Filed under: Sports/GTs, Paris Motor Show, Audi
Photo Gallery: Audi R8 and Le Mans Quattro
Click to enlarge
In the next few hours, the all-out Paris coverage will begin in earnest, so let's take a moment to have a second look at yesterday's big reveal, the Audi R8. The styling has drawn both positive an negative reactions from readers. Some wonder what the fuss is all about, while others see beauty in its lines. Striking may be a better word for the appearance, and that's not a bad thing at all. The squinty LED headlamps and the finned intakes flanking the grille give the car a purposeful look when viewed head-on. In profile, there's some TT in the roof's curvature, and the long area aft of the door (a necessity due to the engine's placement) is broken up nicely by the aluminum or carbon fiber insert residing there.
The thing that's most impressive about the R8, though, is that it's basically identical in appearance to the Audi Le Mans concept that spawned it (right). Sure, you can split hairs on minor details like the exhaust location, but to do so is to miss the point. Other companies' concept cars are often pure flights of fancy, where maybe you see a few design cues make it into production. Audi has a track record of building things almost exactly as they first appeared. Look at the TT and the Pikes Peak Quattro (Q7). More often than not, Audi concepts give you something you can truly look forward to. After the jump, you'll find the latest R8 photos from Audi in all their high-res glory. Just for fun, we've included shots of the Le Mans concept as well. Open 'em up, compare, and most of all, enjoy.
(Additional photos after the jump)
[Source: Audi AG]
PHOTO GALLERY
Click any image to enlarge
The Audi R8:
R8 Tech:
Audi Le Mans Quattro Concept:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ayaz 1:18AM (9/28/2006)
what a beautiful car.
Pakcar
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chewy 1:19AM (9/28/2006)
Dare I say that the R8 looks even better than the concept.
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IK 1:44AM (9/28/2006)
I don't like it.
1. The exterior is tasteless.
2. The interior is bland.
3. It leaves alot to be desired.
It was supposed to be an Audi Gallardo...
a disappointment on Audi's part.
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Shyam 1:50AM (9/28/2006)
When i first saw the concept, absoultely hated it. It's slowly grown on me however, and i think its wonderful now. Can't wait to see how it measures up to its competition during testing.
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Matt 1:51AM (9/28/2006)
I like it, for the most part. It's like a refined Mitsubishi Eclipse.
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Carster 2:04AM (9/28/2006)
Good looking car in these photos... From seeing it in person... Not a fan and not worth the money that it is said to cost...
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Blake 2:09AM (9/28/2006)
It actually looks better than the concept.
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August 2:15AM (9/28/2006)
Although I like it I must say, the roof looks as if it was added on after designing the body. If you look at pic #1 at the top the windscreen does'nt harmonise with the hood.
But, that V8 in that car will be sweet!
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chuck goolsbee 2:17AM (9/28/2006)
I think I'll hold out for the R10 TDI version. ;)
--chuck
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Marcos 2:24AM (9/28/2006)
The nose is way too long... looks like the nose off the Passat. That's the only thing that didn't make it from the concept. Too bad.
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Bill Maher is an Idiot 2:34AM (9/28/2006)
The R8 has a look to it. I have to give Audi credit for making some that looks creative as opposed to another bland German coupe or sedan...911...BMW...cough...cough...
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Chris 4:05AM (9/28/2006)
What's up with people saying the nose is too long? It's called aerodynamics... look at basically every supercar. Look at the F430, Gallardo etc. The R8 has basically the exact same length nose as those as far as I can tell. Yea, the concept has a slightly shorter nose and it does make it look a little better, but still.
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Sanjoseman 4:27AM (9/28/2006)
all that carbon fiber in the engine compartment looks awsome. WOW. what a pretty car that is.
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DPC car videos 4:35AM (9/28/2006)
Interior is awesome like all Audi's, exterior is too futuristic.
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TDIMeister 5:30AM (9/28/2006)
IMO, the long front overhang is one of the few design elements that I feel detracts from an otherwise attractive car. But I don't see the R8 as a Ferrari/Lamborghini/Porsche GT/Mercedes-McLaren SLR slayer that some tongue-waggers in the automotive press are making it to be.
It has a front fascia that seems to remind me of The Predator from the movies. Not good nor bad, just does.
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TDIMeister 5:42AM (9/28/2006)
#12: It's not strictly about the length of the nose in-and-of-itself as it is the *proportion* thereof and how it harmonizes with the rest of the car. The R8's long schnawz simply does not look "coherent" to my eyes with the rest of the car, especially with the short, high tail on the counterside.
Looked directedly in silhoutte, the heavily forward-placed windshield; short distance from the front wheelarches to the A-pillars and door seams; and the arched roof conspire together with the long front overhang to make the car appear long-nosed, tall and stubby rather than low, sleek and well-proportioned.
My 2 Euro cents.
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TDIMeister 5:54AM (9/28/2006)
OK, last comment... the aerodynamics argument in favour of long front overhangs is a weak one, only insofar as longer tail-ends are far more beneficial as far as aerodynamics are concerned. Speaking as an M.E. here.
Certainly with exceptions noted (e.g. Ferrari Enzo), long front overhangs are more about packaging for the powertrain in a FWD configuration (typical Audi practice, especially look closely at the TT). Sorry if my growing disdain for long-front-overhang cars is showing... to me, a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is an exercise in design beauty. There, almost the entire length of the engine lies behind the front wheels. One day perhaps auto designers and engineers will revisit the Citroën DS19 paradigm of placing the engine BEHIND the front wheels in a FWD layout. So much nicer appearance, better weight distribution and vehicle dynamics. IMHO.
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Jason 6:31AM (9/28/2006)
It's the black hole below the headlights that make it look like it's got two black eyes... Other than that, I think Audi has done it again with modern and artful styling.
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Thomas 6:51AM (9/28/2006)
"The thing that's most impressive about the R8, though, is that it's basically identical in appearance to the Audi Le Mans concept that spawned it."
The only difference I notice is that the front overhang looks as long as a diving board. These new Audis trying to squeeze Lamborghini enginess into Volkswagen Golfs are getting very obnoxious. I haven't seen such incongruence between the front and rear overhang since I noticed the profile of an '05 Grand Prix. I can forgive a certain level of poor design on my rental car; I refuse to on a car in this class.
Nice car, I'd prefer it with a six-cylinder and a nose job, though.
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Richard Warren 6:57AM (9/28/2006)
Beautiful. I think the nose is in proportion to the rest of the car. The one thing I don't care for is the flat bottom steering wheel.
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