Audi Lemans Quattro gets go ahead
11-15-05, 07:53 AM
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Audi to call new high-end sports car R8; launch scheduled for 2007
Audi to call new high-end sports car R8; launch scheduled for 2007
Posted Date: 11/15/05
Audi has made it official, its new high-end sports car will be called the Audi R8, a clear nod to the Audi R8s that have pretty much had their way at every sports car race they’ve entered in the last four or five years. That includes multiple victories at Le Mans as well as various ALMS successes.
The car began life as the Le Mans quattro concept, which was first shown at the the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. Audi will produce the R8 at its plant in Neckarsulm starting in late 2006, with Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH responsible for production. Official launch of the vehicle is scheduled for the second quarter of 2007.
Work has already begun on the R8, Audi says, with development and test construction at quattro GmbH and technical development at Audi underway.
The Le Mans quattro concept AutoWeek took for a test drive in 2004 (Feb. 16) was powered by a 5.0-liter, 40-valve 90-degree V10, the same block found in the Lamborghini Gallardo. Also used on the Le Mans concept was Lamborghini’s E-Gear six-speed paddle-shift transmission; a mid-engine configuration; all-wheel drive; double wishbones front and rear and an aluminum space frame.
Volkswagen said last year that the Le Mans concept, if built, would have far less horsepower than the Gallardo’s 500, as well as a significantly lower sticker price to avoid competing with the Lamborghini. Gallardos sell for about $160,000 to $170,000. So, significantly lower than that, in the $80,000 and $120,000 range, would also open up the market to a lot more Le Mans buyers.
Posted Date: 11/15/05
Audi has made it official, its new high-end sports car will be called the Audi R8, a clear nod to the Audi R8s that have pretty much had their way at every sports car race they’ve entered in the last four or five years. That includes multiple victories at Le Mans as well as various ALMS successes.
The car began life as the Le Mans quattro concept, which was first shown at the the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. Audi will produce the R8 at its plant in Neckarsulm starting in late 2006, with Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH responsible for production. Official launch of the vehicle is scheduled for the second quarter of 2007.
Work has already begun on the R8, Audi says, with development and test construction at quattro GmbH and technical development at Audi underway.
The Le Mans quattro concept AutoWeek took for a test drive in 2004 (Feb. 16) was powered by a 5.0-liter, 40-valve 90-degree V10, the same block found in the Lamborghini Gallardo. Also used on the Le Mans concept was Lamborghini’s E-Gear six-speed paddle-shift transmission; a mid-engine configuration; all-wheel drive; double wishbones front and rear and an aluminum space frame.
Volkswagen said last year that the Le Mans concept, if built, would have far less horsepower than the Gallardo’s 500, as well as a significantly lower sticker price to avoid competing with the Lamborghini. Gallardos sell for about $160,000 to $170,000. So, significantly lower than that, in the $80,000 and $120,000 range, would also open up the market to a lot more Le Mans buyers.
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