Who is the R8 Marketed towards

ynotony · 10-30-2006, 06:52 PM

The R8 on paper confuses me a little. On the one hand it looks insanely aggresive, is a 2-seater, and is mid-engined. This to me says super car. But with *only* 400 something hp and weighing close to 3500lbs it isn't going to keep up with a ferrari or even a gallardo.

So basically what I am thinking is that either audi is trying to define a new market or the R8 is in no-man's land. It is not really ballsy enough to compete with ferrari, not luxurious/civilized enough to compete with the m6/SL/aston. And the fact that there is a rumored RS8 with 500-600 hp means that the regular R8 is not meant to compete with supercars anyways. the only car I can see similar to it would be the 911 but even then the R8 seems to go all out on looks like it is trying to be something more.

All of what I am saying is based on the really really aggresive styling. It looks like something that would be stupidly fast and impractical - yet I see no evidence of it being stupidly fast and impractical.

Are there any formal reviews road tests that might give me better idea?

aapriadi · 10-30-2006, 11:39 PM

i think its supposed to go against the m6, i've no idea either

Ray · 10-31-2006, 12:16 AM

It reminds me of where Acura positioned the NSX about 15 years ago. Exotic image in a practical machine.

younghov85 · 10-31-2006, 12:18 AM

How much is it??

ynotony · 10-31-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by younghov85

How much is it??

I think it is going to be in the high 5 figures. 0-60 in 5 sec!!

Greeney · 10-31-2006, 12:40 PM

5 seconds for that car? thats just pathetic...

ynotony · 10-31-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeney

5 seconds for that car? thats just pathetic...

Well the 600hp turbo version will be 4.2 sec. But yea, that car screams fast but just doesn't do fast.

CraigG · 10-31-2006, 10:42 PM

I think the problem is that they want to have something similar to the 911 and Gallardo but they can't seeing as they basically do since the companies are related. I mean the Gallardo has a B6 Audi A4 Symphony II stereo (Or A4 Nav+, optional) and Audi A8 climate controls.

They originally planned on big HP numbers but couldn't really do it for fear of competing against a higher end 997. An 'RS' version would obviously feed the need for moAr power, but with a high end price tag to match.

Oh well.

enwhykiid · 11-01-2006, 06:33 PM

its slow because the quattro system on audis add more weight, no quattro= faster car. places like florida or cali dont need quattro and there shoulb be a version without it

ward · 11-02-2006, 02:03 AM

people with more money than sense

that's who it's marketed towards

ynotony · 11-02-2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j_way3494

It goes against 911 turbo, SL AMG's, M6 etc.

yea but the SL and m6 do not look like racecars. the R8 may match them in performance but I think the looks of the R8 will turn off people trying to buy a fast luxury coupe.

driving an R8 will turn different heads.

obLu · 11-02-2006, 06:52 PM

Yeah, I can't figure this one out. Just has to be image car. Audi's been saying it wants to change it's image to be perceived as "more sporty than BMW" for the past year or so. I'm guessing this is what they're trying to do it with.

And from a round table, upper management, goal driven, product planning committee perspective it kinda does. It's mid-engined. BMW doesn't have mid-engined. But ... uh ... that's really where it ends.

VW's learned the hard way that it needs to focus on doing core business better instead of do more markets worse (phaeton). Granted, the Tourag for all intents ended up working. Audi's going to end up learning the same lesson too ... well again, except of the Q7. But the R8 is just going to languish.

I think it's supposed to compete in Cayman S/911 territory. But it has neither the style, nor the power, nor the prestige. If they wanted to succeed this thing need to be a balls-to-the-wall twin turbo quattro car where it'd be a performance bargain.

PS. I see this about the same as the Cadillac SLR-V.

sbw · 11-02-2006, 07:18 PM

If I want a supercar, Audi is at the bottom of my list — along with Kia, Hyundai and Freightliner!

BMW320i · 11-03-2006, 04:27 AM

i cant answer ur question, i dont know in which market is the R8, but i can say, if its in the high 5s, then it's meant to have a more aggressive RS4???

and i think it would compete with the SL and M6, although the look is kinda different than those two, less luxury, more aggressive...

where's whippersnapper???? he's the audi expert here

MarkA · 11-05-2006, 04:58 AM

It's priced to compete with a spec'd up 911 C4S in Europe.

ALPINE6SPD · 11-06-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ynotony

The R8 on paper confuses me a little. On the one hand it looks insanely aggresive, is a 2-seater, and is mid-engined. This to me says super car. But with *only* 400 something hp and weighing close to 3500lbs it isn't going to keep up with a ferrari or even a gallardo.

So basically what I am thinking is that either audi is trying to define a new market or the R8 is in no-man's land. It is not really ballsy enough to compete with ferrari, not luxurious/civilized enough to compete with the m6/SL/aston. And the fact that there is a rumored RS8 with 500-600 hp means that the regular R8 is not meant to compete with supercars anyways. the only car I can see similar to it would be the 911 but even then the R8 seems to go all out on looks like it is trying to be something more.

All of what I am saying is based on the really really aggresive styling. It looks like something that would be stupidly fast and impractical - yet I see no evidence of it being stupidly fast and impractical.

Are there any formal reviews road tests that might give me better idea?

The market its after is for people who like to overpay for cars.

TommyBahama · 11-06-2006, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ynotony

I think it is going to be in the high 5 figures.

from what ive seen its going to be based above 100k.

