Audi Design Grand PianoEver wondered what a piano designed by Audi would look like? Probably not but we're pretty sure that you're curious enough to see how the Audi Design Studio team in Munich managed to blend in styling traits from its automobile division to an entirely different product. We're no design specialists but we reckon that the curvalicious outer skin and aluminum details of the Bosendorfer Grand Piano leave no doubts even to an untrained eye that this product is the result of the work of Audi's design team.

Audi Design Grand PianoThe German firm's young designers worked closely with the specialists at Vienna's Bosendorfer workshop so as to not affect the acoustics of the impressively styled concert grand piano.

"You can imagine the respect with which we approached the challenge of redesigning a musical instrument" said Wolfgang Egger, Head of Audi Group Design. "The limitations we faced were necessary as a means of stimulating our creativity. We were obliged to study the instrument in depth, and develop an all-embracing concept from the very start. The project was a useful source of experience for our young designers, and will benefit them later when they work on car design."

The Audi Design grand piano will have its world debut at a major ceremony held on July 16, 2009 in the Audi Forum Ingolstadt to celebrate the German automaker's centenary.

Unlike most design projects of the sort, Bosendorfer's Audi Design Grand Piano will actually go on sale from July 16 onwards at a price of approximately €100,000 or close to $140,000 at today's exchange rates.

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6 Comments

  1. Anonymous » July 07, 2009  

    Looks like a LianLi designed casing :)

  2. Anonymous » July 07, 2009  

    I've performed on a Bosendorfer (I'm a classical pianist), and those are amazing instruments. The interesting thing about them is that they have extra notes and strings in the bass (I think there are 97 key instead of the usual 88)

    I would LOVE to have that piano in my home - what a statement it makes. And if it's a Bosendorfer, I'm sure it has an amazing touch and sound! They've managed to unite my two passions beautifully!

  3. Anonymous » July 07, 2009  

    Good Lord, it looks like those loose plastic bits that no one can identify that rolls around the floor of Volkswagen products.

  4. Sergejs » July 08, 2009  

    Now you can buy Audi grand piano with race inspired Sporty aluminum pedals, lowered ride hight and Sport, lightweight legs! Plus, it comes with a special button that makes Audi TDi engine noises! Also includes a sporty bench. Non electrical, non massaging, non heated, non adjustable bench. Base price - 100k €

    Actually, I must say it is a good idea, and well executed to promote Audi brand. Yea it's easy to make fun of it, but it looks like proper German design. Very Audi too. Only it leaves you with the usual German cold, uninviting feeling. No wonder Germans are among the craziest Eco tourists in the world - they are so exited to see proper forests, lakes and wilderness, to escape the industrialized German quality cities.

  5. Anonymous » July 08, 2009  

    What a great way to ruin a classic piano - inflict some boring, angular shaped Audi "design" onto it. What's next, add a big gaping grill at the top to round off the Audi look?

  6. Anonymous » July 09, 2009  

    So is Steinway & Sons going into sports cars, then?

    Having said (wrote) that, Yamaha makes pianos (and bikes) but have never been overtaken on the road by a Yamaha Upright... :)

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