Slideshow: More Celebrities That Drive Audi
Over the years, Audi has aimed to make their cars synonymous with celebrities by sponsoring movie premieres and loaning them, correctly presuming they might want to buy one. As a result, their cars have been photographed with some of the most famous people in the world. Here are many of those who have driven one.
The It Car
Since 2006, Audi has served as the number one ride-up car for Hollywood celebrities, displacing BMW and Mercedes-Benz. In fact, the Four Rings have blitzed Hollywood with sponsorships, product placement, and an expensive-to-maintain fleet of 35 VIP and 30 chauffeur-driven vehicles in Los Angeles and New York that, according to Audi, directly increase sales. "The entertainment community influences audiences around the world," explained Audi of America president Scott Keogh. "You can feel it when you speak to customers and dealers. They cite movies, TV shows and events that we have been involved with. It puts Audi in the conversation." It also puts celebrities in their luxurious, stylish, and powerful driver's seats long enough for them to realize Audi is the car for them. As a result, Audi has been photographed with some of the most famous people in the world, including Robert Downey Jr (as Tony Stark) above. Here are some of the other celebrities bitten by the Audi bug, with the cars they love to drive.
Justin Bieber
Pop star Justin Bieber made headlines for something other than his music or his driving antics when he revealed his leopard-wrapped Audi R8 that was fitted and dressed at West Coast Customs. It’s not a good look on any car, let alone the Audi R8, and fans didn’t like it any better when they learned that it was supposed to match one of his favorite shoe-trouser combinations. Under that feline skin is a mid-engine 2-seater sports car based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform that packs a V10 FSI engine with two turbocharges rated at 602 horsepower. With all that power under the hood, there was really no need to beat a dead horse with those spots.
Katy Perry
When she's not sharing the American Idol judge table with Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, or stepping onto the stage in front of thousands of her own adoring fans, pop star Katy Perry has been seen all over town in her black A5 Sportback. Of course when Katy's on the scene what she's driving generally takes a back seat to what she's wearing. Or in some cases what she's not wearing.
Lauren Conrad
Scripted reality has obviously been good to The Hills star Lauren Conrad. A while back she was spotted in a brand new black Mercedes-Benz CLK 350 droptop. Since then she has been seen in a sleek silver Audi R8 igniting speculation that she had traded up. Turns out that the R8 isn’t hers at all, but rather a loaner from Audi intended to drum up a little publicity. Regardless, the R8 is a nice look for Lauren.
Zac Efron
We all witnessed Zac Efron transform from High School Musical and Hairspray star to studly leading-man, most recently playing alongside Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman. Somewhere in between was born his love for Audi. When he started to drive, he got an S6 saloon, but in recent years he’s acquired an S5 coupe. Overall, Efron definitely has good car karma — he inherited a unique DeLorean DMC-12 sports car as well as a ‘65 Mustang convertible. He also got to drive an Audi R8 Spyder in his 2009 film 17 Again.
Vanessa Hudgens
Efron's co-star in the High School Musical trilogy was actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens, who also caught the Audi bug. First, she had her Audi S4 Cabriolet, then it was on to the Audi S5 Cabriolet, and now Hudgens has been spotted with a new Audi A7. Rumor has it that the two-door S4 was a 19th birthday gift from then-boyfriend Efron who purchased a nearly similar A5. The matching cars were cute, but not enough to keep the couple together. Hudgens must have decided that Efron wasn't the only thing that couldn't keep her motor running anymore because she also said good riddance to the S4 and made a fresh start with a brand new S5.
Miley Cyrus
Pop star and Happy Hippie founder Miley Cyrus (who once played Disney pop star Hannah Montana) is no stranger to the Biebs and his leopard print R8. In fact, the slumbering leopard was caught parked in front of her place on a couple of occasions. We're not sure if this made Cyrus an instant fan of Audi or not, but she's certainly caught the bug at some point, and fortunately, she went for a simple, elegant black. In 2014 she was honored at an Audi-sponsored Power of Women luncheon for her ongoing charity work with Happy Hippie Foundation, which she founded in 2014 as a non-profit to provide support to homeless youth and the LGBTQ community.
Just because these sessions are so cool, here's a link to some of Cyrus's Happy Hippie Backyard Sessions that she did with a number of musicians including Joan Jett, Ariana Grande, Melanie Safka, Laura Jane Grace, and more. Have a listen next time you're cruising in your Audi.
