Yup, Lambo is 100% under Audi AG.

Also... as mentioned... Audi already figured out the V12 TDI in the R8, it's not too hard to see what power plant they'd use to make the car faster, yet prevent it from directly treading on the Murci's toes.

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While I don't think anyone is gonna be cross-shopping a Lamborghini with an Audi anytime soon, I do think that if Audi starts offering an entire stable of Lambo elevl vehicles...it's gonna start having some effect. If anything, Audi needs a R4. Something that picks off the M3. The TT-RS ain't it.

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The R8 uses the 4.2L V8 from the Audi RS4, but shares its chassis with the Gallardo. Audi recently announced a new version of the R8 that uses the same V10 as the Gallardo also, just tuned down by 40 hp. (The new one is a direct competitor to the Gallardo, just cheaper and shaped like a space ship)

Autoblog knows that Lamborghini is owned by VAG. (Don't you, AB?)

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"As far as I know (but I feel like Im wrong now that this blog post exists), that the Audi R8 is powered by a 420hp engine shared with the Gallardo."

Nope. The gallardo never had a 420hp V8, and Audi's V10 shares few parts with the Gallardos (it's also putting out over 500hp not 420). So no and no.

"I was also under the impression that Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi were all in the family, their own little GM of Europe."

Nope. VAG owns Audi and Lamborghini. Posrche recently bought them up but they've been myred in internal struggles, it's nothing like GM of europe, though porsche would like it to be.

"Finally, I thought that the reason the R8 was allowed into production is that it was in more of a GT lower-end supercar market than the midrange sports supercar the gallardo lives in..."

Kind of, it was brought into production because audi always intended to, always intended to use lambo buyers to front development costs and always intended their car to be the more practical of the two, if a bit slower. It's allowed into production because it doesn't impede Lambo sales and raises audis.

“Im not being sarastic, I just wish to be enlightened, as this post makes me feel like Im in the middle of nowhere and my compass is dancing.”
I hope I helped.

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And I wish Audi would build it. Pure awesomeness.

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Yes! Build it!

BMW has the right idea getting the US addicted to bi-turbo diesel torque. Economy models can follow.

Those that could afford the R8 would not be concerned with the price of diesel. So taking cost out of the equation, I'm sure a V12 TDI would get nothing but positive reviews. Great advertizing for TDI in America, IMO.

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There are some that say platform sharing is ok as long as each car is a good product. I disagree, brand definition (and differentiation) is critical to long term success. Having Audi eclipse Lamborghini on its own turf degrades both brands.

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It's not untypical for food companies to have several brands that compete directly with each other. ditto for restaurant companies. Look at Gillette. By your argument, you should be complaining about Gillete'ss several razor brands, or that Listerine has several internally competing products.

The reality is, internal cannibalization of sales is seen as a good thing by nearly every management. Yet somehow, car fans haven't gotten the news yet.

Who would you rather have your sales cannibalized by? An internal department of your's or an outside competing company? At least internally, you can carefully delineate the brand lines, instead of having it stolen from you by an outsider.

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And then you'd find same interioir and same mechanical bits in a Lambo and in an Audi and in a Skoda... So much for exclusivity....

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Maybe a bit off topic, but it seems at the lower end VAG has taken some steps to reduce competition between VW and Audi offerings. This has been accomplished by removing content from the Passat and Jetta so as not to crowd the 30k - 40k A3/A4 market. Gone are the VR6 Passat and 2.0T Jetta (except the niche market GLi), as well as such luxury features as auto climate control, xenon headlights, Homelink, leather seats, premium sound, and wood trim (depending on model) that once gave these Volkswagens a premium feel in their respective price classes.

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Toy Yoda, I think the difference between this Lamborghini / Audi comparison and Gillette is exclusivity. Like Campbell’s Soup, Gillette can market many brands just to take up shelf space and be visible in the store. I don’t know about you, but I put a lot less thought into what razor I buy than what car. At $100k plus car buyers want exclusivity. They want the car (brand) to transcend function (transportation) and stand for an ideal. When these two cars share parts it reminds buyers it’s just a product made to a price point.

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@ Jesse: Actually they're still competing on features...

"Gone are the VR6 Passat.." The CC has an available 3.6 VR6, and its essentially a Passat. Also comes with 4-motion.

"2.0T Jetta (except the niche market GLi)" - The 08' Jetta Wolfsburg Edition also came with the 2.0. No word on whether we get that for '09.

"As well as such luxury features as auto climate control, xenon headlights, Homelink, leather seats, premium sound, and wood trim (depending on model)" - The GLI/GTI/Passat have most of this, the CC has them all.

You don't get an Audi over a VW for the features. The difference between the two is mostly marketing/design aesthetic on the lower end. And there's nothing wrong with that!

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me, you're right that comparing razors to cars is not the best thing, but I'm not comparing razors to cars. I'm pointing out the fact that internal cannibalization of sales is better than having it dictated to you from an outside competitor.

so let me... scroll up to the original poster... yep, my point is a non-sequitur. Doesn't even respond to this poster's original complaint. My bad.

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