Filed under: Car Buying, Sports/GTs, Audi
Audi R8 US pricing to start at $109,000
Click for R8 photo gallery
Audi's mid-engined flagship, the R8, now has a price associated with it. Those who opt for the version equipped with a six-speed manual will need to pony up $109,000 at minimum. Deletion of the clutch pedal in favor of the R tronic transmission raises the entry fee to $118,000. Something tells us that price won't be an obstacle to sales, as the concept-inspired R8 is sure to have the well-heeled waiting impatiently at dealers, checkbooks in hand.
The list of available options is relatively short but distinguished, headlined by Audi's 465-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system, a Convenience Package (parking camera, Bluetooth, etc.), a navigation system, and dress-up components like an Alcantara headliner and additional leather packages for the Porsche/Ferrari-fighter. Full details can be found after the jump.
[Source: Audi]
PRESS RELEASE:
Audi Announces 2008 R8 U.S. Pricing
Audi of America, LLC announced today pricing for the all-new 2008 R8 sports car. The R8 with a six- speed manual transmission will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $109,000 when it launches this fall in the United States. Models equipped with the six-speed R tronic automatic gearbox will start at $118,000.
The R8 is the first mid-engine sports car Audi has ever produced. With a 420 hp V8 4.2L FSI engine and rear-biased quattro(R) all-wheel drive system, the R8 has the performance capabilities unlike any Audi before it. With a zero to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph, the R8 is the fastest Audi ever produced. The lightweight aluminum frame and body and 44:56 front-to-rear weight distribution give the R8 tremendous handling capabilities, with the balance expected of a mid-engine sports car.
Standard luxury features include Audi magnetic ride, automatic bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED taillights and LED engine compartment lighting. 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, power and heated leather/Alcantara sport seats, cruise control, Sirius(R) satellite radio, and nine-speaker audio system. An optional Convenience Package includes Audi parking system advanced with rearview camera, Audi hill hold assist, a six-disc CD changer, HomeLink(R), Bluetooth(R) phone prep, auto dimming exterior mirrors, and a storage package.
Stand alone options on the R8 include a 12-speaker, 465-watt Bang & Olufsen(R) sound system, Alcantara headliner, Audi navigation plus, an upgraded Leather Package, and Enhanced Leather Package which includes a leather covered dash and interior trim pieces, metallic/pearl effect paint, carbon fiber sideblades, body color sideblades, and the previously mentioned R tronic automatic gearbox. These options allow R8 owners to personalize their sports car to make it an even more exclusive vehicle than it is right from the hand-assembly plant in Neckarsulm, Germany.
Audi's history in America dates to 1969, when the brand was first introduced to the U.S. market. Today, a network of over 260 Audi dealers currently offers a line of premium vehicles that include the Audi A3 compact; the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high-revving RS 4 sports sedan; the design-leading A6 sedan and Avant; the all-new Audi Q7 performance SUV; and the all-aluminum Audi A8; and the new V10-powered S6 and S8 performance sedans.
"quattro" is a registered trademark of AUDI AG. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Michael Karesh 4:39PM (3/28/2007)
It'll sell well for six months.
I wouldn't count on strong resale down the road, as you can with many Ferraris.
Reply
Kamil 4:49PM (3/28/2007)
Am I the only one who thinks that AWD in this chassis configuration is not really needed or benefitical?
It adds weight, complexity (engine is actually off-set from middle of the car) and cost. All the advantages of AWD in this case (mid-engine, mounted toward the rear (as opposed to the front)) can be made up in suspesnion set-up and tires.
Without the AWD, tha car would be 200+lbs lighter, faster, and $15k cheaper. (think modern day NSX with 2 more cylinders)
Opinions?
Reply
testa di cazzo 4:56PM (3/28/2007)
Kamil,
perhaps you might be right, about taking out the AWD/reducing weight. but there are two problems:
1. Audi is known worldwide for its Quattro. it was the first luxury mark in the AWD segment, and has made its name with the Quattro. it can't in all seriousness not have quattro in its flagship model.
2. Audi doesn't have a RWD system currently. its either AWD or FWD. development costs for a RWD system would just increase the cost of the R8 that much more. and anyways, the AWD is tuned to give something like 98% of the power to the rear wheels on a regular basis, and shift power to the front only when needed. so it's a RWD for all intents and purposes, but they had to put the quattro on it for branding reasons
Reply
naggs 4:59PM (3/28/2007)
well your preaching to they quior here, rwd is the only way to go forall out performance IMO. audi's thinking is that they want it to be very audish, they want to leverage what they are known for. keep in mind that this car was designed around an awd system so it is very possible that switching to rwd would not be as good.
id rather have a 911 or zo6 personally but everything i have heard is that it is an extremely competant supercar.
Reply
thisislame 5:08PM (3/28/2007)
I'd have a hard time convince myself not to get the RS4 instead of this R8. For $25K less... you get same performance with two more seats.
