Audi R8 caught undisguised, convertible version in the works for 2008
Ryan Porter, purveyor of Carster.com, recently snapped these terrific pics of an undisguised Audi R8 outside his office in Santa Monica. Though Porter wishes he had been more aggressive with snaps and gotten some more, this near profile shot is gorgeous and shows the R8 in all its production glory for the first time. Porter's telling of his encounter with the R8 and the irritated engineers driving it can be found here. Check out Carster while you're there, as well. The site is an online community for car enthusiasts and Porter believes members should be able to do whatever they want with their profiles. Carster will even host your own car blog and once a month the member with the most votes wins a $1,000 check.
(Follow the jump for another pic of the R8 in the wild.)
In other Audi R8 news, it appears a convertible version is in the works and will be introduced a year after the coupe sometime in 2008. Though it's been reported the coupe will be powered by the Lamborghini Gallardo's V10, it seems Audi is still considering a V8 to keep the R8 and Gallardo from cannibalizing each other's sales.
[Source: Carster, AutoWeek.nl]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Thayne 12:45PM (8/15/2006)
The wheels are straight off the Lamborghini Gallardo. Tells you how much Audi depends on Lamborghini for the tech to build the R8.
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ZAMBONO 12:47PM (8/15/2006)
I am not feeling the bottom cheap black plastic. I hope it does not make it to production, it makes it look like a base model Neon.
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ruggels 12:48PM (8/15/2006)
I'm hoping this is not the production rear, It's not attractive in the least, though the side profile is alright, if dramatically less impressive sans the aluminum piece. It's feeling more and more like an audi quattro spyder from a decade ago (not a bad thing). But that rear, could it be any blander? here's to hoping it's tape!
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Dave T. 12:51PM (8/15/2006)
i'm guessing the full red bar will be replaced with body color sheetmetal. like the tt.
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Tom W 12:52PM (8/15/2006)
Everyone knows that "spy photos" and "surprise public spottings" generate more excitement than a carefully crafted ad, which explains why every new car seems to be introduced this way. It's getting old as far as originality is concerned. Hey, as long as the pictures are good I don't care how it's introduced.
Lame marketing aside, it's a gorgeous car. I wish I could hear the engine...
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garion911 1:08PM (8/15/2006)
I'm lucky enough to know someone who has one on order... If he lets me, I'll take some pics and post'em when he gets his...
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Jason 1:09PM (8/15/2006)
"I am not feeling the bottom cheap black plastic. I hope it does not make it to production, it makes it look like a base model Neon."
Uh...yeeeaaah. You can hardly tell them apart. *cough*
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Jason 1:13PM (8/15/2006)
"The wheels are straight off the Lamborghini Gallardo. Tells you how much Audi depends on Lamborghini for the tech to build the R8."
Because they used the same...rims? WTF seriously. Here's an idea...they put them on the car, they fit, they looked nice, so they used them for some test drives.
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MC Audill 1:13PM (8/15/2006)
I am surprised to hear mostly negative feedback on this car. I generally like the look of this new car, but agree there could less black plastic along the rear. I am sure Audi will get it right before production.
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Noah 1:22PM (8/15/2006)
I suspect those will NOT be the production rims. Audi isn't about to parts bin the wheels on this car.
I also doubt that the black plastic is the final body trim. I'd hazard that those panels will be more detailed and body colored on the production version.
--Noah
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jscro 1:23PM (8/15/2006)
"The wheels are straight off the Lamborghini Gallardo. Tells you how much Audi depends on Lamborghini for the tech to build the R8."
The Gallardo's V10 was based on Audi's Inline 5 cylinder engine. So I guess The Lambo should sport some Audi 100 wheels?
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Hernan 1:24PM (8/15/2006)
So is the new mantra in German design that parts should not look like they were made to fit. The Bangled up trunks on the BMWs, now copied on the new S class. This car looks like ass (actualy, one half of 2 asses off different people connected by an awkward vertical body line).
Audi slogan = Good thing our cars are not fun to drive, you won’t miss them when they spend most of the time on the lift. Now in ugly.
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GCH 1:29PM (8/15/2006)
For some reason it reminds me of the Infiniti G35 coupe. Perhaps it's the rear bumper and the small quarter windows.
I expected more from Audi, still not a bad looking car.
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gkz 1:30PM (8/15/2006)
To all the whiners here:
The matte black plastic on the rear, sides, and front is so obviously a non-production feature that I can't believe you're wasting time complaining about it. Same goes for the clearly tacked-on red bar across the back to hide the tailight design.
The vents below the lights can't be covered without seriously screwing up the engine cooling.
As for the wheels, #1, you honestly belive that throwing on a set of readily available production wheels for an engineering test drive constitutes Audi stealing Lambo technology??? Do you have any clue what you're talking about? If you paid any attention to how the relationship works, you'd know that Lamborghini takes WAY more technology from Audi than Audi gets from Lambo.
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rwdmtparkingonly 1:33PM (8/15/2006)
I checked out carster.com, it looks like we need to get v-dub in the haus to unpimp its member's rides.
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SER REAL 1:44PM (8/15/2006)
Yeah, I'm not feelin the unpainted lowers a la the early B6 A4s('02-'03), BUT I do believe that is just because its a pre-production model, so don't wig out now, folks. Same with the wheels and taillights. I'm pretty sure we will see those changes in the production models along with an Audi badge, you think? hehe
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ruggels 1:49PM (8/15/2006)
"The wheels are straight off the Lamborghini Gallardo. Tells you how much Audi depends on Lamborghini for the tech to build the R8."
I'm a little confused here. Audi has made no, NO, secret of the fact that it will rely heavily on the gallardo platform for the R9. And why not? Audi (VAG) owns Lamorghini, Lamborghini uses Audi switch gear, Audi designed all wheel drive components, etc. Audi and Lamborghini are a part of the same company, it shouldn't shock anyone that the parts sharing which occurs upward (ever sit in a gallardo?) will also trickle downward as well.
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Alex 1:58PM (8/15/2006)
The car looks awesome to me.
I hope they use a V8, not Gallardo's V10.
Even better if they'd made it available in a RWD trim...
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jason seto 2:11PM (8/15/2006)
"Though it's been reported the coupe will be powered by the Lamborghini Gallardo's V10, it seems Audi is still considering a V8 to keep the R8"
in the annual general meeting of audi, they have already said it will be v8 powered at launch.
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cole 2:22PM (8/15/2006)
are all of you sure that is plastic and not cf? i dont know i was just asking.
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