Audi R8

[Leonidae]

Too bad that Porsche will get an advantage soon, because it will be adapting DSG into their designs. Porsche 911 GT3 with DSG, anyone?

 

[YSSMAN]

...Now that I think about it, technically speaking the R8 and GT3 will be second cousins with Porsche owning 20% in VAG, and VAG owning about 20% of Porsche. Now thats a family feud!

(I like the looks of the Audi, but I'd rather have the GT3, IMO)

 

[harrytuttle]

...I'd rather row my own gears, personally, but that setup for the DSG tranny is quite unique!

I think the DSG definitely suits the car, like SMG suits the M5/M3. It's heavily track-oriented, and a tech-fest everywhere else, why not continue the theme with the gearbox?

 

[YSSMAN]

Certainly DSG fits the "LeMans" mentality that the R8 pushes forward, but I'm an ignorant, traditionalist American when it comes to operating the gear-lever. There is just something about operating it all yourself that is a bit more appealing. Granted, I'd rather go DSG than an SMG setup in most instances, and obviously DSG is a better option than VW's Triptronic, but I'd still rather use the third-pedal and my right hand.

...Its just easier that way...

 

[Poverty]

this car aint got dsg. The gearbox is a modified version of the gallardo gearbox.

 

[YSSMAN]

You mean the rather over-priced "E-Gear" from Audi/Lambo? Granted it is better since you don't have to deal with the notoriously-crappy Lambo transmissions, it still isn't that great.

 

[Poverty]

 

[Tornado]

Wow. The whole "aluminum concept" idea doesn't really fit this that well.

 

[Omnis]

I LOVE how that looks.

 

[red70mach1]

What I won't understand is they're calling it wive's car. Come on!!! Get real!!! V8 power is more than sufficient for a car this stature.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Woah! Go Audi, this car looks absolutly amazing. 100x better than the spy shots.

 

[niky]

Man, it's great how much nicer it looks in the flesh, so to speak, than in concept, both on paper and digitally (gran turismo).

Good thing, too, that they're leaving a little breathing room for the Gallardo, but not much...

What's up with VAG? First, Volkswagen tries to nudge into Audi territory, then Audi tries to nudge into Lamborghini territory? Never mind Porsche... Porsche's semi-independent bosses seem set on invading everyone's turf, and I won't be surprised to see a Gofl-sized Porsche tootling around in another few years...

But if Audi's going to impinge on Lambo, it's got a pretty good start with this...

 

[harrytuttle]

What's up with VAG? First, Volkswagen tries to nudge into Audi territory, then Audi tries to nudge into Lamborghini territory? Never mind Porsche... Porsche's semi-independent bosses seem set on invading everyone's turf, and I won't be surprised to see a Gofl-sized Porsche tootling around in another few years...

I keep saying this, but Audi doesn't want to listen to me....

But if Audi's going to impinge on Lambo, it's got a pretty good start with this...

Agreed. 👍

 

[YSSMAN]

I think VAG realized how stupid they were trying to bump VW up to Audi-levels, but that problem still exists. As for Audi getting too big for it's shoes, only the R8 is doing much to impede against it's bretheren. That said, I like the R8 better than the Gallarado, more or less because it makes an excelent Audi, but is dissapointing as a Lamborghini.

 

[Metar]

Since Audi is developing as a big luxury-brand (basically, it has a model against every model in the BMW range, from the A2 up to the A8), I guess they just had to take on the SLR McLaren. Now they compete with both of the other German luxury-brands, and they can use the R8 as something to learn from.
VAG will probably move Lamborghini slightly higher now that the R8 is up, and bring Lambo back to the Ultracar status it had, and send it off to compete against Ferrari, Maserati, Pagani, rather than let it compete against it's own vehicles.

 

[steven]

hi guys, metar/gingiba told me to check out this little corner of gtp for car news. looks promising!

This car is 100,000 euros for germans i think. So about £80,000 for us brits.

you know what kind of country i live in? they have found out special car taxes that causes this car to cost .......
€150.000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
let's move to germany - meh maybe not.

 

[harrytuttle]

I think VAG realized how stupid they were trying to bump VW up to Audi-levels, but that problem still exists. As for Audi getting too big for it's shoes, only the R8 is doing much to impede against it's bretheren. That said, I like the R8 better than the Gallarado, more or less because it makes an excelent Audi, but is dissapointing as a Lamborghini.

Moving a brand from one segment to another is difficult at best, and insane at worst. There's no telling how the public will take to such left-field maneuvers (Phaeton vs. Touareg; Gallardo vs. LM002). Just getting the timing right is a black art. The R8 arrives a great time: 10 years of solid S4/S6 models, epic S8, a ballistic RS6, followed by the wonderful new S4/RS4. It's a slow burn, but it worked. All that fits in well with Audi's history (Quattro Sport).

Whether it's the right move for Audi in the end, that's another story. I think it should have focused more on the S#/RS# models. If they didn't own Lamborghini, then the R8 is perfect. As it is, the R8 is a spectacular car, just not the direction I think they should be heading. When was the last time Audi had a mid-engine road car? When was the last time Audi had such a focused supercar? Or a supercar of any kind? I'm sure it will sell out everywhere it shows up, but it's as bad a fit as the Phaeton. Not sure why the Touareg works, though....

VAG is hugantic. With so many sub-brands, they have no reason to overlap as much as they do. Even Bentley is having its personal space reduced. And where can Bugatti go after the Veyron? Weren't they supposed to have a model just like the R8? Such a distinct lack of focus has undone greater empires....

