Love it! Man this is a dream car I think would be on everyone’s list, Audi fan or not! Glaad it was an Audi, Porsche 1-2. I do like the Vantage but hey cook or get out of the kitchen.
Does Audi’s R8 have the performance to match its looks and upset top-flight models from Porsche, Aston Martin and Jaguar?
The R8 is here! It’s not as if we weren’t given plenty of warning about its impending arrival, though – Audi has been threatening to build a top-flight supercar for years.
Remember the stunning Avus concept? A mid-engined, four-wheel-drive, aluminium-bodied two-seater, it pointed the way for a high-performance model when it was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show back in 1991.
That’s 16 years ago – eons in automotive terms – yet since then Audi has pulled the wraps off two more prototypes that shared the same basic architecture: the Rosemeyer (2000) and RSQ (2004). It’s even been four years since the Le Mans Quattro Concept, the R8’s direct predecessor, was first seen at the Geneva expo.
But although Audi has dragged its heels, the R8 has now reached production reality, and despite the delays, it’s still a very exciting prospect. Audi owns Lamborghini, so it’s little surprise that the R8 has a certain amount in common with the Gallardo, while the mighty V8 from the RS4 promises penetrating performance, and its name is shared with the brand’s all-conquering five-time Le Mans winner.
But Audi’s sporting flagship isn’t the only car in this class to claim motorsport influence in its design. Few marques have a richer racing history than Porsche, and the current 911 is the result of more than 40 years of development. It’s one of our favourite sports cars.
And there are two British firms that can hold their heads up high, not only in the racing arena, but also in the supercoupé class. Not many cars are more desirable or handsome than the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, while the Jaguar XKR has proved that the Coventry company can build a world-class sports GT. So here we pitch the R8 against the cream of the crop to find out which firm offers the ultimate ‘everyday’ supercar.
Technorati Tags: Audi R8, Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage V8, Jaguar XKR Coupe, oneighturbo
Looking for more? Have a look below.
Pingback: Audi R8 v Porsche 911 v AM Vantage V8 v Jaguar XKR Coupe