The Royal Family
With the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle only days away, it seems appropriate to take a look at the what cars the Royals drive when they are actually behind the wheel. As it turns out, almost every immediate member of the Royal family owns an Audi, from Prince Charles’ A6 and A8 limousine to Prince William’s A5 Sportback to Duchess Kate’s A3 and Prince Harry’s diesel A3. It’s understood that family members get a staggering 60% discount on all Audi cars thanks to a leasing arrangement. A spokesman for Audi claims that buyers who purchase more than one car should get a discount. Considering these royals often get photographed driving their cars, it’s clear that Audi is greatly benefiting from this arrangement, too.
Kevin Costner
Actor Kevin Costner (Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Dancing with Wolves, etc.) owns two Audi's: a Q7 and an S8. Do you think he’s so happy here because he got a two-for-one deal, just like the Royal family? Apparently, the SUV was for his son. Costner may have won two Oscars for Dances with Wolves, but he takes home the Best Dad Award for buying his kid an Audi.
Jude Law
English actor Jude Law, who starred in The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hugo, and Anna Karenina, and will be seen in the upcoming Captain Marvel, was once spotted near his Audi A8 somewhere in London. Don't be fooled by the fact that Jude Law is on the right side of the vehicle. Judging by the key in his hand and by the fact that the photo was taken somewhere in London, he is not the passenger but the driver. Let's just not forget that the steering wheel is on the right side in Great Britain. We should also point out that Law was nominated for Oscars for his performances in The Talented Mr. Ripley (RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Cold Mountain. In 2016, Law partnered with rival company Lexus for a TV ad to mark the launch of its "The Life RX" 360º campaign (pictured above). We're not sure if he was really into the Lexus or he was just acting. Regardless, it looks like he's getting comfortable on the red carpet.
The Hoff
In 2016, a bystander captured this video of David Hasselhoff rolling through Warsaw in his custom Audi R8 for Gumball 3000. Hasselhoff plays for the cameras and even takes a seat on the roof of his custom R8. I wouldn’t sit on the hood of my car with that much commotion going on around me, but hey, it’s the Hoff. He's accustomed to dangerous situations. The Baywatch star, who traversed the Dublin to Bucharest rally route in an Audi R8, cut a casual and relaxed figure as he greeted the crowds who'd assembled to see the cars and stars.
Over 100 supercars set off on the 3000 mile journey through 12 countries six days earlier from Dublin (Ireland), incorporating checkpoints and overnight stops in Belfast (Northern Ireland), Edinburgh (Scotland), Manchester (England), London (England), Europa Park (Germany), Prague (Czech Republic), and Budapest (Hungary), raising funds for the Gumball 3000 Foundation throughout the route.
Jonah Hill
Successful actor, producer, and screenwriter Jonah Hill is known for his roles in comedies such as Knocked Up, Superbad, and 21 Jump Street, not to mention more substantial films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Moneyball. Hill used to drive an Audi S5 back in the day when he was making absurdly funny comedies. Then he decided to get more serious and traded it in for the Audi Q5. If we are really lucky, he'll pick up a 1992 Ford Crown Victoria squad car and we can watch them do donuts in a parking lot.
Jason Statham
Action star Jason Statham has three Audi's: an S8, R8, and an A8, all of which seem to fit his persona perfectly. They’re sleek, sexy, and could totally prevail in a high-speed chase. It’s not uncommon for actors to be gifted the cars that were featured in the films they’ve starred in; the A8 was the same car driven by Statham’s character in Transporter 3. Perhaps his real-life A8 was a gift, but then again, considering the films he’s starred in have grossed over $1 billion, it’s not like he struggled to make it one of his daily drivers.
Emma Stone
Hilarious yet poignant actress Emma Stone (Superbad, The Amazing Spiderman, La La Land) loves to hit the gym in her Audi Q5 Open Road. She used to date fellow actor and Spiderman star Andrew Garfield, who’s apparent affinity for Audi’s rubbed off on her since she got her first Audi, an S6, when they were together a few years ago.
B.J. Novak
B.J. Novak, aka Ryan Howard on the hit comedy series The Office probably had no shot of driving an Audi on the salary he made at Dunder Mifflin. But the series has clearly made him a man who can afford a little luxury in his life and he's made the most of it with this Audi A5. As far as luxury cars for famous actors go, an A5 is both sporty and stealthy without being over-the-top. Although we'd rather see him in an Audi TT RS, his character should get a promotion for not opting for a Lexus hybrid.
