The R8 and the Future of Audi (Warning: Much, Much Words)

[Vonie]

Audi Enters Supercar Fray (Autoweek)
New R8 prototype previews Ingolstadt’s bullish Porsche 911 challenger

Look out Porsche—and for that matter, look out Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes, too—there’s a new German super-sportscar maker in the mix and its name is Audi.

Audi’s new R8, Ingolstadt’s spectacular two-seat mid-engined sports car, spied cloaked in light camouflage at first, was then caught completely exposed as shown in these spy photos. Conspiracy theorists believe the timing of this wide-open view is highly suspect in that it seems to coincide with monthly buff book deadlines for issues that will land at newsstands in time for a certain event in France in June. But thanks to our shorter deadlines, we’re blowing the R8’s cover long before Le Mans.

Previewed as the Le Mans concept car at the 2003 Frankfurt motor show (where it claimed our Editors’ Choice Best Concept award), Audi’s Porsche 911-rival is expected to make its world debut at the Paris motor show in September. Mark mid-2007 for North American deliveries, according to one high-ranking insider who says the R8 will be the most expensive Audi model ever at more than $100,000 in base trim.

Based on the same aluminum space frame and four-wheel drive underpinnings as the Lamborghini Gallardo, the R8 spearheads a major new model thrust by Audi, which aims to increase its lineup dramatically within the next decade. “By 2015 we plan to expand from 22 models to nearly 40,” says Chairman Martin Winterkorn. “Volumes will almost double from today’s level.”
Brenda Priddy & Company
A worthy endeavor from a company whose U.S. reputation, rightly or not, is as a second-tier choice among its German competitors.

The accompanying scoop photographs—taken as the new Audi ventured onto Germany’s Nurburgring circuit for a series of handling tests—back up claims that the R8 production version adheres closely to the look of the Le Mans show car. At first glance it’s hard to pick out real differences between the two: A detailed study, however, reveals it has been altered quite heavily, adopting a completely new aluminum body among other features, though the silhouette and proportions remain.

The headlamps move further up into the fenders, boast a slightly different form, have grown slightly in size and adopt less costly projector beams in place of the concept’s expensive LED technology. Below them sit a newly formed air duct with three instead of the earlier four vertical slats to channel air into the front-mounted radiators and to the R8’s colossal ceramic brake discs.

A single-frame grille, now an Audi styling trait, is wider and gets tighter radii around the edges. It is set into a reshaped clamshell hood that wraps deeper into the front flanks to bisect the front wheel arches, with the shut line for its leading edge positioned between the top of the headlamps and grille for a more cohesive look.

Along the side are more substantial sills, larger mirror housings and reshaped doors, though the look heavily mimics that of the Le Mans with a large air duct set into the bodywork at the door’s trailing edge to cool rear brakes and its mid-mounted engine. The glasshouse design, with the rear quarter window partly obscured by an aluminum panel, is also little changed.
Brenda Priddy & Company
At the rear, its sloping window receives two longitudinal vents on either side; it hinges upward from the roof. The twin rectangular central exhausts have also been replaced by four round tailpipes and the license plate panel is redesigned. Airflow is managed by an underbody diffuser and a spoiler that deploys at speeds greater than 75 mph.

While the new Audi appears far less aggressive than the sharp-edged Lamborghini upon which it is based, R8 shares a clear family resemblance with the second-generation TT (“TT Trapped,” March 20) making its public premiere at the upcoming New York auto show. This is particularly apparent around the front and rear ends, with similarities in the detailing of the body and design of the head and tail lamps. The heavy curvature of the roof also gives the R8 a heavily visual link with other Audi models, including the company’s low slung DTM race car.

An important element in differentiating the R8 is its more upright windshield compared to the Gallardo, giving the car greater height; wheelbase is also said to be 3.5 inches longer.

“We created an Audi package, not one suited to Lamborghini,” insists Audi design boss, Walter de Silva. The additional length should provide the new Audi with greater cabin space and a more upright driving position in keeping with the claim made at the Le Mans’ unveiling that it is an “everyday supercar.”

Under the skin is an aluminum space-frame chassis that uses the same technology found in the flagship A8 sedan. It’s a combination of aluminum extrusions welded or bolted to cast aluminum nodes. Much of the body is fashioned from aluminum. Claims are it will deliver a heady mix of stiffness, low weight and effective crash protection.Its suspension is a classic double wishbone layout at each corner and, if this particular prototype is any indication, it will ride on 19-inch wheels and tires—those here taken from the Gallardo but set to be swapped for unique items by the time the car goes on sale. Its drive system, like all recent four-wheel drive Audi models, will be apportioned by a Torsen differential in a nominal 40:60 split front to rear.

