The Cowhide Corridor: Audi's Leather-Covered Conference Room

Are your sure Donna did not turn on the floor heaters?

Launching a car for the "understated/discrete" customer in a excessive & wasteful room. Next year maybe the floor will be active ventilated!

I guess one of the reasons Audis are overpriced. They decide to do crap like this. I would feel stupid just walking in there. How did the leather not rip when women walked on them in high heels?

"Many Bovines died in the making of this floor."

Some people have no sense of propriety.

"Why did Audi do it? Because it could."

Just because you could doesn't me you should.....

How do they intend on keeping this clean and free from scuffs?

Rediculously stupid. Unreal, in these current times, even for a luxury/premium car maker...

Awesome way to piss off PETA though.

Tom Brady crashed the previous floor while "test walking" on it, so they had to build this one on a tight deadline and forgot to throw in vents.

This is a sad attempt at marketing and extravagance. Audi needs to be ashamed of itself. Absolutely ashamed at such waste during these times that people could use some charity instead…

funny to see these angry comments. most likely not potential a8 demographic. kudos to audi for such creative execution. it's really impressive.

"discrete/understated" minds don't buy $80K car.

I'm a big fan of Audi but this is impractical and a waste of resources. Cheezy

I like it. It's all about making a statement. There's more opulence and waste in a lot of peoples houses than worrying about the leather Audi used in that showroom.

Lether is meant to be used and it wears out.

What about all the leather that ends up in the junk yard after all the luxury cars that are on the road?

We could all drive Lexus', BMW's. MB's and Audi's with Canvas interior and not even use leather anymore.

The high horse is already full, thank you.

This was most likely made with cowhide that did not meet the quality standards for interior fitment. In a way, this is recycling leather that was otherwise destined for a more wasteful end.

A friend forwarded this article to me. I am a dues paying member of PETA. I joined this site to comment on this article.

I can certainly make sure Audi PR apologizes for this behavior. We do NOT allow this type of behavior towards animals in USA. Regardless, because this article is displayed here, our regional (Midwest) and national sources will make sure Audi hears about our objections to this type of unethical treatment and ignorance toward animals and associated waste, and will not repeat these mistakes in the future.

Regardless of whether this leather was bad leather or not, the message it sends to our youth, is we can disregard well being of animals in this country and get away with it. It is this same thinking, that got us Michael Vick, and the glorification of dog killing in America. We shall absolutely object and force Audi to apologize on this site and nationally.

...the A8 looks SO much better in black, instead of the beige/ tan that I have seen up to this point.
As far as the room... interesting marketing tactic.

OK cow hide is a WAIST product of the modern food industry, the whole charging a premium for leather is a marketing stunt. It's no different than charging a premium for CD's over VHS tapes for years, when CD's were cheaper to make than VHS tapes.

Leather is sold the same way, and I am sure Audi gets one hell of a volume discount on the stuff.

That said leather is also not all that unusual as a flooring option, if you know where to look you can find leather that is specifically processed and sold as flooring material...

http://homerenovations.about.com/od/floors/ss/BestFlooring_8.htm

If you have anything other than bare plywood flooring in your house you have no place in complaining how "excessive" this is.

I disapprove of such a crass waste. I don't believe any cattle died specifically for their hides, but were rather destined first for meat production. Still, waste not, want not - the world's population will increase between 50-100% by the end of the century and squandering resources is stupid, possibly disrespectful of the living things that died to provide these in particular.

I think, next year, they should allow show customers to walk directly on the backs of poor people, hired by Audi for just such purpose. That would be a fitting accommodation for the Audi A8 customer, indeed.

PETA1 needs to chill, however. I agree that it is a wholly-unnecessary display of excess, and an especially-crass "up yours" gesture to the have-nots. But it's their money. If you're throwing a bomber jacket over your shoulders, or putting on those kick azz boots, then you're (like me) kind of the same as Audi, just on a more modest scale. Do you really want PETA picketing your choice in footwear? I'd rather see them come out and say "Heck yeah, we created a leather floor, it was AWESOME...wish you could have seen/smelled it!" than apologize to PETA.

