Understated reverse snob appeal

["Shaun D. Mullen" <smullen@philly.infi.net>]

Okay, so Audi is white hot in the automotive press.  Well, the spillover
to other media (airline in-flight magazine articles, big-city daily
press, and so on) continues apace.  Got an advance copy of a forthcoming
issue of Fortune magazine, which is most definitely not for the
demographically disadvantaged.  The new A6 wins its Most Improved Wheels
survey of seven near-luxury/luxury marques.  "The four-circle grille is
hot.  Very hot," Fortune gushes.  "Who'd buy it [the A6]?  Anyone smart
enough to appreciate its design, technology, and understated reverse
snob appeal." 

And so as we stand hopelessly by, Audi continues to make better and
better cars that are attracting more and more attention, and there's
nothing to be done about it.  So much for our little secret, he says
semi-seriously.