Is an R8 a Supercar?
Discussion
The word supercar is such a terrible term, it has no real meaning, no clear definable criteria for classification.
If a badge makes a difference, then that is just stupid. Are Astons are supercars because of the badge and exclusivity of the brand? Then the Cygnet is a supercar, if the configuration, layout, speed and ethos of a car are not what defines a supercar, then the can be Cygnet classed along side the Countach. A horse on a fiat 500 wouldn't make it a supercar, so 4 rings shouldn't discount the r8 either.
It is a mid engined, v10 car, capable of sub 4 sec 0-60 dash, and a top speed of over 195. I class performance brackets as a sign of a 'supercar'. People are just being snobby about brands if they ignore this, as the earliest references to supercars were about speed and technological advancement. So I always think of the term as a performance bracket, that's why the r8 v8 isn't 'supercar'. As it is part of that 100k group with vantages, 911s and Jaguars, where the top speed is around 180, rather than closer to 200, and the acceleration times are around 10 to 100mph rather than closer to 8, so I think of them as 'sports cars'.
For that matter, is the Alfa 8c a supercar? Alfa have done f
k all of any performance value for ages, does it count? Does the badge suddenly go back to 1931 with an era of Le Mans wins and supercharged inline 8s? In which case Audi should be top of the list with their amazing LeMans wins, rather than the likes of Ferrari and Maserati living off the glories of yesteryear.
Is the Lexus LFA a supercar, from a brand normally praised for their composed and sensible saloons?
Is the California a supercar just because of the badge?
What about the Ford GT?
It really doesn't matter of course, if Ferrari did an GT86 copy it wouldn't be a supercar even with a 2litre v6, amazing gearbox or active aero, it would still be a small sports car because of its performance levels.
Some will have their own opinions and ideas, but you're driving car that has been massively praised by the motoring press, is ludicrously fast, and from a brand with a modern LeMans win record that has almost become a joke it is so good.
If a badge makes a difference, then that is just stupid. Are Astons are supercars because of the badge and exclusivity of the brand? Then the Cygnet is a supercar, if the configuration, layout, speed and ethos of a car are not what defines a supercar, then the can be Cygnet classed along side the Countach. A horse on a fiat 500 wouldn't make it a supercar, so 4 rings shouldn't discount the r8 either.
It is a mid engined, v10 car, capable of sub 4 sec 0-60 dash, and a top speed of over 195. I class performance brackets as a sign of a 'supercar'. People are just being snobby about brands if they ignore this, as the earliest references to supercars were about speed and technological advancement. So I always think of the term as a performance bracket, that's why the r8 v8 isn't 'supercar'. As it is part of that 100k group with vantages, 911s and Jaguars, where the top speed is around 180, rather than closer to 200, and the acceleration times are around 10 to 100mph rather than closer to 8, so I think of them as 'sports cars'.
For that matter, is the Alfa 8c a supercar? Alfa have done f
k all of any performance value for ages, does it count? Does the badge suddenly go back to 1931 with an era of Le Mans wins and supercharged inline 8s? In which case Audi should be top of the list with their amazing LeMans wins, rather than the likes of Ferrari and Maserati living off the glories of yesteryear.Is the Lexus LFA a supercar, from a brand normally praised for their composed and sensible saloons?
Is the California a supercar just because of the badge?
What about the Ford GT?
It really doesn't matter of course, if Ferrari did an GT86 copy it wouldn't be a supercar even with a 2litre v6, amazing gearbox or active aero, it would still be a small sports car because of its performance levels.
Some will have their own opinions and ideas, but you're driving car that has been massively praised by the motoring press, is ludicrously fast, and from a brand with a modern LeMans win record that has almost become a joke it is so good.
GRBF430F1 said:
All you will hear is "nice Audi mate". Great sportscar but sadly NOT supercar status as good as it maybe
Disagree. When I has mine I constantly had people coming up to talk to me about the car. Some knew what it was and just wanted to discuss it as an R8, others wanted to know what it was as they had no idea or thought it was a Ferrari or some other exotic make.Not once did someone say "nice Audi"
lamboman100 said:
^ Defining a supercar is easy.
