2008 Audi R8 Arrives

By Alborz Fallah | October 03rd, 2007

Audi Australia has today launched its most anticipated car yet, the R8 sports coupe. The $259,000+ car marks Audi’s first attempt at joining the high-performance sports coupe club.

The R8 is powered by a high-revving 4.2-litre V8 FSI engine with 309kW and 430Nm, it will go from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds. On paper, the R8 should be able to steal some sales from the similarly priced Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Audi Australia’s Managing Director, Joerg Hofmann, says the R8′s introduction will help boost the company’s profile in Australia.

“The Audi R8 will become an icon for Audi and albeit niche, this is a car that clearly embodies our Vorsprung durch Technik (progress through technology). It will be instrumental in further boosting our brand image and awareness in this market,” Mr Hofmann said.

If you think 260k is a lot for an Audi, it’s best to remember the car is engineered with huge racing credentials. Besides, almost 15% of the R8 is shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo, including the transmission and chassis.

Using a mid-engined concept and quattro drivetrain, the R8 promises to be one extremely competent car.

Audi’s Space Frame ASF aluminium technology means the R8 weighs only 1560KG and the car utilises Audi’s new magnetic ride adaptive damping system for better handling and comfort.

The R8 package includes high performance ceramic brakes, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, rear view camera, Audi’s Multi Media Interface MMI and in another world first for Audi, the 2008 model R8 will be the first car in the world with all-LED headlights.

There will be two variants of the R8, the 6-speed manual variant ($259,990) and the six-speed sequential R-tronic version ($274,900).

Audi believes at least 100 Australians will take home an R8 per year. The German company is currently producing 20 R8s per day. The first 25 Australian buyers will take delivery within the next 2 months.

CarAdvice will endeavour to bring you a road test of the R8 in the near future.

Markhit

I think you mean Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
PS I own one and it is way better looking and I suspect (from what I’ve read) close on dynamics.
http://www.caradvice.com.au tony

Thanks Markhit. You’re so right.
snags

Given the opportunity id take this over the V8 Vantage, looks brilliant
Tonyn

With AWD and a looks to kill i think this will have appeal over the Vantage! i have seen one in full flight and it is awesome to look at and hear, has the best V8 grumble!
Lexus fan

Lexus supercar can’t come soon enough (next year). With V10 super luxury and similar price, it will blow this Audi out of water!
Adam J

Lexus fan, lets just hope the guys in charge of the TRD Aurion project have not touched the LF
Frugal One

FAIL!

Its 911 and Maserati money!

Cheers

F-0
Tonyn

this is a toe in the water… v10 is coming…. that will be a cracker!
Lexus fan

“this is a toe in the water… v10 is coming…. that will be a cracker!”

Yeh, by then Lexus would have the world first HYBRID supercar!
arsenalroc

nice but is it me or does this car remind me of a toned down buggatti veyron??
Lexus fan

Oh yeah, they are both from VW.
Nige

This thing is even uglier than the TT.
Whats with the black panel on the side??
Flying High

Make no mistake Lexus Fan. A Lexus is a glorified Toyota no matter how it is dressed up or badged. In fact in some parts of the world e.g. Hong Kong, they dont even bother with rebadging from Toyota to Lexus for exactly the same car. I can’t see anyone paying this sort of money for a what is essentially a Toyota – ‘cept you maybe…
Jamison

And Lexus has won countless quality awards around the world and praises…

Toyota too…

And Lexus have different parts supplier. which have higher grades of steel classes, have far more accurate tolerances, have better specifications and features…

So, yes Toyota designed… which is no problems at all there, but the parts are designed without the “cost” savings factor… I would buy a Lexus over a similar priced car from an american or european manufacturer….

Also, Fiat owns Ferrari…Toyota owns Lexus and has their best engineers working on it… and as ive stated Toyota is un-matched and often replicated by all the high volume production manufacturers…. so whats wrong with toyota again??… of thats right bland image..

good thing Lexus doesnt have the “every day” driver marketing budget so they have more freelance for performance and higher grade parts….
Jamil

To Lexus Fan & Jamison, please go to…

http://au.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showforum=35

In particular:

http://au.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7291

… its a IS250 Australian owners forum and judging from the threads that have been posted up there, Lexus build quality has gone down. UK owners (sister forum to the AU one which is linked at the top of the page) have also complained about an alarming number of rattles and squeaks.
Sexythang

shouldnt happen in a lexus. thats why never buy first few batches of a totally new car no matter how good it is. that goes for any product. I.e Xbox360, LCD Tv’s. on the up side, you will only notice these type of rattles in a lexus coz its too quiet inside. haha.