Audi 2010 Annual Report Download - page 81

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from steel and glass, stone and
concrete – everything from museums
to theaters, train stations to airports,
hotels to stadiums. Berlin Central
Station, the Hamburg, Stuttgart and
Berlin-Tegel airports, the modernized
Berlin Olympic Stadium, the New
Trade Fair Leipzig, China’s National
Museum in Beijing and the Maritime
Museum Lingang City – all examples of
outstanding architecture.
The Audi A8 L* is of comparable
caliber. A masterpiece, an attestation
to the art of progress. Travel in com-
fort, work with a focus, savor the
moments of relaxation – Meinhard
von Gerkan values this trio of prin-
ciples. For him, ample space is a luxury
in our day, especially in a car. The
professor does have a rather imposing
appearance, after all. At 1.89 meters,
one has a heightened awareness of
spatial dimensions, which is seldom
the subject of absolute praise. In
this case however, the praise comes
unqualifi ed: “Exemplary.”
Can an additional 130 millimeters
in length really mean that much?
Meinhard von Gerkan seems sur-
prised. From the outside, he says,
the Audi A8 L conveys “a certain
understatement. It’s not a fl ashy car;
rather it keeps its obvious qualities
elegantly concealed. And I like that.”
Meinhard von Gerkan sits in the
back and takes a look around the
tasteful interior with its fi ne materials.
Brushed, gleaming silver aluminum,
velvety brown fi ne grain ash, smooth
Lavish and lovely: The interior of the A8 L
off ers not only plenty of room, fi ne grain
ash wood and Valcona leather, but also the
Rear Seat Entertainment system.