Kia's 2+2 coupe aimed at the Audi R8, production in 2 years

A little ambitious are we?

Most people don't think the LF-A can compete with the R8 and the Rio-maker wants to scare Audi with this? I dont care who designed, what's under the hood counts for 99% of the car.

Who doesn't think the LF-A can compete with the R8? Insecure German fanatics don't count...

XeroK00L, I was about to agree with Will, but you just had to come on and sound like an even bigger idiot than M35, didn't you? Do you even see how stupid you look?

1. The LF-A doesn't even exist yet. For all we know, it costs half of what the R8 costs and has a 200hp inline four.

2. The R8 V10 is coming, and it will be just as/more expensive and just as/more fast. I would guess "more" applies in both of those situations.

Even so, the "regular" R8 4.2 is a smashing home run, and as fast as Lexus makes the LF-A, I probably would never see any reason to buy it over the Audi. It's just not necessary to have anything better than 420hp and 0-60 in 4 seconds, as well as unbelievably sexy style and exclusivity.

This is all sooooo funny. People who buy these cars buy them for speed and prestige. I have asked my boss who has wealth, not money. I showed him three pics, the R8 this Kia, and the LF-A. He asked what the Lexus was for he did not recognize it with camo, so I showed him the concept car. He said he would put his money on the Audi. I asked why, his comment, " A Lexus is a tarted up Toyota and the Kia??" He then laughed out loud, which he rarely does. That is coming from a very very wealthy business owner here in Manhattan. So people with money still want a badge it seems with some history.

audi is not a tarted up VW. Lexus is a tarted up Toyota, but Audi works in the opposite direction. While Lexus starts with Toyota parts to create a premium car, Audi engineers it's own cars and VW gets the technology as hand-me downs. Not to mention the fact that Audi has a long history rich in innovation and racing victories (The 1936 silver arrow cars had 500+ horsepower and speeds in excess of 200mph.) Lexus is a contrived brand born in 1989 to facilitate the sale of... tarted up toyotas.

S4 - didnt know you were stupid enough to make that comment. Even if I was against Lexus I have a point - Cant even comment, read it again dumbass.

this starting to be big BS, they need to stop this crap, when are they going to compare with ferrari

LOL!

This FREAKING Stupid........serously.,....what are the Kia and Hyundai smoking? I don't care if it had 2000hp under it hood, it still a Kia or Hyundai, low end vechicles make for the mass.

If they want to make car to compete in the premium segment please make a premium segment first.

Secondly, the Lexus LF-A is going to have V10 with 570+hp, will it will be here soon. It will be really good to see the V10 Audi R8 goes against the Lexus LF-A V10.

Please don't post stuff like this again, because I think it is very disrespectful to Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura and other premium brands.

If Kia and Hyundai to compete in the this segment fine, make a premium brands first.

Let me guess.. tommorrow Kia/Hyundai will make Ferrari, Lambo, Aston Martin and Bentley killer tommorrow. And next week it will come out with Bugatti Veyron killer as well. Sarcastic....gee.....

If you can't play with Accords, what makes you think you can even watch the premium brands play the game?

This is all sooooo funny. People who buy these cars buy them for speed and prestige. I have asked my boss who has wealth, not money. I showed him three pics, the R8 this Kia, and the LF-A. He asked what the Lexus was for he did not recognize it with camo, so I showed him the concept car. He said he would put his money on the Audi. I asked why, his comment, " A Lexus is a tarted up Toyota and the Kia??" He then laughed out loud, which he rarely does. That is coming from a very very wealthy business owner here in Manhattan. So people with money still want a badge it seems with some history.

For argument's sake then, the R8 is a tarted-up Lamborghini....

ROFL!!! I'm so lame! ROFL LOL ROFL!

audi is not a tarted up VW. Lexus is a tarted up Toyota, but Audi works in the opposite direction. While Lexus starts with Toyota parts to create a premium car, Audi engineers it's own cars and VW gets the technology as hand-me downs. Not to mention the fact that Audi has a long history rich in innovation and racing victories (The 1936 silver arrow cars had 500+ horsepower and speeds in excess of 200mph.) Lexus is a contrived brand born in 1989 to facilitate the sale of... tarted up toyotas.

Also, The Continental series Bentleys are basically Audis. The Bugatti is built from Audi parts. Lamborghinis use the Audi awd system. Audi engineers some truly world class stuff. Audi is the basis for some of the world's most expensive and desirable cars.

The R8 is a watered-down Lamborghini. The LF-A is from scratch 100%. Lexus shares the ES, RX, GX, and LX platforms with Toyota. Audi shares the A3, TT, and Jetta platforms with VW.

My point is people with wealth still see Lexus as a Toyota, plain and simple. Audi was not part of VW for MANY MANY years. They may share parts now, but because they have a separate history, people do not automatically make the assumption. Audi has had a long history in the automotive world. That is why Lexus and now looks like Kia will have a hard time selling such a high end product to those people who see these companies as different. I like Lexus as a company. Kia....eeehhh. But my point was to ask someone who really could go out and buy one of these cars in cash, and he liked the Audi. I will ask him at work today does he feel the Audi is a tarted VW and I will tell u his answer.

And Will your comment about "Lexus shares the ES, RX, GX, and LX platforms with Toyota. Audi shares the A3, TT, and Jetta platforms with VW." in all honesty is quite the opposite. Toyota shares these platforms with Lexus, just like VW shares the mentioned platforms with AUdi (TT is from Golf) The LF-A is still not out so we in all honesty do not know that it is 100% from scratch, for all we know it could be pinning GS suspension bits.... my point was people with money still want a prestigious badge with heritage. That is my point,,, doesn't matter what parts they share, etc. When people with money go to spend it, they buy Lamorghinis and the like, not Lexus or Kia, or maybe even not Audi. Like I said I showed him the mentioned cars, and he like the Audi.

well, the W12 is two VR6 engines put together...not flaming, but lets try not to be condescending to toyota

stop!!!

I'll take one for $30k. If it costs more than that they can sit and spin.

Good on Kia, they will give lexus a run for their.

money.

Really why would a Kia be any different to a lexus, the pic look cool.

lets use our logic, one that doesnt make sense, 2. kia said the tt and not the r8 thats just bs news. and 3. again use your logic and 2+2 affordable sports coupe to compete with a 2 seat mid engined 6 figure exotic?

exactly

exactly

It's preposterous to compare a Kia with an Audi R8! Asian companies have very little innovation; only a propensity to copy other's innovative designs. One detail example : LED daytime running lights. They are innovative on the R8; overdone in the picture of the Kia that you provide. Absurd!

I personally can't believe you guys are even crying over this article. I'm guessing from your comments you are high end car owners (ye right), which is sad, I expected better.