Mike 28 Sep 06

Glad it has the broad rear-end, that will help when you have to push it to the dealership for service.

Anonymous Coward 28 Sep 06

I’ve had 3 Audis and never had a service problem, but that being said, The R8 is a *high performance sports car* and those cars do require special attention and more maintenance than your typical sedan.

Ferrari, Aston, Porsche, Lambo — those cars all require additional maintenance because they push the limits of what’s possible in a street legal car. More pressure on the chassis, engine, transmission, higher running temperatures, etc.

Luis Villa 28 Sep 06

Stick to software, guys… that is one ugly-ass car :)

John 28 Sep 06

Looks anything but “simple”

Matt Johnson 28 Sep 06

Wow, that is beautiful!

John Topley 28 Sep 06

So when do you take delivery, Jason?

Give me that other Audi (the Lamborghini Gallardo) any day. Now that is a beautiful car.

Benjy Stanton 28 Sep 06

I’ll stick with my Kia Picanto thanks very much.

Mike Rundle 28 Sep 06

Haha you guys are nuts, this car is freaking incredible. I’ve been paying attention to this since the earliest prototypes were caught during testing so yesterday I was incredibly psyched to see it debuted.

Also, in an effort to satisfy Lamborghini Gallardo customers (present and future) the next version of the Gallardo is supposed to have ~550hp in order to separate it from the R8. For a car like this, the pricetag of $100k is just amazing, leave it to Audi to knock competitors off their ass.

Alexandre Simard 28 Sep 06

Wait a minute, VAG has taken badge engineering to its exotic cars, now? I did not know that, and I’m speechless.

Abi 28 Sep 06

Stunning! Curvy where its meant to be and sleek where its meant to be. I’d love one but I bet there will be a long long waiting list.

jm 28 Sep 06

It’s a good looking car. I have a question, with the disclaimer that I’m really not trying to pick a fight. I’ve owned one Audi (an A6) and a small handful of BMWs; I’m definitely a fan of the latter and I imagine I’ll always have at least one in my garage. The A6 (as with the S4 I considered buying, and most other Audis I’ve driven) always felt ‘soft’ to me.

In personal observation, Audi doesn’t seem as sport-driven as their roundel-bearing neighbors. Jason, you’re one of the most impassioned Audi fans I’ve come across and I gather most of your emphasis is on sport. How would you define Audi’s philosophy as it appeals to you? (I.e. what is the draw that makes this post about the R8 and not the M Coupe?)

ak 28 Sep 06

I lease a 2006 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro. It’s got 8,000 miles on it so far and I’ve not had a single issue yet. It sticks to the road like sh*t to a blanket and given that my previous car was a Toyota Highlander it is incredibly responsive and fast.

Audi’s new engines have DFI and while you need premium gas to make the sucker purr it is well worth it, my 2.0T gets 450 miles per tank AND I have the performance to go with it.

If I could afford an R8 I’d take a look but I’d probably kill myself from speeding or I’d loose my license, whichever came first.

Mike Swimm 28 Sep 06

Jason,

I am curious as to why your less is more mantra gets thrown out the window when talking about vehicles? You talk about applying it to things outside of software all the time. Cars don’t count?

Ole 28 Sep 06

John: maybe not simple, but certainly agile… ;-)

David Patrick 28 Sep 06

Recipe for this car:
(1) Take one Audi TT (if none available, take one Smart Roadster)
(2) Chop off everything behind the driver’s seat off
(3) Take the back end of a Porsche (any will do, but 911 works best) and bolt it to the front end you are left with after step (2)

Compared to the machine they had on the stand at Le Mans a couple of years ago, I have to say I am not impressed with this one.

Also spotted is the new Peugeot 908 for next year:
link

Benjy 28 Sep 06

Is this why 37Signals took Bezos’ money?

Geoffrey Sneddon 28 Sep 06

That car really does look different to the R8 LMP001 class car, and more like a Gallardo�

dandan 28 Sep 06

I am curious as to why your less is more mantra gets thrown out the window when talking about vehicles? You talk about applying it to things outside of software all the time. Cars don�t count?

Who cares man - it’s an amazing vehicle :D

dandan 28 Sep 06

I am curious as to why your less is more mantra gets thrown out the window when talking about vehicles? You talk about applying it to things outside of software all the time. Cars don�t count?

Who cares man - it’s an amazing vehicle :D

John Topley 28 Sep 06

That car really does look different to the R8 LMP001 class car, and more like a Gallardo�

Isn’t it based on a Gallardo?

street 28 Sep 06

I’ll have to admit that I’m a total hypocrite who�s owned his share of outrageously expensive and fast cars. Owning them is like dating someone who is very attractive, superficial, shallow, and needy. But I’ve since converted and no longer even own a car. My advice - ditch the obsession with exotics. I promise you will be a happier person for it.

