AUDI + FC BAYERN: NEW SEASON, NEW CARS, SAME POWER PLAY.
What do you give world-class footballers who already have it all? Another set of free cars, of course. Audi just handed over the keys - metaphorically and literally - to FC Bayern Munich’s top players for the new season, continuing a partnership that’s now been going strong for 23 years. This year, the Bayern boys got to play kid-in-a-candy-store with Audi’s latest electric and hybrid lineup. Captain Manuel Neuer and a few teammates went practical-lux with the Audi Q8 TFSI e quattro, while the flashier types - Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, and Michael Olise - couldn’t resist the all-electric RS e-tron GT performance, Audi’s high-voltage halo car. Meanwhile, rising star Tom Bischof went for the sleek Q4 Sportback e-tron, and family man Joshua Kimmich picked the seven-seat Q7 S line TFSI e quattro, because boot space matters when you’ve got four kids and matchday gear to haul.
Audi board member for Sales and Marketing, Marco Schubert, summed it up perfectly: “The FC Bayern players chose vehicles that reflect the diversity of our range – from the compact Q4 e-tron to the powerful Q8 and the sporty RS e-tron GT. Everyone found their perfect match.”
The handover wasn’t your average corporate key exchange either. The players spent the day at the Audi driving experience centre in Neuburg an der Donau, where they swapped football boots for driving shoes and tore around the dynamic handling course. The RS e-tron GT proved a fan favourite — and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to unleash 600+ electric horses on a track, no matter how many zeros are in your paycheck?
Adding a little extra horsepower to the day, Audi also pulled back the curtain on its Formula 1 project. The team toured the F1 assembly workshop, checked out the hybrid V6 engines, poked around the “Mission Control Room,” and got a sneak peek at the engine test benches where the future of Audi’s racing powertrains is coming to life.
FC Bayern’s CEO, Jan-Christian Dreesen, weighed in about the long-term bond: “The vehicle handover is a tradition that reflects our dependable partnership with Audi. After 23 successful years, we continue to share the same ambitions — to push limits and perform at the highest level.”
But it wasn’t all about the pros. Around 100 Audi employees won the chance to meet their football heroes and even hand over the keys themselves. Sixteen lucky staffers personally presented the cars - and judging by the smiles and selfies, it was probably the best Monday ever. So yeah, footballers may not need free Audis, but it’s a PR goal for both sides. Audi gets star power, Bayern gets style and speed, and fans get another reminder that even when you’re at the top of the league, it’s nice to have friends in Ingolstadt.
Take a look at the YouTube short from @GearheadsGathered that explains why you always see FC Bayern Munich players driving Audi cars.
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