AR Rewind #6 - Audi R8 Targa

Rewind: This is the sixth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Hot on the heels of the Audi S5 convertible Scott Oldham and I reviewed ideas for either an R8 convertible or targa coupe. We settled on a targa top due to the mechanics of a mid-engine super car. Photos of the real car were taken with the windows down in the Edmunds backlot which I then blended with bits and pieces from a Lotus Elise and a Saab 9-3 convertible.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces came Lotus Elise and Saab 9-3 convertible
• Blended in photo of the car interior with the windows down
• Removed the roof interior from view in the front windshield

Execution Highlights - Rear

• Donor convertible pieces came Lotus Elise and Saab 9-3 convertible
• Blended in photo of the car interior with the windows down
• Custom brushing to fill in the background

Final Thoughts: This was my favorite work for Edmunds to date. It really came together once I filled in the background elements where the coupe roof was prior. Even though Audi eventually went with a full convertible, I bet this would have nailed the look if they had gone offered a targa version.

Original Blog Link: Raise the Roof: Audi R8 Targa

AR Rewind #5 - Audi S5 Convertible

Rewind: This is the fifth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Keeping on a convertible theme, the next brief was to put together a quick rendering of what an Audi S5 convertible. We agreed to chrome out the a-frame and use a behind the scenes photo of the S5 sitting in their studio or another article.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces came Audi A4 Cabriolet
• Converted a-pillars to chrome-look
• Custom brushed trunk/deck lid

Final Thoughts: This was another one that came together quickly within just two evenings. Changing the a-frame was good choice as that definitely made it to production as did the brightwork along the body line.

Original Blog Link: Early Look: 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet

Thoughts from the 2010 Chicago Autoshow

Personal File: I hit the Chicago Auto Show last weekend with no grand expectations. I knew the show was going to be more restrained than years previous due to the economy and that many brands are no longer in business. In lieu of this, I was surprised to see many automakers continuing to hand out lavish brochures.

After collecting brochures from every manufacturer (as I do every year) and reviewing them when I got home, I noticed that both Cadillac and AUDI had some issues. I know that photography and artwork had to be created and approved far ahead of show time, but these two manufacturer brochures really stuck out to me.

Cadillac leads my review with two oddities. The first is clear case of "cut and paste" from one CTS to another - a wagon to a sedan. The second Cadillac oddity is the DTS. In what appears to be a wheel swap, the wheels shown have the appearance of hubcaps due to the incorrect angle/perspective. Click an image below to see more.

Cadillac CTS

Cadillac DTS

AUDI is next with two oddities of their own. Both of the issues are with non-moving vehicles. I believe the goal was to make each image more dynamic by adding wheels that were in motion, but both images failed. The original wheels on the A5 convertible and A8 are still clearly visible in some areas. Click an image below to see more.

AUDI A5 'vert

AUDI A8

What do you think - did I just stumble upon a dirty little secret with manufacturer brochures or was it just a bad year for AUDI and Cadillac?

All source photos copyright original owners

Raise the Roof: Audi R8 Targa

From Edmunds InsideLine: SANTA MONICA, California — With the launch of the elusive 2008 Audi R8 coupe in full swing and a high-powered V10 model on the way shortly, it's no surprise that an open-top model is in the works for 2009.

In order to preserve the Audi R8's superior handling characteristics, expect the future open-air R8 to use a removable targa top instead of a full convertible like the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

Click here to view this article.

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UPDATE: The link to this article no longer exists as Edmunds' Inside Line was discontinued in 2013. You can still view the original article via the Wayback Machine.

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Early Look: 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet

From Edmunds InsideLine: SANTA MONICA, California — Audi already has convertible versions of its A4 and TT coupes, so it's not exactly a stretch to assume a drop-top version of the new Audi A5 coupe will be coming down the pipeline. A natural for going cabriolet, expect to see Audi chopping the top on both the A5 and sporty S5 trims.

Unlike the 2009 Infiniti G37 convertible, the new A5 and S5 cabriolets are expected to use a folding soft top instead of a more complicated and heavier retractable hardtop. Both the current A4 cabriolet and new TT roadster use similar soft-top mechanisms.

Click here to view this article.

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UPDATE: The link to this article no longer exists as Edmunds' Inside Line was discontinued in 2013. You can still view the original article via the Wayback Machine.

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