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell
We're counting Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as one because they’re not often photographed apart. It’s rare that celebrity couples stay together for as long as these two have, especially without getting married even after 33 years. Their Audi A8 ownership imitates their relationship: not too flashy, but still classy and comfortable as ever. The rest of us can only be so lucky to have a lasting partnership let alone an Audi A8!
Ben Affleck
A-list actor Ben Affleck has played many roles, from Batman to Daredevil to Jack Ryan, but perhaps his least-known role has been that of an Audi owner. Affleck's secret is out thanks to a number of paparazzi photographs of him driving his S8, and even receiving a parking ticket. So when the nominees for Best Audi Celebrity Too Cheap To Feed The Meter are announced, I'm going to put my loose change on Affleck.
Anne Hathaway
Hollywood darling Anne Hathaway owns an R8 Spyder, which she purchased in 2012. Because every Oscar-winning actress living in Beverly Hills needs a German supercar. She's also been spotted driving a black sedan. Anne Hathaway picked up a best-supporting-actress Oscar for her role as the tortured prostitute Fantine in Les Miserables—delivering an acceptance speech that she apparently didn't feel happy giving. Said Hathaway in a subsequent interview: "I felt wrong that I was standing there in a gown that cost more than some people are going to see in their lifetime and winning an award for portraying pain that still felt very much a part of our collective experience as human beings.” She may have been uncomfortable wearing that pink Prada gown, but she looks right at home in her R8 Spyder which had to cost more than $150,000.
Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba is best known for her acting career (Sin City, Spy Kids, Fantastic Four) but in the past few years, she’s managed to raise two daughters and build a company that’s now worth over a billion dollars (The Honest Company). Maybe her secret is that she’s done it all while driving an Audi Q7 TDI and an A8 L.
David Beckham
Soccer superstar David Beckham owns more cars than some small dealerships. His relationship with Audi goes back to 2004 when he purchased an A4. An Audi Q7 followed in 2006, as well as an RS6 in 2009. But he didn’t stop there. Beckham picked up an Audi S8 in 2013. He’s made the full transition from hot soccer player to soccer dad.
Kendall Jenner
At first glance, Kendall Jenner is a model and celebrity sister, but her garage reveals her great taste in cars. She picked up her Audi R8 Spyder last year and also owns a powder blue vintage Corvette Stingray. It’s nice to know she puts some thought into her automotive purchases instead of just buying what every other young celebrity does.
Zoe Saldana
When this Guardians of the Galaxy star is not attempting to reclaim the orb from Ronan and fending off the advances of Quill, actress Zoe Saldana spends time with her family... which includes an Audi. After the incredible success of the 2009 film Avatar, in which Saldana played the role of Neytiri, she landed an Audi A8. But in 2015, the Star Trek and Avengers: Infinity Wars star slid over to a Q7 with the birth of her twin boys. Expect to see a lot more of Saldana in the years to come as Avatar 2 through 5 are set to hit the big screen between 2020 and 2025. We can only guess which Audi she will be driving after that run, primarily because it probably hasn't been conceived yet.
Dakota Johnson
Actress Dakota Johnson is the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith her maternal grandmother is actress Tippi Hedren of The Birds fame. Johnson gained attention after her roles in The Social Network (2010) and 21 Jump Street (2012), but she became a household name when she took on the salacious role of Anastasia Steel in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Five more films are currently in the works. It's no wonder she needs her reliable Audi S Q5 to get her from set to set and everywhere in between.
Sophia Bush
Actress Sophia Bush has starred in several popular TV series throughout her 15-year career, like One Tree Hill, Law & Order, and Chicago P.D. You probably wouldn’t guess that she’s an advocate for the environment and thus drives an Audi A3 TDI wagon. In an interview for The Huffington Post, she said, “there is something more that we — and especially America’s drivers — can do: Pull forward, just four short feet at the gas station, to the pump marked “diesel.” Thanks for doing your part, Sophia!
Daniel Craig
As the charming, charismatic secret agent James Bond, British actor Daniel Craig (and his predecessors for that matter) have been seen driving all sorts of gadget-modified cars, from a 1935 Bentley to a 1963 Aston Martin (in three different movies), a 1976 Lotus Esprit, and back to a 2015 Aston Martin DB10 in Skyfall. In real life, Daniel Craig has been seen driving an Audi S6 as well as an R8. Clearly, Craig shares Bond's affinity for fabulous cars. We're just wondering what sort of hidden gadgets Q has tucked away in there.
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