Audi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 30

Tuesday morning, it’s  degrees and there is the lightest of
breezes. The roads are still damp from the late summer rain that
tends to make its way into town when the locals are actually ex-
pecting sun. As a car, it’s the sort of occasion I tend to be driven.
My last owner could always rely on me, but barely a year and a
half on, decided to trade me in for a younger model, a Q, after
I became a bit too small for his growing family. Fair enough !
Now I’m at the Audi Approved :plus dealer. Only yesterday,
a potential buyer came in who seemed to like me. So I’m now
on a test drive – four strange men, they all seem a little nervous.
I’m parked in a side street where there’s not a lot going on.
A solitary police car cruises down the street. Am I parked ille-
gally ? No. The car drives past. Suddenly there’s some move-
ment inside : Three of my occupants pull masks over their faces
and fl ing open my doors. The word ‘playtime’ rings out, and
the face of the driver left behind is a picture of extreme stress.
Out of the corner of my exterior mirrors I can see how the
three masked men disappear into the entrance to a bank.
I may be young, but I’m not naive. Something’s going on
here. I take a closer look at my driver. Three days of stubble.
High forehead. Ice-cold stare … While I’m still thinking, the
guy seems startled as if his worst fears have come true.
He stares aghast at the front passenger seat where a woman
is now sitting, to the amazement of us both. Where did she
come from ? That’s not clear. But her words are unmistakable :
“Drive o slowly when you leave. Always indicate. Don’t jump
any red lights.” As a dull thud cuts through the tension and my
exterior mirror sees smoke in the entrance to the bank, she
carries on completely unfazed : “And don’t even consider driving
over any police nail traps.” Silence. The driver asks what I am
wondering as well : “Who are you ?” His face has very little
in common with my smooth exterior at this precise moment,
though. Too many wrinkles. Too few clear lines. And too much
surprise when the unfamiliar woman responds : “I’m the next
owner of this Audi.” She puts her sunglasses back on and
gets out as cool as ice. I’m a used Audi. And everything that
happens now is out of my control.
At this point the TV commercial ends and what happens next is
left to the viewer’s imagination. How will the story continue ? …
Cut to wide angle
030 >> 031WE CREATE PROGRESS >> 03