VIDEO: Audi S4 vs. downhill slalom skier
The 2009 Audi S4 has some serious performance chops. The four-ringed sports sedan can hit 60 in 5.1 seconds, thanks in part to its 330-horsepower, supercharged, 3.0-liter V6. Some of the credit also goes to Audi's excellent quattro AWD system, which helps keep the S4 planted in most any situation. Just for kicks, Audi decided to test the S4 on a mountainside, complete with plenty of snow and some well placed flags.
To make the S4's downhill slalom interesting, Audi TV pitted it against an actual downhill skier. The skier was equipped with Audi-branded skis, so the automaker wins no matter what. Hit the jump to see this unusual race unfold, complete with a surprising winner. Hat tip to Mobilehavoc.
[Source: YouTube]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rambo 4:31PM (3/07/2009)
Well, that was sweet. I thought it was an early sneak peek of the next Top Gear season at first.
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Mobius_1 7:38PM (3/07/2009)
And in true Top Gear tradition, the car gets beaten by a small Frenchman on skis.
Acefighter 3:30PM (3/08/2009)
Put The Stig behind the wheel, and it would have ended differently. lol
Beastage 7:02AM (3/08/2009)
Top Gear wouldn't make such a stupid scene... that was not a slalom slope it was almost flat!
Other Man 4:37PM (3/07/2009)
Perhaps a bit over-priced, but I do love the new S4s.
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bill 4:35PM (3/07/2009)
Why does every video anymore have to be so choppy, using jerk-motion edits and push-pull zoom crap. We would like to see the car do what you are inferring it does.
Can not watch much video anymore. They all look like the camera was given to some Tourettes syndrome teen that's trying to be "cool" and show all the other geeks his video chops.
Well tardo, we are not interested in your film chops. Stay in school and make your "art" projects there. Then come out pick up a camera and get a SteadyCam to make a real movie that can be watched.
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Chris 4:48PM (3/07/2009)
Agree with your point, but why be offensive with the "tardo" and Tourette's usage?
Joe K. 4:50PM (3/07/2009)
Its for the ADD generation. Haven't you seen the TD Ameritrade ads with Sam Waterston? They're from the same vein..
Yaroukh 5:14PM (3/07/2009)
Because with plain-old editing it would be too obvious that the cars gets embarrassingly beaten. Next time Audi will compete with submarine.
graham 5:51PM (3/07/2009)
You infer. I imply. Although I agree about video quality decline.
Nick 6:01PM (3/07/2009)
Agreed, this could have been cooler if it weren't so over-produced...
Mike 6:49PM (3/07/2009)
I don't think it would have been any better if it wasn't choppy. They did that because the raw footage was boring and the skier won.
Jon 8:33AM (3/08/2009)
I hope you realised that they filmed this over and over again, a far shot, then closer and closer individual shots. There's like a few QUICK shots of both of them appearing on the same frames (which looked really slow), other than that you either see the skier or the car -- coz you know just in case this guy drove over him... and the choppy shots were over-the-top... and in the end the hugging scene was really unnecessary (coz it was known to the viewers that they did the "race" at least 5 times for those different angled shots.
Shawn 5:11PM (3/07/2009)
that was a horrible commercial. that car never made two gates in a row or they would have shown it!
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catfish 5:21PM (3/07/2009)
car doesn't stand a chance in hell. a good racer will turn with a ~15m radius at ~50mph w/o losing speed. even with studded tires no car can come close to that.
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innoc3nt 8:54AM (3/08/2009)
But it'd be the other way around if it was uphill, no pun intended. :D
graham 5:54PM (3/07/2009)
I have to say, pretty cheesy ending.
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why not the LS2LS7? 6:00PM (3/07/2009)
AWD doesn't help you turn or stop. So it's not helping here.
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MikeW 7:07PM (3/07/2009)
No, this is an add for Audi's torque vectoring rear differential.
Rev 5:11AM (3/08/2009)
AWD does help you in turns. Compared to a RWD car definitely. In wet conditions especially.