Re: quattro-digest V4 #86

["Ricardo David" <ricardo.david@worldnet.att.net>]

>From: "George S Achorn III" <coolidge@nicom.com>
>Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 21:24:55 -0500
>Subject: Re: Audi Product Idea: A5 Minvan

>Psycho Bob <honge@creighton.edu> wrote:

>> For image-making, loss-leader sort of
>>thing (Audi already got one -- it's called A8), what does the minivan
>>further the Audi image?? (Frankly, I don't think I'd like Audi to have
ANY
>>sort of image in the minivan market....) And there's the Avants to think
>>about -- the precise reason that Audi is still backing off the idea of
>>SUVs and such. And by going for the minivan proportions, you're not going
>>to get any serious performance out of it.
>
>	I don't think it would be a loss leader. There is no super luxury minivan
>out there. A 30-40K minivan would certainly make money, and would be a
good
>testbed for audi's technology image. And, if minivans could not be
>performance tuned, why is it that Porsche wants to get into that type of
>vehicle. Look at the GMC typhoon and that's a freakin' Blazer.
>	LAter-G

I think this A5 upscale minivan is still a great idea, precisely because no
one is in the market with one. And coupled with Quattro it would sell to
the minivan demographic, in which safety (i.e. safe kids) is high on the
priority list. 

Ford and I believe Chrysler as well had a high performance minivan.  I
remember Ford's Windstar SHO, bright yellow, it was kinda of a cool joke
though. The poor guy who has to shell out the bucks to buy a minivan for
wife/kids can get some of his 
cajones back by buying a Windstar SHO.  That's the joke, that's the
emotional message, "see I'm not such a wussbag."  This is totally the wrong
idea.  High performance (0-60 times) would be at the bottom of the list on
this type of vehicle. However, an A5 minivan, where luxury, convenience,
high speed autobahn handling, and quattro safety is certainly worth
investigating.  Certainly sell more than than the A6 wagon.  Hell, this is
a perfect market for Volvo. I know a bunch of my parent's rich neighbors
who can't deny the convenience, incredible room, and practicality of
minivans, and they own Chrysler Town & Country's along with the a BMW,
Mercedes or whatever.  There is no other option at this point.  SUVs just
don't cut it.  But if you own a European luxury minivan you don't feel like
such a sellout. 

I'm going to the Detroit Auto Show tomorrow and I'm sure I'll see a
gazillion SUVs, the market beyond saturated, Audi doesn't need one.  I'm
not sure an A5 minivan would be an image builder, if BMW or Mercedes did
it, it's image would lend credibility to the minivan, but I'm not sure the
minivan would build the image.

Volvo could make a killing with this however.

Ricardo David
'87 5ks manual 
'97 A4 1.8tq manual coming soon!