Audi 2010 Annual Report Download - page 83

81
distance to the vehicle ahead. Within
certain limits it automatically brakes
and accelerates in slow-moving traffi c
and in traffi c jams. It detects suddenly
occurring obstacles and alerts the
driver with a uniquely identifi able
audible signal.
And the list of noteworthy features
goes on: night vision assistant. Park
assistance. The light show in the interior
with its polar, ivory or ruby/polar realms
of color. Without a doubt the all-LED
headlights, which automatically more
than double the light cone’s range at
speeds over 110 kilometers per hour.
And the quattro permanent all-wheel
drive system.
But Rensen wraps up his little
presentation with a brief explanation
of Audi side assist. When he drives, this
complex system is always on. If the
system determines that an imminent
lane change could result in an accident,
it warns the driver by displaying a light
signal in the outside mirror. “Either
because a car traveling at a faster speed
is coming up from behind in the passing
lane or because there is a car in the
blind spot.”
Professor von Gerkan is impressed.
He says with a laugh: “What a wealth
of totally new impressions.” And asks:
“Does that change the way you drive?”
His driver’s response: “These systems
are not a substitute for concentration
and attentiveness, or for the talent and
skill of the driver, that’s for sure. That’s
why they call it driver assistance.”
Peter Rensen drives nearly 80,000
kilometers every year. He has a
chauff eur license and regularly attends
driving and safety training courses. In
terms of his profession, Meinhard von
Gerkan is also a “perpetual student.”
He has to stay on top of the very latest
methods in civil engineering and
architecture, he says, “even if I need
nothing more than a pencil and a piece
of white paper for sketches of ideas
and initial drafts.”
It’s all a question of philosophy.
“My mind and my hands,” says the star
architect emphatically, “are what guide
my creativity.” An important statement,
and one that pertains equally to the
latest-generation Multi Media Interface
(MMI) from Audi. Its operation is easy,
logical and intuitive. Everything –
telephone, navigation, radio or other
media such as DVD or iPod – is self-
explanatory and ready to use in no time.
It makes work easy. And a pleasure, too.
Meinhard von Gerkan does not con-
ceal his approval; as it happens, his
own philosophy, expressed in two basic
principles, falls precisely in line with the
value system embodied in Audi’s top-
of-the-line model. One principle states:
“Give structural order to concepts.
Arrange functions in clear structural
shapes.” And the other: “Create unity
in diversity. Create diversity in unity.”
How is happiness expressed?
In music. Beethoven’s violin concerto,
played by Anne-Sophie Mutter. The
surround-sound reproduction with 19
speakers in the Bang & Olufsen Ad-
vanced Sound System transforms the
exquisitely styled interior of the A8 L
*
into a festive concert hall. Meinhard
von Gerkan leans back and looks up
through the panoramic glass roof into
the Swiss sky. No need to ask, it’s quite
obvious: The journey in the Audi A8 L
has met his expectations in every
regard – engine and safety, smooth ride,
spaciousness and sound experience.
In sum: fi rst-class traveling pleasure.
HANS BORCHERT
The architect’s philosophy:
“The mind and the hands
guide creativity.”
The Bang & Olufsen Advanced
Sound System turns the A8 L
into a festive concert hall.
PHOTOS | DARRIN VANSELOW/GETTY IMAGES
Work with a focus,
savor the moments
of relaxation:
For star architect
Meinhard von
Gerkan, the A8 L is
a fi rst-class travel
experience. There’s
a wide range of
seat and backrest
settings. The
massage function
is the absolute
highlight.
Discover the new Audi A8 L at:
www.audi.com/ar2010/a8