That said, save a bundle and buy a Lotus Exige. Its a real car and not a computer controlled monstrosity. And like the R8, you will be the only person you know who owns one.

--Josh 28 Sep 06

I’ve tried to like this, but just can’t. I love the cockpit design of the interior, but the exterior does nothing for me. They took the clean design of the Gallardo and put a bland body with a bunch of louvers, vents, and strakes glued all over.

It’s also interesting that the head of Audi was quoted at the launch party as saying that this was designed to be “a supercar for your wife, for women.” Problem is my wife would prefer the Gallardo as well. Releasing it with the V8 before the V10 is also a weird marketing move.

The design of this car does seem to be counter to the 37S design sensibility. for Less Car, you might like the new Lotus Exige S that was just officially announced to be coming to the US. It weighs and costs half as much as this R8 but is quicker and purer. I’d assume you guys would agree with Colin Chapman’s (founder of Lotus) credo to “Simplify and add lightness”.

tom 28 Sep 06

Audi has lost touch since the TT. They’ve abandoned their style direction and innovation and just sold their souls to “smooth lines” and that damn shield grille.

P.S. You have a stray comment on this page:

No Really 28 Sep 06

The front of the R8 reminds me of a lobster and the combination of steering wheel and instrument binnacle look like the cartoon Ringo Starr in Yellow Submarine!

Josh2 28 Sep 06

Hey, I think that comment came from my posting with the double dashes in front of my name above (—Josh). I wondered why it is that every time I post a comment here the page hangs on refresh but the comment is posted immediately, which I can see by opening the page in another tab.

Let’s see if this one gets posted any quicker.

Josh2 28 Sep 06

Nope. Same slow refresh. Let’s see if that was due to having the double comments in the body of that last one.

Josh2 28 Sep 06

Nope, same slow refresh. Maybe once the double dashes are posted to the thread once it hangs for everyone?

At any rate - looks like you need to escape double dashes.

ct 28 Sep 06

SIMPLE. Hmmmm.

If you want simple, check out the Tesla Roadster:
http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1

- All-electric
- Plug-in charging
- 250 miles per charge
- $100K

Check out the simplicity of the car’s interface, the lines of the body design.

And the site ain’t too shabby either.

Josh2 28 Sep 06

FWIW, the Tesla is an Elise/Exige chassis with a Tesla-engineered electric drive train and Lotus-designed body that is being built by Lotus for Tesla.

"D" 28 Sep 06

It still AIN’T a FERRARI!

Kris Tuttle 28 Sep 06

This car is trying way to hard to be something.

Audi doesn’t have the soul to make a Porsche or a Ferrari.

I’d be embarrassed to be seen driving or even riding in this car.

street 28 Sep 06

I’d be embarrassed to be seen implying that ‘cars’ have ‘souls’.

Joe Ruby 28 Sep 06

So, will this be replacing the Audi TT as the official company car of 37S? :P

street 28 Sep 06

Josh - thanks for the link to the Tesla, I almost forgot about those guys.

bbebop 28 Sep 06

Somewhat off topic, but there’s a problem in the svn RSS feed: http://postbop.com/2006/09/rss-feed-spam/

street 28 Sep 06

sorry ct… props to you too

Dan 29 Sep 06

Crappy ass website too…

Jim Jeffers 29 Sep 06

It is undoubtibly beautiful but when it comes to less is more what do you think of the current Civics? I find the regular 2 door coupe too be plenty of car. Reasonably luxurious, well styled, affordable, and economical getting a good 31-38mpg for mileage. It’s just nice enough to keep you happy and you don’t have to feel the guilt of being an overconsumer at the sametime. Best purchase I ever made. No more Porsches for me.. at least not for a while any way.

Nia 29 Sep 06

Gosh, it’s beautiful! I wan’t that!

Don Schenck 29 Sep 06

I’ve always loved AUDI’s, and this one trumps them all.

Lovely automobile.

The Bard 29 Sep 06

I�ve always loved AUDI�s, and this one trumps them all.

AUDI’s what?

The Bard 29 Sep 06

I�ve always loved AUDI�s, and this one trumps them all.

AUDI’s what?

bill D 29 Sep 06

nice lookin’ car

bill D 29 Sep 06

nice lookin’ car

Justin Bell 29 Sep 06

Ferrari, Aston, Porsche, Lambo � those cars all require additional maintenance

If you Porsche requires additional maintenance, you should take it back to the dealer and tell them it’s a pile of junk, as a Porsche shouldn’t fall apart like a Lambo — it’s German.

Audi has lost touch since the TT.

The old TT was ugly. An interesting design concept, yes, but still an ugly car in my books. It’s high-tech style just didn’t go with its cutesy, round, Beetle-like design.

Don Schenck 30 Sep 06

Yer all crazy. Audis rule.

Kevin Navia 02 Oct 06

This is one helluva beyooootiful car!