Nissan Skyline/GT-R as one of my faves of all time. Now, the Audi R8 for 2008 is next on my list.

One technology that sets the R8 apart from the competition is the Audi Magnetic Ride. From the car's micro-site, this technology is labeled as the one that makes the Audi R8 a smooth operator on the road. This technology is actually called the Audi magnetic ride damper system. That instead of the conventional oil, the shocks on the car are filled with the special fluid whose viscosity can be controlled by the electromagnetic field. This innovative technology that can be seen on the Audi TT as well uses the magneto-rheological fluid-filled dampers that can effectively provide continuously variable real-time suspension damping control. Thru this kind of technology, the vehicle can get maximum driving dynamics and superior road isolation that can result in better driver comfort. It responds in real time to the varied road and driving conditions based on input from sensors that can monitor the body and wheel motion.

Ein andrers Beispiel ist (ebenfalls) das Audi-placement in "iRobot". Oder das Puma-Placemet in "Die Insel".

Kompliziert wird es erst wenn der Film soweit in der Zukunft spielt, dass es nur wenig Bezüge zur Gegenwart gibt. Beispiel "Star Wars". Auch wenn die Filme technisch gesehen "vor langer Zeit" spielen sind sie sehr futuristisch. Das macht es sehr schwer Marken unterzubringen. Schließlich benutzt in Star Wars keiner einen Laptop oder fährt ein Auto. Ein futuristischer Film bei dem es trotzdem geklappt hat ein Placement unterzubringen ist "Das fünfte Element". Wenn ich mich recht erinnere ist in dem Film ein McDonalds zu sehen.

Filme die in der Vergangenheit spielen sind weniger attraktiv. In diesem Fall werdem dem Zuschauer andere Werte kommuniziert: Beständigkeit, Tradition, Kult. Aber auch hier gilt, dass ein Gegenwartsbezug vorhanden sein muss. Product Placement in Mantel-und-Degen-Filmen wie "Fluch der Karibik" ist wirklich sehr schwer vorstellbar. Wobei hingegen in Filmen wie dem bald erscheinenden "Indiana Jones", der in den 1930ern spielt (wenn ich mich nicht täusche) ein Placement einer Traditionsmarke möglich wäre. Beispielsweise könnte Mercedes eine Oldtimer zur Verfügung stellen.

Aber an diesem Beispiel wird es sehr deutlich. Was ist für die Marke wohl attraktiver?

Indiana Jones fährt in der Vergangenheit evtl. einen Mecedes Oldtimer. Oder:

Der "iron Man" fährt in einer nahen Zukunft den neuen Audi R8.

Genau! 1:0 für die Zukunft.

Vi kan inte annat än att hålla med juryn. Även aftonbladets Robert Collin håller med!