Automakers don’t just want to sell cars anymore. They want to engage us in holistic brand activations. As part of that effort, nearly every marque now has a “lifestyle collection,” including wardrobe lines, designer collaborations, and an assortment of branded items. We surveyed the field, curating a list of 10 odd (or oddly appropriate) items car companies will try to sell you on the Internet. Each, at the very least, should prove a guaranteed conversation starter.
AudiOpoly Board Game ($70)
Germans love their automotive-themed board games. Audi, for example, will sell you the “AudiOpoly” board game. “Pitstop” replaces jail, as no Audi owner would ever drive recklessly enough to end up there. Players buy cars instead of properties and receive both red flags and speeding tickets. No mention of whether there’s a “Chance” card that offers a check engine light that reveals nothing on a diagnostic test yet still requires a multi-thousand-dollar engine-out repair to sort out (with a dice roll to determine whether the light comes on again three days afterward).
Porsche GT3 Cup Spoiler Wall Shelf ($4,230)
Porsche buyers will never believe this, but the official Porsche store offers a wide array of mundane items at a substantial markup brought on for no discernible reason other than that it’s from Porsche. Can we tempt with you a $70 infant onesie? How about a $50 coffee thermos? What better stocking stuffer could there be than this $20 set of 911 paperclips? But the true Porsche aficionado requires something a bit more premium. For that special soul, Porsche offers this $4,230 GT3 Cup Spoiler wall shelf. You can now buy a four-figure Porsche option without buying the car.
