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Audi goes out of this world to sell R8 at the Super Bowl

Audi lets the new R8 V10 Plus blast off in the German brand's space-themed Super Bowl ad titled The Commander. The touching commercial puts a forlorn, retired astronaut behind the supercar's wheel, and he gets to relive the experience of leaving the bonds of Earth. Plus, David Bowie's Starman is the perfect choice for the score. Audi's ad makes the clever decision to link the supercar's rapid acceleration to a rocket launch in in viewers' minds. The spot also resonates emotionally because the retired astronaut only experiences the R8's performance because his son is worried about him. While not as humorous, we think the new spot does a better job of selling the R8's capabilities than the company's famous The Godfather Super Bowl commercial. The 60-second version of The Commander (above) will air during the game's first quarter. You can watch a 90-second cut below to enjoy a little more of the R8 and Bowie. SHOOTING FOR THE MOON, AUDI DEBUTS BIG GAME SPOT CALLED THE COMMANDER 60-second spot to air in first quarter of the big game Feb. 7 "The Commander" to feature the next-generation Audi R8, arriving in U.S. showrooms in Spring 2016 2016 marks return and eighth year for the brand as a big-game advertiser February 03, 2016 - HERNDON, Virginia -- Audi of America returns to the biggest night in football with a 60-second commercial titled "The Commander." A 90-second extended version of the spot is now live on the Audi YouTube channel. Featuring the all-new Audi R8 V10 plus, "The Commander" will air on Sunday, Feb. 7 during the first quarter of the Big Game. San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners created the commercial. "The Commander" tells the story of a retired astronaut who rediscovers his lust for life. Viewers watch as the man, surrounded by memories of the golden age of space exploration, sits solemnly, deep in reflection. When his son hands over the keys to a new Audi R8 V10 plus, he gets behind the wheel and relives the thrill of a rocket-like ride under the stars. Viewers watch as newfound life stirs within the Commander. Audi reminds us that amazing things happen when we shoot for the moon. The 2017 R8 is the fastest and most powerful Audi of all time. In its second generation, the all-new Audi R8 V10 plus has a top speed of 205 mph with a 3.2-second 0-60 mph time for "rocket-like" performance.

Choose your own adventure in Audi's next Super Bowl commercial

Audi has a 60-second spot planned for this year's Super Bowl to promote its S6 sedan, but exactly which spot will air is being put in the hands of Internet users. The ad follows a high schooler as he "embarks on one of the most pivotal moments of his adolescence: prom night." The spot is fixed up to the pivotal moment when he steals a kiss from the prom queen. From that moment, there are three possible endings.
Today, up until 11:59 pm, Audi is running three different versions on its YouTube channel and you can vote on which ending you'd like to see during The Big Game. The winning spot will run on YouTube before the game and then run in the first ad break after kickoff during the Super Bowl. Coca-Cola is running a similar interactive campaign, although its potential endings will involve cowboys, showgirls and a post-Apocalyptic badass, none of which we expect to make it into Audi's prom night spot. Scroll below to view all three alternate ending videos and cast your vote.

Next Audi RS4 to get V6 turbo, US sales still unclear

Audi's high-performance S models have forged a reputation in the US for offering wonderful driving dynamics in a package that doesn't scream, "I bought a sport sedan." However, its even higher-performance RS models are still somewhat of a rarity here. While the RS5 and RS7 are in the current US lineup, many of the wild RS models that Europe gets, like the RS6 Avant (pictured above), never make it to these shores. Unfortunately, that might not be changing anytime soon with the next-gen RS4.
The RS4 will follow the lead of the next BMW M3/M4 and (rumored) next Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG and make the switch to a smaller turbocharged powerplant. According to an Audi insider speaking to Car and Driver, the next RS4 will drop the last generation's 4.2-liter V8 in favor of a turbocharged V6. The engine block will likely be shared with the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 in the regular S4 but fitted with two turbochargers. Power would likely be around 400 horsepower to match the 425-hp M3 and rumored 450-hp C-Class AMG.
Unfortunately, the RS might not make it across the pond to our waiting hands because the source says no decision has been made to export them yet. Obviously, we hope that Audi makes the right decision and brings the next RS4 here.