Amidst the uncertainty over Audi’s ultra-high-end car offerings in light of Porsche’s increasing influence over Volkswagen, comes word that Audi might be planning another mid-engine ’supercar’ to complement the R8. Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president of Audi of America said in an interview published today a new crossover is also under consideration.
The nature of the proposed supercar is unknown. Since late 2006, there have been rumors about a smaller ‘R4′ sports car from Audi, but it would be a stretch — to say the least — to call a Boxster rival a supercar — and that’s the term Mr. de Nysschen used, according to AutoWeek.
Perhaps, then, de Nysschen might be referring to the recently-rumored R10 supercar, based on the Le Mans-winning TDI diesel race car of the same name. We’ll have to hold judgement until more information becomes available.
Audi’s next crossover is less mysterious — we’ve already heard countless rumors about the Q3. While the name is not finalized, the premise is simple: a smaller version of the new Q5 crossover. The biggest mystery about the Q3 is whether it will have two or four doors. Early rumors firmly indicated two doors were in order, but recent reports hint it might have four. Again, time will tell. As for de Nysschen, he was tight-lipped.
06/02, 10:17 PM
posted by:
Carwatcher
No more crossovers please.
06/02, 10:38 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Just what the world needs, more crossovers, yay. All sarcasm aside I would like to know what this new supercar is.
06/03, 1:15 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Audi needing another supercar??? Not that I’m opposed to that but does Audi really need it? How would this relate to the R8? Would it be priced underneath the R8 or would it be a more expensive supercar ranging towards a mil???
I think Audi would have something better going if they offerred multiple powerplants in the R8 such as the V10 or twin turbo V12 TDI.
Or is Audi going to come out with something to compete with BMW’s M1???
06/03, 1:52 AM
posted by:
howsmydriving
No more crossovers, no more B.S. supercars from a B.S. manufacturer that aspires but fails to play in the same league as MB and BMW.
06/03, 2:09 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Um, drive an Audi S5 and tell me that can’t compete with the best BMW has to offer, or Mercedes for that matter. The one problem Audi needs to solve (and Mercedes-Benz) is their gross vehicle weight; even the R8 seems 800lbs too heavy. If they can get the weights down and the crash test results up, they would be on very solid ground indeed.
06/03, 2:11 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Oh, and the Q5 needs to freaking die in a fire, that is one of the ugliest, most outrageously huge vehicles ever made. It dwarfs a late-’90s Suburban, yet it feels tiny inside due to bad planning. Audi needs to stick to sedans and coupes.
06/03, 2:11 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Oh, and the Q7 needs to freaking die in a fire, that is one of the ugliest, most outrageously huge vehicles ever made. It dwarfs a late-’90s Suburban, yet it feels tiny inside due to bad planning. Audi needs to stick to sedans and coupes.
06/03, 2:47 AM
posted by:
fan
“another” supercar… well, that one would have to be slotted ABOVE the R8… when i see what dorks apparently can afford the R8, i must say, its too cheap.
Plus, the R8 is just at the brink of being a supercar at all… its a 911 rival, thats it. and the 911 is NOT a supercar to me… its a nice, sporty, luxury car, but it lacks that certain “supercarishness”…
one idea on what this upcoming car might be… how about a front engine gran-turismo? V8, V10 or V12.
rivalling the bentley brooklands or a possible, yet impropably, Maybach Excellero… THIS would be nice
06/03, 5:24 AM
posted by:
Veda
Hey, you know what, it’s a stupid idea to have so many supercars but heck they’re selling so well it’s stupid not to enter that business and make the cash. I agree that Audi having so many types of cars is getting ridiculous…
06/03, 8:14 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Oh my gawd! The nerve to build another supercar and waste MORE of the environment! Oh the humanity of it! Why can’t people think “green” and drive more souless, pos, boring, econobox’s and save the planet.
06/03, 9:31 AM
posted by:
xyunya
Well, Veda is right. The problem is that Audi is stealing or will be stealing sales from major investor Porsche. Meanwhile, BMW having great time with expensive middle class market segment (1,3 series and Mini) go ripping into A3 and A4 sales in Europe and probably in US. BMW definitely gaining ground.
06/03, 11:13 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Audi should consider getting rid of those annoyingly pathetic LED whiskers in their new headlamps.
06/03, 11:34 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
If they want something to go head-to-head with the Boxster, sell a convertible version of the S5. Done.
06/03, 11:36 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Um, the S5 would absolutely kill the Boxter in any segment, it is 3 times the car. A closer match would be the Cayman, but the S5 has literally twice the interior room. It is no Porsche competitor at all, it is a BMW 5-series killer.
06/03, 6:34 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
The S5 would not kill the Boxster, nor do they compete in similar segments, so does not matter. By the way the Cayman is a better car, one of the best handling cars on the road. And by the way the A5 and such target the 3 series coupes, not the 5 series, which only has the 6 series coups, which are much bigger.