Audi Working on Lambo Murcielago Rival?

Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI Quattro

By Thami Masemola
February 4, 2009 5:58 PM
Filed Under: Audi, German, Rumours, Supercars

A rumoured more powerful R8 aimed at the Lamborghini Murciélago may not help the brand's cause in the eyes of Porsche. InsideLine says a source at Audi has told them that while the R8 V12 TDI has been knocked off the list of upcoming Audis, engineers are experimenting with something more powerful than the 528hp R8 V10 (pictured).

A few months ago a WCF staffer had lunch with a Porsche official. A few tidbits of information were discussed on and off the record. One thing said by the Porsche man was that his company was aiming for a 100% takeover of Volkswagen. The prospect of this was very exciting for them but at the same time quite daunting because of Audi, specifically the R8. Apparently the big wigs at Porsche are worried about the phenomenal response the R8 has garnered and were discussing ways of dealing with it in relation to its most obvious rival the iconic 911. Not to say they would discontinue it but who knows.

Source: insideline via autoblog

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Tags: Audi R8, Audi R8 V10, Lamborghini, Lamborghini Murciélago, Lamborghini Gallardo

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Comments

Samuel_spektor

February 4, 2009 6:20 PM

Seem's like porsche has their work cut out for them. They can't seem to create and manage niches in the market seen by the overlapping 911 and Cayman today. It seems that the only way a more powerful R8 and LP-640 could co-exist is with the deisel variant but they scrapped that, why? I'd like to believe the R8 and 911 can occupy different areas in the performance market with more than just pedigree going for the 911, but how? Any thoughts WCF?

Lemonsqweezer3000

February 4, 2009 6:22 PM

how do you cayman and 911 overlap? cayman is not rear engined...

Samuel_spektor

February 4, 2009 6:28 PM

Well being rear engined is not so much an advantage as it is the defining feature of the 911, there is no other car today that's rear engined. While otherwise the Cayman S comes with 310 hp today with a base 911 coming in at 345 hp, the Caayman has an LSD today, with it's engine in the middle (better) and at better value than its big brother.

My opinion is the 911 needs to be vastly improved today with it being under attack from it's own family (the R8 and the cayman) and by Nissan with the new 370Z and the GT-R which offer asounding performance for much better price points. Porsche needs to justify charging so much more for their iconic sports car, the 911 needs to move to the front of the pack again.

ShinyG

February 4, 2009 6:57 PM

I don't think the 911 is done for or that Porsche is behind. The 911 still has more than pedigree, it has the performance: a 911 Carrera S can keep up with the R8 with no problem. The Turbo could keep up with the Gallardo, so I guess the V10 R8 would be similar. The 911 still has the most interior space, it's the best daily driver, the most economical and it's the most dependable of the bunch. Funny they manage to do that without falling behind in performance... That's why it's "expensive". From my point of view, the 911 still has no direct competitor considering the advantages I've mentioned earlier, so I see no reason for Porsche to discontinue it!

i808strafe

February 4, 2009 7:01 PM

^While I agree with what you said the 911 is still a porsche. Yes there is some serious competition and they are better cars for the money. But you do not buy a 911 for the bang for the buck factor. Worst case scenario Porsche stops being referred to as a top of the line performer (objectively on paper at least) but people will still buy it, just the same way people buy aston. Aston does not make the fastest cars for the money. And when you look at the competition for Astons the cars they offer are pretty slow. Not to mention Porsche is still one of the few companies that makes a light weight car with good power. I believe all of the porsche lineup, except for the cayenne and turbo, is under 3200 lbs. There are those that still want the lighter car.

catchmyshadow

February 4, 2009 8:05 PM

it is easy, both cars, the 911 and the R8 fit under one roof. The 911 is a 2+2 seater and has a classic design, i know a lot of people who bought the 911 because they can bring their kids to school with it etc. the futuristic R8 can`t do that and never will. and the cayman?, well i heard many people saying it is for people who cannot afford a 911, for some customers this may be true, but in my opinion the mid engined cayman offers as much if not more driving fun than the 911. so all 3 cars should be continued.

Sharpie

February 4, 2009 8:16 PM

So, I don't understand. If Porsche lose 10 percent of their 911 sales to the R8...isnt it still a win win situation for them. They still make money, it is not like they are loosing to another company. I am sure they want Audi to be profitable, because that makes Porsche profitable.

eltorch

February 4, 2009 8:24 PM

in the end it is a win win situation for them. but when a car like the R8 wins on sales over the 911, eventually it destroys Porsche's the brand image, and it would be a shame as the 911 has a hell longer history than the R8.

but i LOVE the R8 :)

Bristol411S3

February 4, 2009 8:31 PM

Depends on the margins those models make respectively and the proportion of those Porsche gets.

prowler97

February 4, 2009 8:16 PM

No V12 TDI in the R8, that was going to be the only thing that seperated it from the rest. Audi...your miss the mark by cancelling the V12 TDI.

eltorch

February 4, 2009 8:21 PM

despite the overtake an all Porsche should definitely not cut anything else off the Audi line, such as the R8. It is a big rival and all, but its an icon. they will be bloody pillarks if they cut Audi cars for its own sales

Samuel_spektor

February 4, 2009 11:22 PM

I don't think any good cars should be cut for marketing reasons, quite the contrary, cars like 911s R8s, Astons etc. should all have something to offer that a competitor can't.

Bodhii

February 5, 2009 12:11 AM

I think the problem is that Porsche has already completed its design for the replacement model of the 997, and its a mid-engine model like the R8, but also has a tiny back seat like the new mid-engine Lotus Evora. Having too premium mid-engine models may be a little overwhelming for the Porsche customer demographics. I've heard that this real 911 replacement is coming in 2012, so we will see.

Xanavi23

February 5, 2009 2:40 AM

Porsche competes with their competition just fine. As for the R8 V12 possibility, the Murcielago will always stand tall. Why you may ask? Because it is the purest form of Lamborghini to this day, its the lineage of the Muira, the Countach, the Diablo and now the Murcie. It might be 4WD as was the Diablo(some versions) but its still a very aggressive car and its still a handful. In the straights its blisteringly fast, with what i imagine offer is its own way of having fun.

So for better or for worse, the Murcie will always be the beast it is and always was, and due to Prestige of the Lamborghini name alone, if not the cars great performance, it will always sell well.

That said, the R8 competition will sell well too, because simply there is enough money out there.

Siawa

February 5, 2009 5:09 PM

All I know, R8 is a gorgeous machine and if I have the finances to buy it, I won't think twice.

devlin

February 5, 2009 6:44 PM

The problem with the most porsche's is that al basicly the same look and it is a look that is getting old. I was a porsche fan at a time but somehow lost interest. In today's car sale looks is one of the biggest factors. People are very image oriented.

Xanavi23

February 6, 2009 2:25 AM

But Porsche 911 buyers and loyalists will never want the car to change. Stuttgart knows this and thats why the 911 will always look the way it does. The Boxter and Cayman will overtime, i think, be the cars that allow Porsche lovers who are bored of the 911 look a premium sports car with different looks.

James2911

February 6, 2009 9:42 AM

Just cos the V12 TDI was cancelled, doesn't mean diesel won't feature on the R8. There will most likely be a V8 TTD or (new) V10 TTD fitted. As well as a Spider variant and 7-Speed DSG hopefully.

Blake_10

February 9, 2009 6:05 PM

They should create an extreme version of the R8 with a 700 PS V12, with Porsche they can put two of their straight-6 and create a HUGE V12. (:

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