Audi’s Pre-Giuliani Tour of New York, New York
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img via YouTube ::: Audi 90 TV advert
SMUG doesn’t quite fit. Über smug, perhaps?
On the heels of the truly disasterous Eighties – a decade fraught with unintended acceleration and much fiscal heartache, there’s something personal in this Audi commercial’s jab at “costly lawsuits” and snide quips about the City’s motto, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”
Aimed squarely at the US analog TV sets, the minute long spot pitching the Audi 90 was a product of its time. Which is to say it pre-dates Giuliani’s shake down of the NYC’s army of curbside window washers (circa 1990) and white-washed Times Square.
Perhaps we were less easily offended when a commercial took shots at cartoonish stereotypes (Foul mouthed grandmothers? Fat Mets fan gorging on burger?).
I wonder how many New Yorkers were moved to shop Audi following this spot? Not many, me thinks. But then again, it probably got rave reviews in Beantown.
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
headbang8 | Mar 5, 2010 | Reply
“Aimed squarely at the US analog TV sets…”
I think you might find this is a British ad, Gunnar. It would have decoded rather differently to its audience.
G | Mar 5, 2010 | Reply
That would make sense. And look even worse on the corporate parent’s sensibilities.
Kowalski | Mar 5, 2010 | Reply
That’s the very British voice of the very British actor Geoffrey Palmer.
Sybarite | Mar 6, 2010 | Reply
Wow, NYC has sure changed since then…the voiceover is a bit grim for my tastes, but it otherwise highlights numerous details of the car in a memorable way.
Jim | Mar 6, 2010 | Reply
I vaguely remember the video from that commercial, likely with a different voice over that wasn’t as harsh to NY.