Audi’s American Future: R8 with V10, new small crossover

I'm ecstatic about the R8 4.2. But a V10 would be... mmm.

All of this is pretty well-known info on the site.

V-10 engines are OK if the angle between cylinder banks is 72 degrees.

We sold our first R8 2 days after we got it. I never even got to smell the leather...lol

5 words for Porsche: Get ready Porsche 911 Turbo.

Time to have Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, Jaguar and Corvette even further in the rearview mirror for sportscar perfection designed for everyday use (not GT3 and GT2)

I agree, utahnkid. But with the extra price of the R8 you get much, much hotter style, an ultra-luxury interior and exclusivity that you could never find in any Vette.

Your post was from a performance standpoint, so I'm not arguing with you- just justifying the R8's existence.

Well said S4 Cabrio!!! :)

I am really tired of crossovers.

But, bring on the V10 R8!

Sometimes it seems like these guys move as slow as molasses. We read about all this cool stuff coming which always arrives in Germany a full year before we see it here in the states. By the time it ever arrives it's almost old news. Sounds like Michael Dick spilled his guts on the new DSG trannys coming on the A4 and A5 next year over at Channel 4. No word on whether they will make them for the S versions or not. I understand the power handling capabilities of that type of tranny is suspect. He also confirmed that Audi will now be resposible for the development of all future Bentleys and that the next generation Flying Spur will be a sister car to the all new A8L sometime in 2010.

Yes! No more VW-sharing! Thank goodness! Bentley's image has been weakened by association (even though the Conti GT is an amazing vehicle), so, like the 7 Series-based Phantom, this should strengthen their position.

As for DSG- is that for real? Because I'm waiting patiently for them to implement it across the lineup. Very excited.

The A8 with its a rust-free aluminum body and fantastic AWD system is every bit as good as Bentley so why not share parts. Bentley has the capability to design a fancier interior however. I wonder if there will be an Audi A8 version of the Bentley Brooklands coupe when all 550 Brooklands are sold out.

The current Bentley Arnage line is over 10 years old.
So, I'm hoping that it will be based on the next generation Audi A8. An Aluminum spaceframe will shed alot of weight off of the Arnage. It would be great if
they used a turbocharged V10 or the incredible V12tdi.

Bentley will never have diesel, but I agree with the rest.

These are indulgent vehicles. You will never see a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce or Maybach with a diesel engine unless the apocalypse is coming.

Audi is what it is- I wouldn't even compare it to other cars that it's not in their league

Saw an R8 the other day. Beautiful looking vehicle. I think it is a mistake to wait another year before releasing the New A4. I guess they don't want to go against the New Mercedes C-Class , Lexus IS350, or BMW 335 yet in North America.

Europe's a more important market for Audi, so they just wont be hugely bothered about the US. A year is a bit too long, I would have expected only about 6 months.

Oh and Rupert it's not that Europe is more important as a market it's just been done that way always with the Germans. We almost never see cars here first. It used to be a full year before product made it here and now it's getting more like 6 months or so after their Euro launch. And david999 why would you launch against those cars rather than being the new fire right after they die down. In poker you let the other guy show his hand and then you go in for the kill...lol

The R8 is beyond beautiful. The Astons have simple, pure beauty but the R8 is just sex on wheels. The thing is, unlike Lamborghinis and such, the R8 will definitely not age quickly.

I think they are waiting on the A4 release to do a build out of the old components. I think the release will be earlier than they are saying. Possible May or so like the Q7 and the TT...

It is my understanding that they will continue to build both generations at the same time for the next 6 months. September '08 is the date I keep hearing for the all new 2009 A4 release in the US. The A4 Cabrio is subcontracted out to Karmen and will continue "as is" through model year 2009 when it will be replaced by the all new A5 Convertible in 2010 US model year. We should also see the all new S4 at the same time with the new 355hp FSI V8 also used in the S5. We should also see the option of the new torque vectoring AWD Quattro system for the first time on both the 2010 S5 and S4.