Unless you live under a rock, you are familiar with the hugely successful erotic novel 50 Shades of Grey, and know that it is about S&M. The novel has now been turned into a big Hollywood film, and Audi has jumped at the opportunity to be its official sponsor and car supplier.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with that. It is a great marketing opportunity for the brand. But Audi is not really a marque you would associate with S&M, is it? If the film was about cuddling, then yes, Audi would have been great. But a rough and tumble supercar like a Koenigsegg would have been better choice for this one. For starters, you have to strap yourself in it before you can drive it. And it gives you all sorts of beating and bruising, and sometimes even strangling, as you are going along!

At any rate, Audi is featured rather heavily in 50 Shades of Grey the movie, with no less than five models. They include Audi R8 V10 Spyder, Audi S8, Audi S7, Audi Q7 TDI and the all-new Audi A3. Obviously, the high-end models like the R8 and S8 will be driven by the guy, and the low-level A3 by the chick.

“It was a natural fit for Audi to be a part of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ as it’s brought to life in theaters,” added Loren Angelo, Director of Marketing for Audi of America. “Audi is a brand that symbolizes performance, technology and modern design. The natural inclusion of our hottest models in this series illustrates how Audi has become truly synonymous with sophisticated luxury.”