While the appearance and basic mechanical layout of the R8 has now been revealed, its engine package remains somewhat of a mystery. Word from Audi’s headquarters point to two different options, a move that pitches it directly at the Porsche 911 Carrera and more powerful 911 Turbo. To this end there will be both a 420-hp base model using the same 4.2-liter V8 in the RS4; extra boost comes from a 480-hp 5.2-liter V10 from the S8.

With a curb weight of 3200 pounds, the R8’s performance should be scintillating. Nothing’s official, but 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and a top end beyond 180 mph seems within reach for this supercar. It remains to be seen whether Audi will turn the wick up further with a twin turbocharged R8–as hinted by the Le Mans, which ran a blown version of the Gallardo’s 5.0-liter V10 that pumped out 610 hp.

This much is certain: Such a monster engine is under development based on the S8’s larger 5.2-liter engine. That is planned for the RS6 due in 2009. However, its appearance in the R8 would almost certainly place sales of the Gallardo, and for that matter the Murcielago, under pressure from within—something Winterkorn is clearly keen to avoid.

On the other hand, it would seriously help underline Audi’s aim of building Germany’s most sporting cars, and provide competition to the Mercedes-Benz SLR and a long rumored mid-engined successor to BMW’s Z8. What Audi would call such a beast—RS8?—remains a mystery. But that would be a minor worry.
Audi Roadjet concept

AUDI'S FUTURE
AUDI CHAIRMAN MARTIN WINTERKORN PLANS A 40-MODEL LINEUP BY 2015. HERE’S SOME OF WHAT’S IN STORE:
A2: Small hatchback to take on the Mini due in 2010
A3: Three-door Golf-based hatchback gets S treatment fall 2006
A3 Sportback: Five-door Golf-based hatchback is Audi’s entry level model in the U.S.
A3 convertible: Four-seat droptop based on Volkswagen Eos but with fabric roof due in 2008
A4: Today’s model to be replaced in 2008
A4 Avant: Ingolstadt’s popular wagon not due for replacement before 2009
A4 cabriolet: Today’s model survives through to 2008, when it gets replaced by A5 cabriolet
A5 coupe: New uniquely styled two-door to take on BMW 3 Series coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLK
A5 cabriolet: New Audi sun seeker enters lineup in 2008
A6: Existing model runs to 2009
A6 Avant: Sticks around until 2010
A7 coupe: Big new coupe to be previewed at in November at the Los Angeles auto show. Aimed at BMW 6 Series and Mercedes-Benz CLS
Roadjet: Crossover in the spirit of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class penciled in for 2009
A8: Audi’s aluminum-bodied flagship to be replaced in 2010 by an even larger third-generation model
Q5: Five-seat SUV based on the four-wheel drive A4 planned for 2008; look for a name change since Audi can’t use Infiniti’s trademarked “Q” on anything but the Q7.
Q7: Seven-seat SUV now on sale in North America
TT: New model to show its face at the New York show. Once again based on Volkswagen Golf
TT roadster: Porsche Boxster rival droptop renewed in 2007
R8: Lamborghini Gallardo-based supercar arrives here next year



Meh, figured I'd post 'er up.

 

[Omnis]

Cool.

It's "Many, Many Words," by the way.

 

[McLaren]

Why is Audi challenging Porsche exactly if the companies are owned by VAG?

Seems more like Honda's Honda/Acura relationship.

1 is just a more expensive version.

 

[Vonie]

I don't think that Porsche is part of VAG, I think that they've just teamed up on stuff.

 

[McLaren]

I don't think that Porsche is part of VAG, I think that they've just teamed up on stuff.

Uh, I thought they were, but I could be wrong.

They must team on enough stuff to run dealerships together.

 

[Poverty]

Porsche owns something like 30% of VAG. They often collaborate together on projects hence why porsche brought 30% to stop outsider, specifically non germans attempting a takeover of VAG.

 

[Wolfe]

Nice read, but there's nothing new with the pictures here -- we've already seen those here.

Also, Vonie and Poverty are right -- Porsche isn't a part of VAG.

Both companies (VW and Porsche) were started by the same man, they've collaberated several times over the years on certain cars (and one SUV), and Porsche recently purchased a significant chunk of VAG to keep foreign hands away from VAG (as Poverty said)...but they're still separate companies.

The most important thing to note in all of this is that Porsche is still an independent manufacturer, and one of the very few companies that can claim that distinction.

 

[Dave A]

Yep Posche isn't part of VAG, but some trivia for thoes that didn't know, a certain Mr Ferdinand Porsche made the VW Beetle.

 

[YSSMAN]

Good post!

The performance figures on the R8 seem pretty good, so I'm sure it will be a quick car. If they can price it low enough, it sounds as though it will be a good compeditor to the 911 Carrera S and Corvette Z51. The V10 model, while cool, just doesnt interest me all that much. The choise of V8 power I presume will be the most popular, and probably just as much fun to drive when compared to the V10 model.