Vorsprung durch Technik brand offers competition winner the chance to travel into space at speed of more than 1500mph. How? Vorsprung durch Technik goes galactic for this week as Audi prepares to set one lucky competition winner 62 miles up into suborbital space at speed of more than 1500mph.

The galactic concept was developed in conjunction with the weekly science and technology magazine The New Scientist. "The New Scientist Space Adventure in association with Audi' complements the A6 advertising campaign revealing that Audi has actually files more patents than NASA. The winner will have to undergo an extensive training before it will be flown at twice the speed of sound in the rocket-powered Xerus Sub-orbital Vehicle in a sub-orbital space, wherein the winner will be able to experience G-force and weightlessness while enjoying the breath taking views of the Blue Planet.

How to Join?

To win the once in a lifetime space adventure entrants must offer the most original and imaginative answer to the question: What is the best patented invention of all time and why? To participants a clue among the most famous and ubiquitous, patented designs include cat's eyes, bra, television, sun tan lotion and the internet.

The director of Audi UK Jeremy Hicks was delighted that their daring project has come to fruition: "This couldn't be much better suited to us. Audi is already no stranger to pushing back the boundaries of what is possible technologically and aesthetically, so it is fitting that when the Vorsprung durch Technik brand runs a competition it doesn't simply see the sky as the limit!" he said.

Jeremy Webb, Editor of the New Scientist, emphasised that contestants will need to employ plenty of 'outside the box' thinking: "Entrants will have to be imaginative, as there will be some strong contenders - both familiar and obscure - for the accolade of best-ever patent. The first contender has got to be the telephone. No other invention has fostered communication in the way the telephone has. Next is the humble electric light bulb. It might seem a dim idea but artificial light has made a profound impact on the world - and is still doing so. There are plenty of other ideas out there: the aeroplane, the transistor, penicillin or Velcro. And I'm dying to see a great justification for how bubble wrap changed the world!"

The Audi campaign claims that compared to NASA they have filed 9,621 patents in developing the A6 Saloon and Avant, while the NASA was just able to file 6, 509 patents to date.

The competition will officially open on February 1, 2007 and will end on April 30, 2007. The winner will be announced on May 31 included in the June 2 issue of New Scientist.

About Audi AG

Audi AG is a subsidiary of Europe's largest automaker, Volkswagen. The acquisition and redevelopment of Audi together with other famous brands like Bentley, Skoda, SEAT and Lamborghini has helped the German automaker, VW to become the strong global force in the industry. Volkswagen is renowned for its top-of-the-line automobiles and also a famous brand of high quality auto parts like Volkswagen clutch.