Re: Marketing 101 (class postponed?)

["Psychotic Don't-you-dare-tickle-me Elmo" <honge@creighton.edu>]

>> Here  is my idea of what Audi should sell in the US market and never
>> mind what they say about not being able to sell Americans hatchbacks.

>This sounds like the "kid in a candy" store product line.  (Although you
>missed a big opportunity with coupes on the A6 basis.  And what about an S8?
> And the TDI V8?  And only one powertrain on the TT?)  But okay, lets give
>the plan some consideration.
>...
>As they say in the car biz, "It doesn't pencil."

Heck, you painted a excellent biz picture!

It also shows there are different people with different point-of-views. My
eyebrow rose up when the A8 line was only commented with "keep it luxury."
And looking at the rest, the more "powerful" models are toward the bottom
lines. Geez, who's gonna buy that $65,000 RS3?? Or the "wimpmobile" A8?
Financially enhanced people love fun, too. Where do the V12s (and more
power engines) line up in BMW, MB, etc.? Didn't RR used to advertise
engine power as "enough?" In top of line models, luxury (unlike, um,
domestic models) isn't the only thing.

As someone else suggested that Audi needs to be marketed more "in line"
with VW. My opinion is that's precisely the problem with Audi in the U.S.
-- it's too closely associated with VW. Many people say Audi as VW
rebadged with higher prices. With Piech decision on future VAG as whole,
that may literally come true -- as some Brit mags have pointed out, "Audi
without the badge & price tag" on the new Passat. I'd say that's one of
the major problem with Audi in the U.S. -- being under the shadow of VW.

Ah, I feel MUCH better now. (^:

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