New Audi Logo Debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show

New Audi logo: The brand trademark, the four rings, has now been combined with the brand claim "Vorsprung durch Technik" (September 2009).

Stresses 'Vorsprung durch Technik'

By Michael Gauthier
September 2, 2009 6:19 PM
Filed Under: Audi, Classics, German

Audi has announced plans to unveil their updated logo internationally for the first time during the Frankfurt Motor Show. The redesigned logo already made an initial debut at the Audi brand's 100th anniversary celebrations.

Deemed to be "more progressive and contemporary than its predecessor", the modernized logo stresses "Vorsprung durch Technik" (Advancement through Technology). According to Peter Schwarzenbauer, a Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales for Audi, "Vorsprung durch Technik is a clear promise to our customers - and an obligation for all Audi employees to render our design even more innovative, our drive systems even more efficient and our product range even more emotion-packed."

The new logo features a bolder version of Audi's trademark four rings. Audi made minor modifications to enhance their size, color, and overall appearance to represent "technical innovative power and lightweight design."

 

Source: Audi

Press Release (Click to expand)

The new Audi logo: trade fair debut at the IAA

  • 100 years of Audi: Corporate Design further evolved
  • New logo now includes brand essence Vorsprung durch Technik
  • Four rings take on a new look
  • Logo download at www.audi-mediaservices.com/epk/newlogo

Visitors to the 63rd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main can expect to witness an extraordinary debut at the trade fair from September 15 onward. In addition to the international launch of numerous technical innovations, AUDI AG is also unveiling the further evolution of the four rings at this year's trade fair stand. Even more progressive and contemporary than its predecessor, the new Audi logo elevates the brand essence to its key message: Vorsprung durch Technik.

"As we see it, Vorsprung durch Technik is a clear promise to our customers - and an obligation for all Audi employees to render our design even more innovative, our drive systems even more efficient and our product range even more emotion-packed," says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG.

Audi has made it possible for customers to experience Vorsprung durch Technik firsthand with technical innovations such as quattro all-wheel drive, intelligent aluminum lightweight design and highly efficient diesel technology. For the first time, the brand claim has now been combined with the brand trademark, the four rings, in the various versions of the new logo. The rings are still the visual focus of the new logo, but their altered surface and new profile give them an even more contemporary look.

The new typeface "Audi Type" is also part of Audi's evolved Corporate Design. It was the result of an international typography competition and has already been in use since the start of the year. Its aim was to enhance the independent character of the Audi typeface - clear, minimalist and technical.

The Audi color code, used in all communication media, has also been further developed and will be used even more stringently with the new Corporate Design. As main color, aluminum silver represents technical innovative power and lightweight design, an Audi core competency and one of the most important future technologies that set the brand apart.

"Audi is the most progressive premium brand," says Peter Schwarzenbauer. "This orientation to the future is in our genes - and in time for Audi's 100th anniversary has consequently now become a part of our brand logo."

Starting in September, the new logo will be used in all communication measures: from classic advertising, publications and Audi press kits to sponsorship and the Audi website. The redesigned logo already made an initial debut at the Audi brand's 100th anniversary celebrations. The new Audi logo will be used internationally for the first time during its trade fair debut at the IAA. There it will add the crowning touch to the white, red and black AUDI AG exhibition stand, which covers 6,000 square meters and has been designed to reflect Audi's characteristic "terminal" architecture.

 

Comments

nederina
September 2, 2009 6:41 PM
Call me sentimental but it is a shame that they lose the old typeface of Audi. Congratulations Audi!

scratchy996
September 2, 2009 6:58 PM
the new typeface looks like a placeholder.

Edison
September 2, 2009 6:48 PM
The logo represents "...lightweight design"? Audi needs to do the lightweight design first...and THEN the new logo.

N20_Purge
September 2, 2009 7:12 PM
It is just shiner than the old one. Just like how vauxhall updated their badge some time ago....

danat86
September 2, 2009 7:31 PM
logo for a big company is like a face for a model. It represents the company and every big company is proud of their logos.

howe2002
September 2, 2009 8:37 PM
Wow!! That is the greatest thing on Earth. The most exciting thing I have ever seen, EVER! in human history!!!! Wow!

rcw
September 2, 2009 8:42 PM
I do think that the four rings are one of the best, sleekest auto logos ever...

kimbo
September 2, 2009 8:49 PM
yeah, that's amazing. I'm totally in love with the new logo - the previous one was awful, but this is brilliant!!!!

popilirol
September 2, 2009 8:52 PM
Who cares what they did lol? Audi is going backwards.

carbonsigma
September 3, 2009 1:33 AM
With a BMW badge as your picture, one would expect nothing less from you.

pscs
September 3, 2009 3:53 AM
I doubt you even drive a BMW. I doubt you even drive.

allroad
September 2, 2009 9:27 PM
at least they are going in a direction...can't say as much about BMW's aweful designs.

catchmyshadow
September 2, 2009 9:49 PM
subtile changes, i like the new shiny rings, the font has never been too important anyway.

TSLi
September 2, 2009 9:55 PM
When I first saw the article I thought it was a major redesign. Glad to see it was just a refresh of the same 'rings' They have a great logo - the 4 metallic rings signifies strength and security. Iconic

pscs
September 3, 2009 3:52 AM
The typeface is pretty standard... though it somehow looks alright when pasted up on the stage.

Iconic
September 3, 2009 8:31 AM
I can't believe how many comments there are about this new logo... mine included.

736939
September 3, 2009 9:46 AM
Logo of 4 rings is great, but Audi text is simple and ugly - if they change text style the must chose NEO style which will be associated with new tech

xenomorph
September 3, 2009 12:00 PM
I wonder when, and if, they will even put this new design onto the vehicles? The current cars still wear the previuse design rings. Maybe the D4 A8 will be the first to wear them seeing as it is suppost to bring about a new design direction for the brand? It would be interesting to see the difference this makes if they are added to the vehicles.

ifudge
September 3, 2009 4:21 PM
Totally pointless. What a waste of time and energy.

vilivo
September 4, 2009 1:13 AM
yeah, now they need to do something to stop all their cars fronts from looking like a R8 - and I mean ALL their cars' fronts. I know its a corporate identity, and they have done well with it, but my wife's Q7's grille looks like the A3, A4, A6, A5, A8, R8, TT, and any other models I might have missed, VW changed theirs, its Audi's turn now!

e36mmm
September 4, 2009 7:14 AM
lol who changes their logo this many times? i just dont get it. im guessing even they are admitting that they are boring and vague :D they will never be as good as BMW or MB.

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