Anyway, this is me until then:

 

[YSSMAN]

Well from what I understand the Phaeton has worked out well in Europe, but sadly went belly-up here in the US, a first for VW that I can think of. The Touareg however is argueably one of the best examples of what VW can do when they set their mind to doing something. Granted, it is a bit expensive for a Volkswagen, but given what you are getting when you spend that money, you can't complain much.

 

[steven]

Well from what I understand the Phaeton has worked out well in Europe, but sadly went belly-up here in the US, a first for VW that I can think of. The Touareg however is argueably one of the best examples of what VW can do when they set their mind to doing something. Granted, it is a bit expensive for a Volkswagen, but given what you are getting when you spend that money, you can't complain much.

sorry but some correction is needed.
phaeton worked BOLLOCKS over here in europe. choosing this for a model was such a bad choice.
touareg is indeed a huge success. and a mother of a car it is. they're all over the place here in the netherlands.

and to harry - i wouldn't want to think of a world without the great le mans/r8 car. what a beaut - can't wait to see the first one IRL.

 

[usedHONDA]

At a glance, the third picture you posted makes it look like an S2000.

 

[Roo09511]

I absolutely hate this car. It's pointless to a whole new level, a straight up hodge-podge of some already great (and some arguably good) VAG vehicles. It took the rear end of a Gallardo, added some Audi roundness to it, took the side of the Veyron, rounded it out more and reduced the amount of two-tone paint, and then decided to be bold and make a 110% disgusting front end.

Sorry Audi, if this is what you give us to compete with the other uber luxury speedsters of Germany, you lost. Big time.

 

[Tornado]

While I will say that I agree with you that this car is stupidly pointless overall, it must be said that that does not mean that the car in itself will be bad.
While it is rather unfortunately positioned in a location that it not only competes with a sister brand (which even has essentially the same car) but also the brand of the parent company and a couple exotics which also use the same parts (the Spyker C8 comes to mind), it may still be a nice car.

 

[Roo09511]

Nice as a driving car, most likely, cause it's still an Audi.

 

[Jim Prower]

Audi has GOT to do something about the name! I keep on thinking of the LMP1 car!

 

[exigeracer]

a couple exotics which also use the same parts (the Spyker C8 comes to mind),.

I highly doubt Spyker has anything to worry about. Their buyers wipe their arses with R8s.

 

[Poverty]

The R8 will most likely be faster than the spyker around a track. Also the only same parts the spyker uses, that I can thing of is the 4.2 V8 it borrows which onlky shares about 20% of the same components of the R8 engine. Also the chassis is very different from the R8 and thats assuming spyker borrowed that aswell, cause if they havent I dont see how the spyker has anything in common with the R8 other than the basic engine block.

If spyker has nothing to worry about, then neither do audi. No one in the market for a lambo is gonna defect to a audi. The lambo is alot more desirable.

Also if this car is pointless, then so are all other sports cars.

 

[LoudMusic]

Not really doing it for me. Primarily the front end is not appealing.

 

[Tornado]

Also if this car is pointless, then so are all other sports cars.

Because it is an Audi, right?
I don't want this to turn into another flame war, so I will get this out in the open: I AM NOT SAYING THE R8 IS A BAD CAR.
Anyways, the R8 is in a horrible marketing position, and as such is a pointless car for the brand as it does nothing for the brand at all. This is because it directly competes with the Lambo and it will not be allowed to compete with the 911 in any meaningful way, which was the entire point of the car in the first place.

The R8 will most likely be faster than the spyker around a track.

Be very careful with your blanket statements. The R8 weighs roughly 650 lbs more than the C8 Laviolette, and has only 20 more BHP. And unless they managed to fix the Gallardo's main problem, it will still be an understeering pig.

 

[YSSMAN]

No one in the market for a lambo is gonna defect to a audi. The lambo is alot more desirable.

Depending on where your personal preferences are, yes and no. I'm generally not a Lamborghini fan whatsoever, no matter how much I love VAG. Their cars just aren't what they used to be, killer-performance with both classic and innovative looks. In my opinion, they dropped the ball with the Gallardo, and up untill now the Murc has been a joke. The LP640 changed a lot of things, but it still isn't anything like the Diablo, Countach that preceeded it.

Most "sane" people would agree with you, but the only Gallardo that I would even consider buying would be the R8, followed by the drop-top Lambo.

 

[Poverty]

The updated gallardos have been getting much better reviews in driving terms, with some calling the car phenomenal.

The gallardo is getting a facelift and major power boost anyway.

As for the gallardo being a understeering pig is exaggerting, and not what the lambo engineers consider a flaw, as it was designed to be that way. Not everyone is a race car driver.

The R8 weighs roughly 650 lbs more than the C8 Laviolette, and has only 20 more BHP.

It has around 30 extra HP and much more consistent torque through the rev range.

This is because it directly competes with the Lambo and it will not be allowed to compete with the 911 in any meaningful way

The leon cupra, audi a3, and golf gti all pretty much identicle, yet each of them have very different customers at the end of the day and the price difference isnt all that great. Now look at the price difference between the lambo and the audi. Great big difference, and big difference in power aswell.I dont see gallardo sales dropping because of the R8 anytime soon.

As for the 911, porsche cant force VAG to make a crap car to not compete with it. Audi aimed for the 911, but again the cars are very different, and I dont think porsche have to worry, nothing does. At the end of the day with there now being a R8 alongside the 911 it means that it will take more sales away from the likes of BMW and mercedes and halo the rest of the audi range.