All you need to do is vote with your pocketbook and not buy their products.

Oh, wait...

IM

For those people who think there is good leather and bad leather, perhaps this gets you a dose of reality: http://bit.ly/aBKIv6

Think about that next time you think leather goods are cheap. They are not, a price is paid every day. Some of it we can justify because of needs and necessities. Others we must stand up against.

Write Audi and show your disgust at their ostentatious wasteful act that pays no respect to our society's values

"Our society's values". Which society are you talking about Peta1? Leather is EVERYWHERE. People not only sit in it, they wear it and accessorize it. And this is in no way like Michael Vick and dog fighting. That was beyond random/ignorant.

peta1 - i hope you realize that your contributions re leather/animals/etc are peripheral topics, irrelevant to this blog. honestly you are ruining the reader experience. pls stop.

PETA, People Enjoying Their Audis.

@peta1 - You say PETA does not allow? Who put you in charge? Have you made sure all the American kids are properly fed and educated already before protecting your precious bovines?

In case anyone wants to hear about hypocrisy, ask PETA (the organization, not the poster) about how many animals they've killed at their VA shelter? Have they never heard of a "no kill" shelter, or is their bias against owning pets make them believe that it is preferable to kill 17,000+ animals, over 85% of those brought to their shelter?

Using leather that could be used for objects that are durable to some extent, like shoes, car seats, furniture, handbags, belts and accessories, is one thing and no issue, IMO, but a floor for an auto show display that will be pulled up and discarded is just a waste. It smacks of slaughtering buffalo for only their tongues or catching sharks only to take their fins.

@PETA1:
Why waste time preaching to us? Just go directly to AUDI and let them know how you feel.

I sure all of you who are throwing stones at Audi for such waste are not the same people that throw away half the food on your plate, don't recycle, reuse, buy a new cell phone every two years, have to have the latest flat screen tv, say please and thank you, hold the door open for others and so on.

Amazing how many people have a so called value system but its definition fluctuates based on how they feel at the moment and what works best for them.

Peta1: "We do NOT allow this type of behavior towards animals in USA... Regardless of whether this leather was bad leather or not, the message it sends to our youth, is we can disregard well being of animals in this country and get away with it. It is this same thinking, that got us Michael Vick, and the glorification of dog killing in America"

Using leather as flooring material leads to dog fighting/killing... This is a logical fallacy. You have no power and neither does Peta. I have been to plenty of establishments adorned in leather; leather walls, chairs, couches, etc. Peta is a joke, it actually released a statement over President Obama killing a fly during an interview. Go throw paint on movie stars and stop commenting on auto blogs.

dieseltc:

Your argument is apples and oranges ridiculous. What does opening doors have to do with having a moral opposition to killing animals. Furthermore, are you morally superior to all those you address? Do you finish all the food on your plate, recycle, reuse, own a 2+ year old cell phone (lol), own a cathode ray television, always say please, and open doors for strangers? Have you ever considered that you are judging others according to your own moral standards? By the way, capitalism (buying new cell phones, tv's, etc.) has been the greatest tool for stopping worldwide hunger since humans invented agriculture.

AUDI RULES!!!

@ agnh (RULES) Holy COW, no bun intended. I just realized I'm a member of P.E.T.A, P-E-T-A-, PETA.
People Enjoying There Audi's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SWWWEEEEET

@ illinoismike – MAJORLY RULES!!!!! Walking on the backs of poor people is a win, win for everyone involved. The poor people get paid, Audi gets it’s upscale marketing out, and no animals would be harmed in the event, except the ones that poor people would ride to and from the event….. GENIUS!

It's sad though that Audi couldn't afford a MINK floor covering.....maybe after the economy picks up!