Reply
Dave T. 5:08PM (3/28/2007)
ummm 911 turbo is AWD.
Reply
BKadalur 5:14PM (3/28/2007)
this is lame, you mean $40k less.
Reply
naggs 5:25PM (3/28/2007)
"ummm 911 turbo is AWD"
id rather have a GT3, the point is that the r8 is not offered with anything but quattro
Reply
Greg Koenig 5:32PM (3/28/2007)
Am I the only one who thinks that AWD in this chassis configuration is not really needed or benefitical?
Dude, think about who is ACTUALLY going to buy these cars. No, there aren't a few thousand Schumachers out there who buy these things; it is airhead celebrities, lawyers, bankers, business blowhards and plastic surgeons. Simple fact- these people generally don't know how to drive.
Get as hotted up over the buff book debates and anal retentive critiques, but the unfortunate reality is that the vast majority of people who buy cars like this don't know how to drive and they will never have the talent to drive any car to a point where the technical minutia would make a difference.
Hell, where are we on the Dead Enzo count now?
Reply
Dave T. 5:48PM (3/28/2007)
It's less than a 911 Turbo with comparable stats yet looks like an exotic sports car. It'll sell. I see enough NEW 911 turbos in downtown chicago to think this will do just fine.
Reply
stefan 5:50PM (3/28/2007)
They are crazy i rather wait a year for the new nissan skyline GT-R to come out. The GT-R will be probebly faster than the audi thanks to ATESSA-ETS and SUPER-HICAS.
The GT-R is a legend the R8 is just a name without a history or status.
Reply
naggs 6:02PM (3/28/2007)
"The GT-R is a legend the R8 is just a name without a history or status."
LOL, i just pissed myself laughing. thats gotta be the best skyline fanboy comment yet. you guys are just too much.
Reply
evlfred 6:33PM (3/28/2007)
You gotta be kidding me, I'd pass on any car that uses boy racer terms like ATESSA-ETS and SUPER-HICAS!
V-Tech jus kiked in YO!
Reply
Nick 6:34PM (3/28/2007)
It's a VW/Audi- there'll be two people paying 109,000 for an Audi when you could have the Porsh for the same or less money. Now, if it had a Lambo badge on it, different story.
Reply
DPC car videos 6:35PM (3/28/2007)
That is too much money for this car, the only way I can justify the price is that the R8 is something totally new to automotive industry and has no rivals as far as appearance. But that will wear out in a few months.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
Reply
Kamil 6:37PM (3/28/2007)
testa di cazzo:
Since the R8 was mostly a clean-sheet design (some
things were borrowed from Lambo), the fact that Audi currently has
only FWD and AWD (and front engine) designs was was irrelevant from
design cost perspective. Sorry to say, you're wrong about the power
distribution... right from Audi's website:"Sport-biased quattro
all-wheel drive with 44% front, 56% rear torque distribution delivers
outstanding traction and high-performance driving dynamics."
Greg K - good point about the people who will drive, but AWD is not the answer to unexperianced drivers.
Porsche 911 and AWD - The Porsche introduced AWD in 911 mostly to make up for the unfavorable
rear-engine design and the mid-corner off-throttle over-steer it caused. The R8, being a mid-engine car does not have that issue. For people who won't twich mid-corner there is the RWD GT2/3.
Reply
stefan 6:44PM (3/28/2007)
13 evlfred
What's boy racer about the terms ATESSA-ETS and SUPER-HICAS i didn't make them up nissan did. I can't help you becouse your an idiot and you don't know what they mean.
Reply
naggs 6:58PM (3/28/2007)
stefan, first of all, the r8 is without question the most dominant racing car of all time. hows that for history and status?
even you have to admit that its kinda ricerish to rely on super active torque sensing 4 wheels steering spec r anything to be fast. 911 and corvette dont have to rely on dozens of electronic driver aids to be fast. they get by fine with simply good layout.
things like power to weight and low center of gravity will always beat out the most advanced awd system money can buy.
nissan can put all the ATESSA-ETS and SUPER-HICAS they want on the GTR, it will still be an overweight, easy to drive alternative to real sportscars.
Reply
David 6:59PM (3/28/2007)
It does look like a great car, however when buying a new car, especially for this much money, you just need to look at the market. 911's have been around since the 60's and they're proven performers and they are just better. For around the same money i'd definately take a 911 Turbo, it is definately more of a driver's car and classic sports icon. Don't get me I love Audi and they are coming out as a great marque by expanding their model line up, but is it that smart to introduce a direct competitor to a company that may well soon own you? You just don't go for Porsche's jugular if you are a German auto maker
Reply
David 7:06PM (3/28/2007)
Naggs, although the R8 has been successful recently, Porsche has been much more dominant in LeMans. However I will agree with you that Japans excuse for a true sportscar; the Skyline, is a total joke. Suck it up stefan, Skylines are for kids.
Reply