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From YourSITE.com Audi News Following the R8’s grand entrance down Park Avenue flanked the R10 and Auto Union racecar, Audi continued the celebration of the Audi Forum New York City’s opening with a party at that location during the evening. Very familiar faces could be seen amongst the artists who played at the event and notable actor, motorsport and executive guests.
Beginning the evening, attendees were first greeted with the Woody Allen Jazz Band as an opening act. The quartet played on, while the new R8 got as many stares as the iconic director/comedian playing clarinet just a few feet away.
Following the opening act, the evening’s surprise celebrity host made his appearance. Political comedian Stephen Colbert was very much in character as the somewhat dimwitted conservative talk show host, though his humor is anything but dimwitted. Notable comments from his act were…. “Audi is an acronym for America U Deserve It” “The R8 will be available in three colors – red, white or blue.” “The new Audi Forum is now booking for weddings and bat mitzvahs.”
Finally, he closed by saying everyone at the party would get a free R8. He confirmed with Audi executives in the audience, and we personally saw Audi of America chief Johan de Nysschen nod in agreement. Sadly, it was all in jest.
Following Colbert’s monologue, Wyclef Jean took the stage and played for the rest of the evening.
In the crowd, we spotted several notable familiar faces. Actress Heather Graham arrived early during the Woody Allen set. Saturday Night Live comedian Molly Shannon arrived toward the end of the evening, and we spotted actress Zoe Saldana being interviewed by Entertainment Tonight over near the R8. An admitted car guy, Wyclef Jean looked over the R8 closely before heading over to do his set. Many Audi executives also circulated within the crowd. Audi AG board member Ralph Weyler and his family stayed on for the event, along with Audi of America boss Johan de Nysschen, new VP of marketing Scott Keogh and new VP of communications Jeff Kuhlman.
Audi Sport, quattro GmbH and Audi Tradition staff also attended, along with familiar faces Dave Maraj of Champion Audi and Audi Sport North America team boss, drivers Marco Werner and Emanuele Pirro. Werner sat coolly watching the artists from a shadowed corner of the room most of the night while Pirro partied it up making his rounds.
The Audi R8 paraded down Park Avenue was positioned on the turntable at one corner of the Audi Forum, while the Auto Union Type D was in the corner of the building where Park meets 47th St. Both got plenty of ogles, though the R8 was clearly the big draw with guests mobbing the car all evening.
An Audi attendant also showed off the R8 luggage set designed to fit in the car. The three-piece set features R8 imprinting in the leather and carbon fiber segmentation around the handles. It will be available as an accessory from Audi closer to the date of the R8’s own expected delivery in the third quarter of next year.
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