Audi opens cyber showroom
 

Audi opens the world's first digital car showroom in the heart of London, with 20 more to follow around the world

Audi has opened the doors to the world’s first virtual showroom, right in the heart of London. Called Audi City, the futuristic dealership is close to Piccadilly Circus, and is the first of 20 that are planned for city centres across the globe over the next three years.

Customers can configure any car in the Audi range – including all colours, equipment, and functions – on an iPad-style touch screen, before exploring a life sized projection of their personalised vehicle, inside and out, on huge floor to ceiling screens.

Using motion-sensor technology borrowed from the Xbox Kinect to scroll through menus, there’s also the option to explore individual components up close and in details, as well as hearing the cars drive off.

Like any normal dealership, if you’re interested in taking things a step further, the staff can take your details and arrange a test drive at any Audi Centre around the world.

“Audi City combines the best of two worlds – digital product presentation and personal contact with the dealer,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales. “With Audi City, we are creating a one-stop-shop for experiencing our brand. It is right in the midst of our customers’ lives, yet seamlessly connected to the online range offered by the four rings.”

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http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1343864053

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1343864053

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1343864053

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nothing better than sitting in a car with the new car smell ,dont think that will work as well as they hope.

I think that buying a vehicle is an evocative, tactile experience, and involves all five senses (ok perhaps taste excepted - as I'm not going to lick, or eat my new car!)

Whilst perhaps admirable for pushing technological boundaries, on its own it is no substitute for a dealership experience, might be successful as an augmentation to one, whilst configuring a car though...

I think that Audi see it as more of a brand augmentation / building exercise, to push their brand into city centres where they cant easily always have huge showrooms full of cars. Its kinda like an extension of the configurator which a huge number of customers use when they want to get to finally specc-ing their car. It will certainly be interesting to see how the roll out goes. . .

It mainly came about because of the Olympics, they couldn't do it properly and sponsor the event like BMW. We're looking at doing something similair with our travel shops, so customere can speak to our reps abroad directly to get info, and digitalising everything making brochures obsolete, but it will work so much better in a travel shop though.