A supercar has superlooks, superspeed, supernoise, superhandling, superpricing and a superbadge.
Above all, it should make you clutch at yer tinkle
All of those aren't fixed points though, they are all subjective! Which is the problem.A supercar has superlooks, superspeed, supernoise, superhandling, superpricing and a superbadge.
Above all, it should make you clutch at yer tinkle
The Cayman S has a super top speed, but not compared to a V10 R8, the R8s speed is feeble compared to an Aventadors, and the Aventador looks a bit slow next to the top end of a P1...
Even the tinkle test is dependent on the clutcher and tinkle in question...
If speed is key then maybe those of you with "supercars" should sell and buy the new M4.
Thats low 3's to 60 when mildly tuned so would whoop most things on the road.
Im not a badge person, if I were I would only own a Ferrari as no other marque comes close.
Cars are subjective, I personally think the R8 is a supercar, they are a technically brilliant vehicle and As a driver of a Ferrari and a Lamborghini I can honestly say that I look at them whenever I see them.
Thats low 3's to 60 when mildly tuned so would whoop most things on the road.
Im not a badge person, if I were I would only own a Ferrari as no other marque comes close.
Cars are subjective, I personally think the R8 is a supercar, they are a technically brilliant vehicle and As a driver of a Ferrari and a Lamborghini I can honestly say that I look at them whenever I see them.
isaldiri said:
Would not call the r8 a supercar but it is in good company as i don't think the 12c/458/gallardo class of cars are supercars either. It takes something like a aventador to classify as a proper supercar for me.
I think you're in a minority if you're not letting the 458 in 
Sorry but no an Audi is a mass produced vehicle with robotic engineering, Forget 0 60 times they are not what it's about, if they were Chris Evans and the like would not pay millions for earlly models.
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
Fantuzzi said:
lamboman100 said:
^ Defining a supercar is easy.
A supercar has superlooks, superspeed, supernoise, superhandling, superpricing and a superbadge.
Above all, it should make you clutch at yer tinkle
All of those aren't fixed points though, they are all subjective! Which is the problem.A supercar has superlooks, superspeed, supernoise, superhandling, superpricing and a superbadge.
Above all, it should make you clutch at yer tinkle
The Cayman S has a super top speed, but not compared to a V10 R8, the R8s speed is feeble compared to an Aventadors, and the Aventador looks a bit slow next to the top end of a P1...
Even the tinkle test is dependent on the clutcher and tinkle in question...
If someone spent enough time thinking about it, and doing various surveys, they could build a strong quantitative definition for a "supercar". Indeed, it has prolly already been done somewhere on Google.
Building extra car-categories is not hard, either. Sportscar, semi-supercar, supercar, hypercar captures all models mentioned in this thread so far.
Edited by lamboman100 on Saturday 6th September 21:04
Sorry but no an Audi is a mass produced vehicle with robotic engineering, Forget 0 60 times they are not what it's about, if they were Chris Evans and the like would not pay millions for earlly models.
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
Sorry but no an Audi is a mass produced vehicle with robotic engineering, Forget 0 60 times they are not what it's about, if they were Chris Evans and the like would not pay millions for earlly models.
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
Sorry but no an Audi is a mass produced vehicle with robotic engineering, Forget 0 60 times they are not what it's about, if they were Chris Evans and the like would not pay millions for earlly models.
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
Mike Brown said:
Sorry but no an Audi is a mass produced vehicle with robotic engineering, Forget 0 60 times they are not what it's about, if they were Chris Evans and the like would not pay millions for earlly models.
It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
Mike we heard you first time, calm down!!! It's about heritage it's about Enzo Ferrari, it's about Lamborghini rivalling the prancing horse, it's the history it's the raging bull, it's the startled horse, that's what a supercar is, it's about little boys and dads sticking their thumbs up, it's people coming for photographs, and chatting, it's people just seeing a red Ferrari, its boyhood memories and future dreams,.
I am sorry but that's not going to happen in an an Audi even a V 10 Audi, Mike
I entirely agree with your point by the way! Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff