Audi R8 with Pink in Holland

Just when you felt life was getting a little bit boring, along comes this piece of literal Dutch eye candy to remind you that many people are crazy. Yes sir, that's an Audi R8. Yes sir, someone painted it pink. But not just pink – light candy pink with darker pink blades. Now, let's say for a second that the carbon fiber blades are actually baked pink plastic. That would be kinda OK in our book. However, since they are obviously nothing but regular carbon fiber painted pink, we're against them. Moreover, they look slightly purple. And pink and purple simply do not match.

Not that there's anything wrong with pink all on its lonesome. It can be done well, and at least one of us (*ahem*) liked the Mansory Vitesse Rose at Frankfurt. But even if you totally loathe Mansory's handiwork, at least they put some effort into it. From the single photo we got here, looks like the pink R8 is just, sorta... pink. Lazy pink, really. But of course the real reason for this post (besides the laughter) is to figure out what we should call all-pink cars. Because obviously, it's now a trend.

Even though the Russians gave the Emirates a run for their stacks of $100 bills, in the end "all Dubai'd out" beat "all Moscow'd out" in our poll to determine the correct nomenclature for mirror-finished/chrome cars. But then, what to call pink cars? We've got a few ideas listed in a poll after the jump. But if you have your own suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments. Oh, and here's an all gold R8 for you to contemplate while you vote.

[Source: autojunk.nl]

-->Read More...

Leaked: All-electric Audi R8 e-Tron Concept

Remember those Electricity Untamed (what’s with German carmakers and the word untamed for their Frankfurt exhibits) teaser videos that Audi released earlier this month? Still don’t know anything about what kind of electric motor(s) will power the Frankfurt car but an initial set of photos of the Audi e-Tron concept have surfaced.

It’s quite clearly an R8 (though without “side blades”, making it end up looking like a large TT) but likely in the interest of aerodynamics most of the intake openings have been closed off. Perhaps electric motors run much cooler than a regular combustion engine. And check out those radical wheels.
It’s interesting how all three premium German manufacturers are exhibiting very powerful sports with alternative combustion engines at the Frankfurt show. Mercedes-Benz will showcase its electric-powered version of the SLS AMG while BMW has its Vision EfficientDynamics concept car.

Look after the jump for the rest of the e-Tron photos.

-->Read More...

Audi R8 Spider – first photos leaked

Here are an initial four photos of the drop top version of the Audi R8, a new reason for our rich southern neighbours to start taking their checkbooks out – the hard top version is already all over their roads and becoming a common sight.

It’s said that Tony Stark will also be upgrading to this baby in the sequel to the Iron Man movie. More details will only be unveiled later on what engine options the R8 Spider will come with, but its expected to at least have the flagship 5.2 V10.

-->Read More...

Audi R8 Spider Photos Leak Online Ahead of Frankfurt Show

This is the long anticipated Audi R8 Spider, and these first pictures have made their way online ahead of the supercar's official unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. Contrary to initial reports, the R8 Spider does not get a removable targa panel, but a traditional folding top that tucks away behind the passenger compartment.

Other cosmetic changes over the coupe model include the redesigned engine cover at the back with twin speedster humps that incorporate newly styled air-vents as well as the elimination of the so-called 'sideblades'.

Mechanical details are still scant but it has been reported that the Spider will be launched initially with the range-topping 5.2-liter V10 engine that makes 525 horsepower and 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque.

-->Read More...

R850i: Russian Audi R8 Sporting BMW Badges!

To be quite frank, the jury is still out on whether or not these photos showing an Audi R8 adorned with BMW badges are bona fide or fabricated by a cunning but nevertheless extremely talented photoshop manipulator. The rebadged Audi R8 with the Russian licenses features the Bavarian automaker's logo up front, at the rear and on the engine cover. True or not, we're pretty sure that these pictures can ignite an... interesting conversation between Audi and Bimmer fans.

[Euxaristo for the tip Nikos! Via: WFC and BMWblog]

-->Read More...

Audi Announces U.S. Prices for V10-Powered R8 5.2 FSI Quattro

Attention U.S. buyers interested in the most powerful variant yet of the Audi R8; the Ingolstadt automaker has announced that the R8 5.2 FSI quattro goes on sale in the States this week with prices starting from $146,000 for the manual gearbox model and from $155,100 for the R tronic variant, with both models subject to a $1,200 destination, taxes, title, options and dealer fees.

The range-topping R8 is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine that makes 525 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque launching the German supercar from rest to 60mph (96km/h) in just 3.7 seconds.

As for the 2010 R8 4.2 FSI quattro, Audi said that prices remain unchanged from the 2009MY cars with the manual gearbox model starting from $114,200 and the R tronic version from $123,300, again excluding $1,200 destination, taxes, title, options and dealer charges.

[Source: Carscoop]

-->Read More...

Goodwood Celebrates Audi's Centenary by Suspending Cars over Massive Sculpture

This year's featured marque at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (3-5 July) is Audi as the Ingolstadt-based automaker is celebrating its 100th birthday. To commemorate the anniversary, Lord March, who hosts the festival at his back-yard 12,000-acre West Sussex estate, commissioned the creation of massive sculpture that features two cars from Audi's history, the iconic 1937 Auto Union streamliner and the just launched R8 V10 sports car suspended in the air, at either end of the 'swoosh' of tire tracks.

Designed by the Gerry Judah, Lord March's creative collaborator, the sculpture weighs in at a total of 40 tonnes or the equivalent of 40 small family cars and it took two 100-tonne cranes to raise the monument and about four weeks for 12 men to fabricate, build and install it in front of the Goodwood house.

"I drew about 20 ideas and some had elaborate bridges with vaulted arches but somehow they didn't have quite the right style," said Judah. I then had a flash of inspiration and designed this 'swoosh' with a car at either end to represent Audi's 100-year history.

"It's made entirely of steel and although the design looks simple, it's actually extremely complex, because the structure has to be rigid and completely balanced without the need for hundreds of supporting props."

[Source: Carscoop]

-->Read More...

Chinese Hybrid Sports Car Mixes Audi R8 and Ferrari Styling Traits

It has come to the point where this blatant copying of Western car designs from Chinese auto manufacturers is getting totally ridiculous. The Tong Jian S11 that was reportedly revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this year but somehow escaped our radars, borrows several styling cues from a number of vehicles including the Audi R8-esque profile and the Ferrari-inspired tail design.

The Tong Jian S11 is said to be a hybrid sports car that presumably combines electric motors with an internal combustion engine. There are no specific details on the car's mechanics nor if it is scheduled to enter production at some point.

[Via: Leblogauto & Autoblog.com , Images: Goche Sohu]

-->Read More...

Audi Presents Updated Navigation System Plus for A3, TT and R8

Just like any other electronic product, navigation systems are continuously upgrade with better software and hardware. Audi's updated navigation system plus with MMI (Multi Media Interface) for the A3, TT and R8 models promises to offer improved route calculation speeds thanks to a latest-generation processor clocked at 600 MHz while another significant enhancement is are the 800 x 480 pixel, high-resolution graphics displayed on the 6.5-inch screen.

On the back of the display, which can be folded away at the push of a button, are two slots for SD and SDHC cards with capacities of up to 32 GB, enough to store about 14,000 songs or 700 hours of music.

Also new on Audi's updated navigation system plus is the optical parking assistant which can be combined in the Audi R8 with the rearview camera. Aside from the acoustic warning signals, the distance to the front and to the rear is now displayed optically on the high-resolution display.

The new system is available for order now with prices ranging between €2,270 and €2,565, depending on the model.

-->Read More...