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.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
naggs 7:15PM (3/28/2007)
audi has taken the overall victory al lemans for, what, 8 straight years? at least 4 of those they have been 1-2. the lmp1 class has been audi's personal playground for almost a decade. le mans has become senimous with audi victory.
nothing other single racecar has been anywhere near that dominant for that long and the r10s show no signs of releasing their strangle hold on the class.
in comparison, porche has seen sucess over a longer period of time with mulipule different cars in different classes. the most impressive single performance ever al lemans remains porsches outright victory with a modified 911.
the r8 is as a matter of fact the most sucessful sports racing car of all time.
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jj 7:29PM (3/28/2007)
"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."
More for you, guys.
I'd take one at 75k. Probably 85. 109? Not a chance.
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Ben 7:42PM (3/28/2007)
"R8 is just a name without a history or status"
The Skyline (our G35, and yes, I know they are not related) has status? Like real status? Doubt it. The GTR is a Nissan, just like the Versa and the Sentra...
The R8 is an Audi, like the A8, the RS6 and the race car that the R8 gets its name from.
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Jared 7:47PM (3/28/2007)
That stupid carbon-fiber insert behind the door is hideously ugly.
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nirad 8:07PM (3/28/2007)
Armchair engineers are worse that armchair quarterbacks. The R8 is AWD for a number of very good reasons. The car is based on the Gallardo platform, and uses the same viscous coupling system. It is not the same as the torsen system found in other audis, and it does not add 200 lbs to the car. The car has a default torque bias of 90% rear, and it never shifts more than 35% of the power to the front.
As for the pricing, it's more than a C4S and less than a 911 turbo. Seems like a fair price for a car that is more exclusive, more luxurious and, by all reports, handles better.
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R.Autry 9:43PM (3/28/2007)
I owned an Audi once. Nice car. All the components and parts were labeled VW/Audi. Hmmm. $109,000.00. Hmmm. I suppose so. But let me warn buyers. There is a family of problems inherent in any brand or model. Lofty price points are no exception. Audi is no exception. Right VW?
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chad.dawkins 10:00PM (3/28/2007)
The difference between the 911s justify it's price. It's how it looks. The R8 is an eye catcher. It's a car that when it drives by people will look at it. It LOOKS like an exotic. It also supposedly performs well too. If a 911 drives by in an rich area no one looks. If an SL55 drives by in a rich area no one looks. If this car drives by then everyone is looking at it.
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naggs 12:26AM (3/29/2007)
"It is not the same as the torsen system found in other audis, and it does not add 200 lbs to the car. The car has a default torque bias of 90% rear, and it never shifts more than 35% of the power to the front."
it weighs at least 200 lbs, i would be shocked if it was less than that. your wrong about the torque split, according to audi its 60-40. its on the car to make it easier to drive, it does not make it faster.
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Toy Yoda 12:55AM (3/29/2007)
I don't think the Quattro is really a brand moat that Audi can build upon. Merc, and BMW's also have AWD. The new generation of affluent people won't know that Audi was the first to pioneer AWD for a luxury brand. So, I don't think dropping Quattro would hurt Audi at all. Thus, I can't see the brand-argument as the primary reason for Audi's adherance to Quattro.
However, having an bold, aggressive, mid engine supercar will sear itself into the minds of the next rich generation. So, I think Audi did the right thing, but I think they underestimate how much this will give them "performance cred". I think the car needs more HP.
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Dude 12:56AM (3/29/2007)
I assume that #25 nirad is quoting C/D about the torque split. They seem to have it wrong with the 10/90 default split (or maybe that's the euro split).
The torque split is:
"44% front, 56% rear torque" from Audiusa.com
http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/new_cars/R8/Intro_pdf.html
Does anyone actually know how much the quattro system weighs? I doubt it weighs 200lbs.
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ruggels 2:07AM (3/29/2007)
"Does anyone actually know how much the quattro system weighs? I doubt it weighs 200lbs."
no, but who cares. look at the mkII tt, lighter then a 350z with it's quattro thanks to aluminum... it's not like audi's not starting to pair aluminum with quattro to offset the weight and it's not like every review off the R8 hasn't been glowing. The mkII gallardo will burrow bits from the R8 for christ sakes, get with it people.
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Pouya 2:21AM (3/29/2007)
The Audi R8 is a great car, but wow, $109,000 to $118,000 is a lot of money. The closest car in terms of performance is the Porsche 911 Carrera S, which MSRP is around $82,000. I am not convinced that this car's exclusivity and quality justifies as much as a $36,000 more. If it were my money, I'd rather have a new Porsche GT3 (faster), new Porsche 911 turbo (faster), new Aston Martin Vantage (more exclusive), upcoming Maserati GT (more exclusive, not sure if it is faster since it has not come out yet), used Lamborghini Gallardo (faster and more exclusive), or a used Ferrari F360 Modena (more exclusive). This car should be priced a little bit higher than the Porsche Carrera S. Also, although the R8 is a nice looking car, it reminds me too much of the Audi TT (which is a bad thing) to really fall in love with it.
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RDL 9:14AM (3/29/2007)
CAR... OVERHANG... HORRIBLE... ARGH!!!
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Snix 9:18AM (3/29/2007)
This may sound ignorant, but 109k for a car that looks like a riced up Nissan 350z at first glance is just way too much cash. I'm sure that it is a wonderfully engineered piece but......
For that range of money, give me a used 911 GT3 or Turbo. NO ONE will mistake what that car is.
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testa di cazzo 10:09AM (3/29/2007)
"34. This may sound ignorant, but 109k for a car that looks like a riced up Nissan 350z at first glance is just way too much cash."
yes, that is ignorant. if you think this looks like a rice-rocket, then you need a serious head-readjustment... this car is pure teutonic attitude. it looks german from top to bottom, inside and out.
"The closest car in terms of performance is the Porsche 911 Carrera S"
that's wrong. the closest car in terms of PERFORMANCE is the 911 Turbo, as has been shown in numerous reviews. This car both looks more exclusive than the 911 Turbo, and is cheaper...the Carrera S is dramatically outperformed by the R8
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Dude 12:14PM (3/29/2007)
Ruggels, take it easy dude. Although it does actually matter how much it weighs, my suspicion was that the quattro system weighed less than 200lbs.
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jj 12:47PM (3/29/2007)
"no, but who cares. look at the mkII tt, lighter then a 350z with it's quattro thanks to aluminum..."
Most boats weigh less than a 350Z.
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Dude 1:48PM (3/29/2007)
#35 testa di cazzo ... dude. seriously. The R8 splits the performance difference between the C4S and the Turbo. It's not the equal of the turbo in terms of performance, but it is definitely better than a C4S.
That's why Audi is pricing it between them.
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ruggels 8:42PM (3/29/2007)
"That's why Audi is pricing it between them."
*cough* or new official parents porsche :P *cough*
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akatsuki 10:37AM (3/30/2007)
The main advantage it has is the mid-engine. Think of it as an unrestrained Cayman perhaps, not worried about the 911, perhaps?
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