10-30-2006, 06:52 PM	#1
ynotony Private First Class 65 Rep 185 Posts Drives: Carrera S Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Who is the R8 Marketed towards The R8 on paper confuses me a little. On the one hand it looks insanely aggresive, is a 2-seater, and is mid-engined. This to me says super car. But with only 400 something hp and weighing close to 3500lbs it isn't going to keep up with a ferrari or even a gallardo. So basically what I am thinking is that either audi is trying to define a new market or the R8 is in no-man's land. It is not really ballsy enough to compete with ferrari, not luxurious/civilized enough to compete with the m6/SL/aston. And the fact that there is a rumored RS8 with 500-600 hp means that the regular R8 is not meant to compete with supercars anyways. the only car I can see similar to it would be the 911 but even then the R8 seems to go all out on looks like it is trying to be something more. All of what I am saying is based on the really really aggresive styling. It looks like something that would be stupidly fast and impractical - yet I see no evidence of it being stupidly fast and impractical. Are there any formal reviews road tests that might give me better idea?
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10-30-2006, 11:39 PM	#2
aapriadi Colonel 207 Rep 2,068 Posts Drives: '13 F30 AW 320i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia iTrader: (10)	i think its supposed to go against the m6, i've no idea either __________________ mod = crack
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10-31-2006, 12:16 AM	#3
Ray Member 315 Rep 22,825 Posts Drives: three series Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sfCA iTrader: (0)	It reminds me of where Acura positioned the NSX about 15 years ago. Exotic image in a practical machine.
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10-31-2006, 12:18 AM	#4
younghov85 Captain 70 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 black 325 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lanham, Maryland iTrader: (0)	How much is it??
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10-31-2006, 12:40 PM	#6
Greeney Brigadier General 229 Rep 3,856 Posts Drives: Jerez E90 M3 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Westchester, NY / Fort Lauderdale, FL iTrader: (4)	5 seconds for that car? thats just pathetic... __________________ 11' E90 M3 6MT \| Jerez Black \| Black Ext./Carbon \| ZCP \| ZCW \| ZPP \| ZTP \| 302 \| 403 \| 507 \| 5AC \| 655 \| 6FL \| 752 \| 15' F80 M3 6MT \| Black Saphire \| Black Full \| ZEC \| ZLP \| 2VF \| 2VZ \| 5DL \| 688 \|
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10-31-2006, 10:42 PM	#8
CraigG Enlisted Member 19 Rep 34 Posts Drives: 1993 Toyota MR-2 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (0)	I think the problem is that they want to have something similar to the 911 and Gallardo but they can't seeing as they basically do since the companies are related. I mean the Gallardo has a B6 Audi A4 Symphony II stereo (Or A4 Nav+, optional) and Audi A8 climate controls. They originally planned on big HP numbers but couldn't really do it for fear of competing against a higher end 997. An 'RS' version would obviously feed the need for moAr power, but with a high end price tag to match. Oh well. __________________ I r oph topicness.
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11-01-2006, 06:33 PM	#9
enwhykiid Captain 103 Rep 821 Posts Drives: '06 titanium 330XI Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	its slow because the quattro system on audis add more weight, no quattro= faster car. places like florida or cali dont need quattro and there shoulb be a version without it __________________
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11-02-2006, 02:03 AM	#10
ward Major General 163 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	people with more money than sense that's who it's marketed towards
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11-02-2006, 06:52 PM	#12
obLu Major 57 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	Yeah, I can't figure this one out. Just has to be image car. Audi's been saying it wants to change it's image to be perceived as "more sporty than BMW" for the past year or so. I'm guessing this is what they're trying to do it with. And from a round table, upper management, goal driven, product planning committee perspective it kinda does. It's mid-engined. BMW doesn't have mid-engined. But ... uh ... that's really where it ends. VW's learned the hard way that it needs to focus on doing core business better instead of do more markets worse (phaeton). Granted, the Tourag for all intents ended up working. Audi's going to end up learning the same lesson too ... well again, except of the Q7. But the R8 is just going to languish. I think it's supposed to compete in Cayman S/911 territory. But it has neither the style, nor the power, nor the prestige. If they wanted to succeed this thing need to be a balls-to-the-wall twin turbo quattro car where it'd be a performance bargain. PS. I see this about the same as the Cadillac SLR-V.
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11-02-2006, 07:18 PM	#13
sbw Ultimate Driver 36 Rep 368 Posts Drives: 2015 Porsche Cayman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	If I want a supercar, Audi is at the bottom of my list — along with Kia, Hyundai and Freightliner!
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11-03-2006, 04:27 AM	#14
BMW320i Colonel 187 Rep 2,916 Posts Drives: '06 AW 320i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Muscat, Oman iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 320i [0.00]	i cant answer ur question, i dont know in which market is the R8, but i can say, if its in the high 5s, then it's meant to have a more aggressive RS4??? and i think it would compete with the SL and M6, although the look is kinda different than those two, less luxury, more aggressive... where's whippersnapper???? he's the audi expert here __________________ 19" velocity CSL replicas staggured // Continental sport contact 2: rear: 255/35/19, Front: 235/35/19 // Blacklines // rear OEM spoiler // y-connector // 30% v-kool tint all around // Black Roof/Mirrors // H&R Sport springs // H&R TRAK+ 15mm spacers // *BMW never makes ordinary cars . . .* Last edited by BMW320i; 11-03-2006 at 04:43 AM..
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11-05-2006, 04:58 AM	#15
MarkA Resident Nürburgring Junkie 17 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 320Si Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0)	It's priced to compete with a spec'd up 911 C4S in Europe. __________________ 2006 320Si 6MT, Titansilber, M-Sport Pack, 18'' Si Wheels, Anthracite headlining, Blue shadow Alcantara, Shadowline Exterior Trim, Si Alum Interior Trim, PDC, Voice Control, Pro Nav, iDrive, Blacklines, Light/Rain Sensor, Auto Aircon, iPod Integration, Bluetooth integration, BMW Alarm.
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