Automobile Magazine: Audi R8 V10 is new pack leader

I'm always wary of Automobile Mag, but I can see the R8 as a car with credentials to stay in the pack, though I might not go as far as "pack leader".

— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/3/2009 11:27:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

It completely depends what criteria you use to judge pack leader: If you use all out performance, Nurburgring track times, and pure performance metrics then, no, Audi's R8 5.2 V10 is not the best of the pack. That would be the Lambo Gallardo LP560-4.

If you use a combination of performance, everyday driveability, ease of extracting performance, comfort, and confidence then, yes, Audi's R8 5.2 V10 is the pack leader.

You see, Audi's R8 even in V10 form was never designed to be the hardcore track fanatic like the Porsche 911 GT3 or GT2, or the hard-edged, bare-bones animal like the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.

The R8 was designed to be a car that has all the creature comforts of a high-end luxury car but is meant to be civil and easy to drive everyday unlike the Lamborghini and it just so happens to have some pretty damn good track credentials like the Porsches to match.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 2/3/2009 11:56:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

The Audi R8 v10 is amazing :-D

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/4/2009 12:24:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

mclaren notice the GTR was not mentioned in that group of cars. Gee, is it just me, or is Nissan the only non-German car out of the 4 mentioned?

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 2/4/2009 12:33:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

My name isn't GermanNut for nothing......

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 2/4/2009 12:55:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Actually mclaren, on a video posted here, the LP was much faster than the GTR on that particular track, and the GT2 was behind the GTR...

— AlexTx (View Profile)

Posted on 2/4/2009 10:47:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The car sounds like it is truely great. However I fail to see the point of it. Now that Porsche owns majority stake in VW they should consider whether there is just too much overlap in the supercar market. Other then Italian styling what is the point of Lamborghini then.Will this not hurt GT2 and GT3 sales. It seems like you are just splitting the pie here. Porsche needs to either figure out a way to separate these 3 brands or sell one of them(as in Lamborghini). Further I would would wonder about the GT2 sales.Maybe there should only be an R8 V10 as well.The R8 V10 is brilliant but it may not be a great marketing move for Porsche.

— mini22 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/4/2009 7:24:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Porsche 911 will always Porsches and they have a true hardcore following. really not a huge risk of seeing those people jump ship. As far as the poseurs that know nothing about a 911 and go buy the newest "toy", good riddance.

The risk is more between Audi and Lamborghini, but last year Audi sold every single R8 they built and Lamborghini posted an increase in sales and profit over 2007. So apparently nobody got hurt.

As far as Porsche selling lambo, well that could not happen as VW was never the owner of Lambo but Audi is. Lambo is owned solely by Audi AG.

— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 2/4/2009 10:46:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0