Vorspung Durch Technik

[crispynugget]

What does Vorsprung Durch Technik mean on the car advert and what is the relevance of it?

[Clanad]

Must have been an Audi... 'leading with technology' or better yet, 'Technologically Ahead'... we see it here in the U.S. on occasion. The relevance is the emphasis on technological advances in their product, I expect...

[chasbo]

Agree Its any Audi ad. I think the translation is "Advancement through technology" In other words the vehicle will only improve when the technology improves, which I think is blindingly obvious!!

[jno]

well, not exactly, it's more like 'technology is keeping us ahead' or something. If I wanted to translate it into English it might be 'Driven by technology'.

[shaneystar2]

To be very pedantic it actually means
Progress through technology.

[yelofox]

I heard it means tecnology of the future.

[shaneystar2]

That would be Technologie der Zukunft.
Not quite the same.

[posypink]

I've always wondered what that meant - thanks guys!

So it is progress through technology??

How clever!

[Azimov]

The commercial translated it for you!
The voiceover clearly stated, "Vorsprung Durch Technik... Better by design!"

[CT]

lol at everyone with their slightly different translation.

[jno]

just goes to show there's seldom any such thing as an accurate translation; words in different languages have slightly different meanings. For the record, I wasn't attempting a literal translation with 'Driven by technology' but the sort of slogan an English-speaking ad agency might come up with if the client didn't want to sound impressive and foreign. But in this case they've chosen to advertise their German-ness to English-speaking markets, presumably to emphasise a German reputation for sound engineering.

[yoggy]

An italian, an englishman and a german are captured by saddams men.They're each told they would be given a chance of freedom, all they have to do is choose their preferred vehicle and they can ride off into the desert.

so saddam says to the italian "what method of transport would you wish for?" ITALIAN:"i want a lambourghini diablo - it is one of the fastest cars on the planet and will take me out of this desert faster than you can say pizza"

so saddam takes the italian to his garage and sees the him to his car and lets him drive off into the desert. when the italian is about a mile or two away, saddam gives the order "SCUD!!!" and two scud missiles fly off into the desert and destroying the lambo and passenger.

ENGLISH-MAN: "ill take an aston martin - the best of brittish and cream of the automobile industry." so saddam takes the brit off to his garage and lets the brit drive off into the desert. again, after a mile or so he shouts "SCUD!!!" and two scud missiles fly off destroying the aston and its passenger.

GERMAN: "i only ask for a duck to be strapped to my head, and four springs - one to be strapped to each hand and foot."

being a man of his word, saddam grants the germans wish and, once prepared, the german goes off down the road, bounding along on his springs. after a mile or so, saddam shouts "SCUD!!!" and two missiles go flying off down the road towards the german.

at this time, the duck gives a loud "quack" and the german springs to one side, watching the missiles fly off into the distance to explode - hurting nothing.

saddam is furious! "SCUD!!!" he shouts and again, the duck gives a "quack" and the german springs to the side and watches the missiles fly off and explode in the distance.

eventually, the german gets to the kuwaiiti border safe and sound. saddam sends a trusted member of his military to ask the german how he did it, to