RENDERED SPECULATION: Is BMW Going To Take Down Audi's R8

You have to know that a lot of the German brands are aching to have the success of Audi's halo car, the R8.

After all, the R8 has aided Audi in a big way. Now the brand has effectively rebranded themselves and is the "hot" brand of 2010.

And you better believe BMW is not taking this sitting down. Word on the street is suggesting that the Bavarians are working full steam ahead on a Z8 successor to take down the sensational R8...

Watch out Audi – BMW is gunning for the R8! Auto Express has uncovered incredible plans for a sensational two-seater roadster, set to be badged Z9. Replacing the Z8, which went out of production back in 2003, it will be BMW’s flagship supercar, sitting at the very top of the range, giving the brand some extra glamour and a rival to the R8 and Mercedes SLS.

Its taken some time for the newcomer to come to fruition, first appearing at the 2005 Los Angeles Motor Show as the California Spyder concept. A sleek, low-slung drop-top with carbon-fibre bodywork to save weight and a 700bhp BMW F1 engine, which revved to 17,000rpm.

The firm’s top brass gave the green light for production, albeit with conventional powerplants. But the economic downturn caused the California Spyder to be put on ice in 2007, and since then BMW has withdrawn from Formula One, too. But with an improving financial climate, the car is back on the card...

[Source: AutoExpress]

2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder Photo Gallery

Bimmerfest 2010 Photo Gallery

2011 Porsche Cayenne USA Launch

2011 BMW New Product Showcase

2011 BMW 5-Series USA Production Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to upload your photos on the go by sending them to Mobile@AutoSpies.com

Share on Facebook

Read Article

Need4Speed - 6/11/2010 10:36:31 AM

+5 Boost

Not with that.

stone - 6/11/2010 11:16:54 AM

+6 Boost

Agreed, that chop is not impressive at all...

freeagent - 6/11/2010 11:23:27 AM

+2 Boost

core model needs to be a coupe

spiritfilled - 6/11/2010 11:48:17 AM

-2 Boost

BAHAHAHAHA! and that's coming from a BMW fan boy. The R8 is sheer and pure beauty encapsulated in the form of an automobile, it's performance is also to be praised. I love BMW (not as passionately as I once did) but the R8 is in a league of it's own

JRobUSC - 6/11/2010 12:40:25 PM

+4 Boost

The R8 is a great looking vehicle, but the performance of the R8 V8 is virtually identical to the $40k less expensive current M3, so let's not spooge all over ourselves about how great the performance is. If you pay $180k for the V10 version, yeah, the performance is great. If you buy the $110k V8 version you're paying for some performance but primarily you're buying the style and image the car exudes. Which is fine, it's still a fantastic vehicle, but it's not the uber performance car people think it is based on the looks.

JRobUSC - 6/11/2010 12:46:42 PM

0 Boost

and while I'm at it, the car in those photoshops isn't stylish enough to topple the R8. If BMW wants a legit R8 competitor as their halo car, and I really really hope they do, then bring out the Vision Dynamics Concept. Now THAT'S a vehicle that could go toe to toe with the R8 in the style department.

car750i - 6/11/2010 12:22:25 PM

+2 Boost

cant wait! if the put the new m5 motor in something like this it will fly!

Yonder7 - 6/11/2010 12:39:01 PM

-1 Boost

Not with that thing and for the records the rear end looks like an Audi styled...

Steve - 6/11/2010 12:56:20 PM

+1 Boost

"ooR": Thank you for the accurate subject of "RENDERED SPECULATION", and the emphasis (caps).

Yeah, some Joe who does not work for BMW is letting his creative juices flow on what he imagines a BMW *might* look like (in his mind), and list members debate this :-/

There used to be debates about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Now we do this stuff.

LexSucks - 6/11/2010 1:33:11 PM

-1 Boost

Since when did the R8 become some sort of benchmark to be taken down?

dlin - 6/11/2010 3:06:06 PM

-3 Boost

For BMW.

LexSucks - 6/11/2010 4:19:24 PM

-1 Boost

For BMW? Yes. That makes sence.

dlin - 6/11/2010 3:06:45 PM

-4 Boost

I like the concept, but it has better be mid-engine and run within 8:00 this time.

spiritfilled - 6/11/2010 3:58:20 PM

-4 Boost

@ JRobUSC. M3 isn't AWD, I believe the R8 is and thus my applause in the performance segment. i love the M3 as well.

Lexus - 6/11/2010 5:26:04 PM

+1 Boost

I think BMW should produce that M10 concept with both a V8 and V10 power plant to head and head with Audi R8 V8 and V10.

dt32886 - 6/11/2010 7:19:04 PM

+1 Boost

There is no way anyone can top the R8 in the sub $150k sports car market. The style was so radical that it floored anyone who looked at it. BMW and Mercedes have to come up with an entirely new visual approach to a sports car for them to succeed like the R8.