First R8 Written Off

[Ingolstadt]

On general terms, it's more reliable than most forums.

[Pando]

While I see your point, I don't think a mid engined 2-seater V10 sportscar is that sensible...

I was talking about the current R8, but same would go for a V10.

[Ferrer]

I was talking about the current R8, but same would go for a V10.

I was talking about the V10, I do agree that the V8-engined R8 doesn't conflict with the Gallardo.

[Coventrysucks]

the V8-engined R8 doesn't conflict with the Gallardo.

Neither does a V10 version.

Lamborghini built 5000 Gallardos in the first three years of production;that's only 1700 or so a year.

According to an article in Car magazine 534 (Feb), the annual market for cars over £100,000 is 25,000. With that many people wanting cars, I doubt that Lamborghini would struggle that hard to net 1700 of them.

I think the notion that the R8 will steal Lamborghini sales is fundamentally flawed anyway:

They are both mid engine sports cars that share a few components, but are from fairly distinct brands and are separated by c.£40,000 (a Gallardo is 60% more expensive than an R8...). The notion that, because of the vague similarities, customers will all want cheaper R8s is akin to suggesting that no one would buy an Audi A4 because the VW Passat exists.

Which brings me to the following argument about the two cars.

The Passat and A4 are both VAG products and share components; engines, gearboxes, bits of interior trim, etc. Yet they are still different cars, with different characteristics and attributes. Why is not possible for the R8 and Gallardo to retain a similar level of distinction? They may share components, but they are engineered and developed by different companies with different goals - of course the end product is going to be different.

Finally; for sharing an engine removing the "soul" -
The Aston DB7 was largely build from old Jaguar XJSs and Ford Mondeos, but that didn't stop it from being the company's most successful car, until the DB9; again using an engine from a Ford Mondeo or two.

Ferrari engines can be found in Maserati saloons, Pagani engines can be found in old Merc saloons, Koenigsegg and Saleen engines can be found in old Mustangs, and TVRs used to be made out of Ford Granadas. (In each case, as with the Lamborghini and Audi V10s, there is a degree of modification involved.) No one ever complains that they "lack soul".

In summary:

There are enough people wanting to buy expensive cars to warrant Audi entering the market, without harming anyone else's sales.

The cars are distinct, not just carbon-copies with different badges

No one (who buys these cars) cares where the engines come from.

[kingofthering]

The point is, Audi, a multi-billion Euro company would not have just built a $100,000 aluminium sports car just for fun.

They probably did some research and discovered a niche to fill under the Gallardo. Also, it's a 911/DB9 competitor, so the Gallardo has nothing to worry about.

[Vaigra]

You've just contradicted yourself. You're saying they're filling a niche but then go on to say that it's a 911 and DB9 competitor?

[RazaBlade]

^ He prob meant a niche for their company, as opposed to the motoring market as a whole.

Its always great when CS can put into proper words what many of us were pointing at through this thread, thanks dude.

[Ferrer]

Furthermore how can a mid engined 2 seater be a competitior of the DB9?

[Waugh-terfall]

Would it not be more towards the V8Vantage, both engine configuation-wise, size-wise and price-wise?

[Coventrysucks]

Don't forget power (if you get it Prodrive'd) and weight-wise too.

[kingofthering]

Road and Track compared it to the Aston and Porsche.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Furthermore how can a mid engined 2 seater be a competitior of the DB9?

Because a DB9 is a 2+2 in name only. There's probably just as much room behind the seats in an R8 as there is in the rear seats of a DB9

[Ferrer]

Because a DB9 is a 2+2 in name only. There's probably just as much room behind the seats in an R8 as there is in the rear seats of a DB9

Still, one is a front engined GT and the other a mid engined sportscar, don't see how they are rivals...

[quattro_20v]

Here in the Netherlands there is only 500 euros price difference between the R8 and V8 Vantage, the DB9 is a lot more expensive and has a V12. And with power the audi is somewhere between the 2, altho closer to de DB9.

[Ingolstadt]

Still, one is a front engined GT and the other a mid engined sportscar, don't see how they are rivals...

They are rivals for kids in forums, not to businessmen in showrooms