German Car Forum

Audi to call new high-end sports car R8; launch scheduled for 2007

Audi has made it official, its new high-end sports car will be called the Audi R8, a clear nod to the Audi R8s that have pretty much had their way at every sports car race they’ve entered in the last four or five years. That includes multiple victories at Le Mans as well as various ALMS successes.

The car began life as the Le Mans quattro concept, which was first shown at the the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. Audi will produce the R8 at its plant in Neckarsulm starting in late 2006, with Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH responsible for production. Official launch of the vehicle is scheduled for the second quarter of 2007.
Work has already begun on the R8, Audi says, with development and test construction at quattro GmbH and technical development at Audi underway.

The Le Mans quattro concept AutoWeek took for a test drive in 2004 (Feb. 16) was powered by a 5.0-liter, 40-valve 90-degree V10, the same block found in the Lamborghini Gallardo. Also used on the Le Mans concept was Lamborghini’s E-Gear six-speed paddle-shift transmission; a mid-engine configuration; all-wheel drive; double wishbones front and rear and an aluminum space frame.

Audi said last year that the Le Mans concept, if built, would have far less horsepower than the Gallardo’s 500, as well as a significantly lower sticker price to avoid competing with the Lamborghini. Gallardos sell for about $160,000 to $170,000. So, significantly lower than that, in the $80,000 and $120,000 range, would also open up the market to a lot more Le Mans buyers.

Source: http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103618

Whatever they'll name it... Just bring it on!!! I wanna finally to see that car!

It's coming...2007 is not far...

Time to celebrate, right, mate?

I hope it looks just like the picture! No surprises please.

The front lights won't probably be LEDs. That technology is not yet ready for production.

Hopefully it doesn't tarnish the name that is R8 by being too heavy, underpowered, and not handling well enough.

wow gr8.. this means the BMW needs to step their game up.. and bring us a Z10 ASAP

I saw a few versions of the Z10 ps's they all look terible and dated. Hopefully there will be something new and interesting on the brinks.

I'm irrationally optimistic that it will end up looking very good.

80-120k? That means the odds of me seeing one on the street are pretty good.
Downside? It probably also means that my local dealer won't let me take a test drive in it......
I can't wait to see it in person.

They really do, the Z8 passed not all that long ago, but w/ the current crop of "affordable" exotics, BMW for sure needs to have something on offer, something more spesh than an M6.

I can't wait to see this car! It is so good to see Audi branching out in new segments. I predict a stunning car inside and out.

M

I wonder if the interior will stay the same with the concept.

I bet they'll get as close to it as possible. I would assume that an announcement about the Nuvolar/A5 Coupe is next?

M

Forget that interior.. it will not look like that.. never..

Probably and unfortunately!

Finally! The most beautiful Audi ever is coming!

Ferrari? Lambo? Hell no. I'll take this any day over them.

Quoted for truth.

Of course, but then again, you're probably the single most biased guy on this whole forum

BTW, it looks like the new BMW Z8 will be the competition for this car, they even look kind of similar 'new age'.......

LoL

Don't know, but i can say the same thing for that car. The LeMans concept looks 1000 times better than any ugly Italian crap!

It has just been my absolte favotire car since day 1 I saw it.

This is just amazing, well done Audi.

I dont think it gets any better than this, the looks are crazy, coming out with a design to bet this is goin to be very hard. Good Luck to the "others" lol.

It really does look fantastic in the picture on the first page. Hopefully the production car won't be too stripped down in terms of looks.

I still have the original PR for this car when it was released two years ago at the IAA 03'. This car will be a winner if they maintain the lines and details of the production car, though they can totally do w/ out the two tone paint scheme. This car for sure will make it to my list of favorites! I wonder what they pricing will be like?