R8 cabrio slated for targa top, not conventional convertible top
03/28/2008, 2:38 PM
By Drew Johnson
Audi is reportedly working on a drop top version of its R8 supercar, but the German automaker has reportedly come up with a rather simple solution to solve the R8’s complex open-air needs. Rather than going with a hard or soft top convertibles, insiders say that that Audi will instead opt for a targa version on the R8.
According to Car, Audi decided to go with a targa setup because the R8’s mid-engine layout made a retractable hardtop or even a soft top convertible an engineering headache. Instead of spending months of time and money engineering a cubby hole to store the convertible tops and their associated mechanisms, Audi decide to go with the much simpler solution.
However, the R8’s mid-engine also made a storage spot for the targa roof impossible, so that item will have to be left in the garage on sunny days.
It does seem a bit strange that Audi engineers couldn’t come up with a conventional convertible top solution as Audi’s stablemate — Lamborghini — offers convertible versions of its mid-engine machines.
Look for the targa R8 to launch sometime next year.
03/28, 2:42 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Smart choice Audi. Even though other car manufacturers that offer mid engine coupes can still engineer them to make them convertibles but this car just looks really good in coupe form, especially with the back end the way it is I think a targa will do nicely
03/28, 3:06 PM
posted by:
carrerajh
Look at the Lambos convertable top. Not the greatest feat of engineering itself!!
03/28, 3:18 PM
posted by:
Vroom
What’s stranger is that Audi didn’t work all this out in the initial design stages of the car as most other auto makers now do. They obviously decided not to do a conv. in the very beginning. I still think it’s one of their lamest designs in a long time. Topless wouldn’t have helped much.
03/28, 3:24 PM
posted by:
Astonman12
cant wait for it. my dads friend should be getting his R8 in late April. the targa should look pretty sexy.
03/28, 3:25 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
This story doesn’t surprise me. Audi’s engineers have no flair for anything except making things extremely expensive.
03/28, 3:29 PM
posted by:
nagmashot
Audi never claimed which way they open the R8… that car article is just lame blabla.. going the Targa way with the R8 protects the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder sales.. just for the record..the Gallardo was designed by Audi including the open top convertible version..all Gallardo chassies are build in Germany and send ready painted from Audi Ingolstadt production plant for final stick together to Lamborgini in Italy.
03/28, 3:32 PM
posted by:
nagmashot
BTW the release date of the Audi R8 roadster is May 2009…
03/28, 3:41 PM
posted by:
corvette
um the Gallardo has a convertible spyder right? cant they just rip from that.
03/28, 3:43 PM
posted by:
Vroom
Astonman12 “the targa should look pretty sexy”
Like putting a dress on a pig. Very sexy.
03/28, 5:30 PM
posted by:
AmericanMade
K I thought vw/audi/lambo were all under the same roof, and that the R8 actually shared some components with the Gallardo…why dont they share the drop top?
03/28, 6:45 PM
posted by:
LaCaLover
Audi can also keep the main stying “leit motif” of the R8, the blades, if it goes for a targa roof.
03/28, 7:33 PM
posted by:
A4
the R8 is the sexiest thing ever
03/28, 8:43 PM
posted by:
Vroom
A4: I’ll consider that a sarcastic comment or maybe you’re blind. Don’t know, don’t care really. It may be a lot of things but sexy it’s not.
03/28, 11:09 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Most Audi products look like a female German swimmer on steroids, but in case you’re new to the Internet there are a lot of varying opinions as to what many of us consider a turn on. I’m more concerned about the impracticality of a T-roof that you can’t even store in the car. For gawd’s sake, even GM had that figured out in the 70’s.
03/28, 11:31 PM
posted by:
Veda
With all the positive reviews and comments regarding the R8, as much as I love Audi, I think at the price it’s being offered, I’d rather have a Maserati Granturismo or the Aston Vantage. Loaded they actually come out cheaper than the R8. At that price we’re talking emotion anyway, not 0-60’s. Performance-wise the GT-R is probably better than the R8 anyway at a much lower price of admission…