Filed under: Car Buying, Sports/GTs, Audi
Leaked Audi doc reveals more R8 details
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The fellas at R8Audi.com got their hands on an internal Audi UK document that gives a little more insight into what to expect this month regarding Audi's new sports car. Those of you who've visited the R8 microsite know that it's a little thin on details, so this fleshes things out a little.
As you might have expected, the month of October will see much more information trickle out as an official Q&A about the car is released and pricing/specification guides will be made available on the Audi UK website and in British dealerships. (European pricing was published a few days ago by Auto Motor und Sport.) Customer deliveries will commence in May/June 2007.
Our favorite bit of minutiae the doc exposes, however, is the full list of paint/sideblade combos that will be offered. The microsite shows just four understated finishes and three sideblade colors, but rest assured that the car will be available in more eye-catching hues such as Brilliant Red with a matching sideblade, Mugello Blue Pearl with a Night Blue sideblade, and Monterey Green Pearl with a Deep Green sideblade. Regardless of the primary paint/sideblade combo, customers can always choose to go with the optional Carbon Sigma or Oxygen Silver sideblades instead.
Decisions, decisions...
Check out the full document over at R8Audi.com.
[Source: R8Audi.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
J MAYS 2:20PM (10/01/2006)
I think the 'sideblade' is totally gay. Reminds me of those cheap, cosmetic cell phone covers sold at mall kiosks. Audi used to be better than this...
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DPC car videos 3:10PM (10/01/2006)
Yes< I think is they do the car one color and get rid of the different blade color it will be much better.
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dana 3:27PM (10/01/2006)
I also think the sideblade is totally gay.
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That One Person 3:34PM (10/01/2006)
I am still pondering the whole sideblade thing. The concept looked cool. I guess it depends on the color scheme...I will have to wait and see I guess.
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Toy Yoda 4:13PM (10/01/2006)
I'm on the belief that two-tone or two-finished (e.g. polished/matted) car bodies is the trend of the future. People want individuality, and offering two paint/finish schemes is a relatively cheap way for auto manufacturers to meet that need.
The trend is already there in low produced/quirky cars. Look at the Bugattie Veyron, the Mini, look at some recent tuner cars by AC Schnitzer (Tension Concept), or by Hartge (The V10 in a 3 series.) Look at the most recent Gallardo has a two finishes. And, also their special edition Gallardo is two tones. I believe, Audi experiemented last year with it as a concept car on one of it's sedans.
I think other designers will catch on to this. And, a mono-tone car will look antiquated.
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chewy 4:37PM (10/01/2006)
As you can see most sideblades will blend in nicely with the color, contrasting ones will be optional. The UK pricing puts the R8 nicely between the Porsche 911 4s and the 911 GT3. This gives us a hint at the American price, I think that it will fall between 93 and 100,000 dollars.
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eddie 4:44PM (10/01/2006)
if one bought a R8 for $100,000+ and disliked the painted sidebar, whats an extra few $1000 to take it to a bodyshop and get it painted so it maches the body?
either way i like the color contrasting sidebar. its unique.
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Richard Warren 7:34PM (10/01/2006)
"I think it looks great... and its very similar to what the Bugatti Veyron has... but I doubt you'd whine about that one?"
Count me in on the same comment, leave it off the complaint would be too bland, put it on and it's "gay"
And why GAY? Why not awful, foolish, very poor, funny looking, not required, don't like it. No the homophobes have to say "it's gay!"
And just for the record, I'm not gay.
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Audi R8 8:03PM (10/01/2006)
I find it quite hilarious that simply because _YOU_ think the sideblade is totally gay that Audi must be on the downslope.
I think, however improbable you may believe, some people actually LIKE the sideblade.
Me, for example? I think it looks great... and its very similar to what the Bugatti Veyron has... but I doubt you'd whine about that one?
http://www.r8audi.com
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Robert 8:38PM (10/01/2006)
Forgot the sideblade, when it matters the only part of this car that will be seen is the rear. The R8 is built by the same people who build the completely dominant R8/R10 race cars. The S and RS class sedans are fine cars, but they can’t overcome dynamics inherent in their chassis. The R8 is the real thing and I’m expecting near perfection. Arguing over the R8’s paint job is like arguing whether Angelina Jolie looks better as a blond or brunette.
The NSX may not have worked well with the black roof. Look at a two-toned Austin Healy 3000 for a good looking example. Honda does a great job of color combinations on their sportsbikes. Even Ford pickups look good in white and red. #5 Toy Yoda is right, we’ll be seeing more variety in paint.
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Steve2 10:52PM (10/01/2006)
Why are people getting all weird here?
It's a rebadged Lamborghini Gallardo.
VAG are the champions of rebadging. GM has nothing on them.
Is there a more expensive rebadge than this?
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chewy 11:15PM (10/01/2006)
Steve2
VAG has the best rebadges, they use the most important stuff (engine/platform) but the sheetmetal is completely different and the character as well. Autoblog talked about how the Audi A3 and VW GTI share many common parts but are very different cars. Here you go read:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/03/sibling-rivalry-in-the-autoblog-garage-day-5/
BTW there is a more expensive "rebadge" the Ferrari Enzo and the Maserati MC 12, both at well over 500,000 dollars.
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Steve2 2:07AM (10/02/2006)
That autoblog review was of a 2 door GTI and a (4 door) A3.
Let them go back and compare the new 4 door GTI with the A3. A coworker did, and bought the VW because said they were very similar and he saved a bundle of money.
I'm not impressed with VAG's rebadging any more than anyone else's. I'm not as against rebadging as some are, but I don't see a lot of difference between VAG rebadging and GM rebadging.
Sometimes VAG platform engineers, sometimes it crosses over into badge engineering. Just like GM. Sometimes its an XLR and a Corvette. Sometimes its a Pontiac G5 and a Chevy Cobalt.
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HughJazz 10:18AM (10/02/2006)
Steve2 = Utterly Clueless.
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Audi Chairman 10:22AM (10/02/2006)
Why moan about the sideblade? You can't afford the car anyway!
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Leo 10:23AM (10/02/2006)
Again,
the Alfa C8 copetizone is the better of the two.
- It is very original,
- has RWD rather than AWD (read: for sissies)
- looks like a desirable million bucks compred to the R8
- Has more power
so why would anyone buy this AUDI??? except if they are a girl adn want the RWD to save their ass at the track. real enthusiasts will stick with the RWD Alfa (or Corvette C6) and this AUDI R8 will belong to the mass rich female stars
hhheeehehhehehe
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Vega 10:25AM (10/02/2006)
"but I don't see a lot of difference between VAG rebadging and GM rebadging."
One is using similar technology to produce a variety of cars (Golf 5, A3, TT, etc.) and the other is sticking two badges on a on the same turd
(G5 & Cobalt). Just look at a 4door GTi and an A3. They have completely different sheetmetal, length, interiors, etc. That's not rebadging.
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Vega 10:30AM (10/02/2006)
Leo: "AWD is for sissies."
Colin McRae called. He says you're a moron.
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Toy Yoda 10:31AM (10/02/2006)
Yeah, but isn't the Alfa more expensive tho? Not that I can afford either car. I also disagree about girls buying the R8 over the Competizione. Given the choice between the two cars, I think most people will pick the Alfa over the R8, regardless of sex.
The 8C Competizione is just too gorgeous a car. On the other hand, for the price/peformance ratio, the 8C is just way overpriced.
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GinoT 11:21AM (10/02/2006)
I thought the old British motor industry was the only one that two-toned cars vertically.
Sux.
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