Is an R8 a Supercar?
Discussion
The fact this exact question has been discussed repeatedly in various threads since the R8's arrival answers the question imo. 'If there is any doubt, there is no doubt ...' I know a couple of owners who spend a lot of time explaining why it is, or is good as a supercar. Not a conversation I've had with any L or F owners.
Pioneer said:
The fact this exact question has been discussed repeatedly in various threads since the R8's arrival answers the question imo. 'If there is any doubt, there is no doubt ...' I know a couple of owners who spend a lot of time explaining why it is, or is good as a supercar. Not a conversation I've had with any L or F owners.
Valid point I'd say.Must admit, when I owned one I just enjoyed it for what it was. It never occurred to me to try to classify it.
This supercar label is a very subjective thing.I personally think the badge should not matter too much.Lookat the xj220 for example they were not known for churning out supercars but that is one in every sense unless you knock it for being 6 cylinders.People are too hung up on badge snobbery on these matters it does not have to have a bull or a horse on the badge to be accepted as a supercar.
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,.
Does Pagani make supercars?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,.
Supercar.
Its a properly discredited term now I'm afraid and impossible to pin down. IMHO the R8 is in every way a supercar by modern definitions . It has a unique to its maker all aluminium chassis/platform that is shared only with a Lamorghini. Its built in its own custom made plant and runs a 550bhp N/A V10 mounted in the middle. Its 1900mm wide and to 90% of the public at large its shape, stance and detail are right up there with any Ferrari or Aston. Car geeks may be more fully aware of it being just an Audi but anyone who discredits it just for that is a badge snob/brand victim of the worst kind.
Park it next to a 911 Turbo and no-one will look twice at the Porsche.
If a Honda NSX was a supercar (And I personally think it was in its day without doubt) then an R8, especially a V10 R8, is absolutely that.
Its a properly discredited term now I'm afraid and impossible to pin down. IMHO the R8 is in every way a supercar by modern definitions . It has a unique to its maker all aluminium chassis/platform that is shared only with a Lamorghini. Its built in its own custom made plant and runs a 550bhp N/A V10 mounted in the middle. Its 1900mm wide and to 90% of the public at large its shape, stance and detail are right up there with any Ferrari or Aston. Car geeks may be more fully aware of it being just an Audi but anyone who discredits it just for that is a badge snob/brand victim of the worst kind.
Park it next to a 911 Turbo and no-one will look twice at the Porsche.
If a Honda NSX was a supercar (And I personally think it was in its day without doubt) then an R8, especially a V10 R8, is absolutely that.
No, it may be a super car but an R8 is not a supercar. Being a supercar is not just about 0-60 otherwise a Nissan GT-R would be a supercar.
A supercar is something that looks outrageous, goes like hell, costs a fortune, makes small boys point and stare but is not something you drive every day.
An Audi R8 can easily be mistaken by a non petrol head for a sporty TT, a supercar can not be mistaken for anything else.
A supercar is something that looks outrageous, goes like hell, costs a fortune, makes small boys point and stare but is not something you drive every day.
An Audi R8 can easily be mistaken by a non petrol head for a sporty TT, a supercar can not be mistaken for anything else.
MKnight702 said:
No, it may be a super car but an R8 is not a supercar. Being a supercar is not just about 0-60 otherwise a Nissan GT-R would be a supercar.
A supercar is something that looks outrageous, goes like hell, costs a fortune, makes small boys point and stare but is not something you drive every day.
An Audi R8 can easily be mistaken by a non petrol head for a sporty TT, a supercar can not be mistaken for anything else.
I don't agree.A supercar is something that looks outrageous, goes like hell, costs a fortune, makes small boys point and stare but is not something you drive every day.
An Audi R8 can easily be mistaken by a non petrol head for a sporty TT, a supercar can not be mistaken for anything else.
A supercar USED to be something you couldn't drive everyday...because you physically couldn't. It simply isn't applicable anymore.
As for the other points - anywhere outside of Knightsbridge and an R8 is certainly a supercar.
Drive one through a mining village up North and tell me boys/men aren't nursing semi's as you go past.
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.
The R8 is very much a hand built car compared to any mass produced vehicle. http://www.superfactories.tv/making-the-audi-r8/ shows the facility at quattro GmbH and how little robot involvement there is, certainly far far lower than any of the A3/4/5/6 range.Dblue said:
Supercar.
Its a properly discredited term now I'm afraid and impossible to pin down. IMHO the R8 is in every way a supercar by modern definitions . It has a unique to its maker all aluminium chassis/platform that is shared only with a Lamorghini. Its built in its own custom made plant and runs a 550bhp N/A V10 mounted in the middle. Its 1900mm wide and to 90% of the public at large its shape, stance and detail are right up there with any Ferrari or Aston. Car geeks may be more fully aware of it being just an Audi but anyone who discredits it just for that is a badge snob/brand victim of the worst kind.
Park it next to a 911 Turbo and no-one will look twice at the Porsche.
If a Honda NSX was a supercar (And I personally think it was in its day without doubt) then an R8, especially a V10 R8, is absolutely that.
thisIts a properly discredited term now I'm afraid and impossible to pin down. IMHO the R8 is in every way a supercar by modern definitions . It has a unique to its maker all aluminium chassis/platform that is shared only with a Lamorghini. Its built in its own custom made plant and runs a 550bhp N/A V10 mounted in the middle. Its 1900mm wide and to 90% of the public at large its shape, stance and detail are right up there with any Ferrari or Aston. Car geeks may be more fully aware of it being just an Audi but anyone who discredits it just for that is a badge snob/brand victim of the worst kind.
Park it next to a 911 Turbo and no-one will look twice at the Porsche.
If a Honda NSX was a supercar (And I personally think it was in its day without doubt) then an R8, especially a V10 R8, is absolutely that.
MKnight702 said:
No, it may be a super car but an R8 is not a supercar. Being a supercar is not just about 0-60 otherwise a Nissan GT-R would be a supercar.
i think the GTR is very close to the supercar definition, if it was a 2 seater and cost 100K more it would most certainly be one, stick the engine in the middle would help too... though on that note is an FF not a supercar because it has 4 seats, 4x4 and the engine is in the front?Nano2nd said:
i think the GTR is very close to the supercar definition, if it was a 2 seater and cost 100K more it would most certainly be one, stick the engine in the middle would help too... though on that note is an FF not a supercar because it has 4 seats, 4x4 and the engine is in the front?
I have heard people describe the Ferrari FF as a "hot hatch" before
My humble personal definition of a supercar:
1) Must be in the top 1% of any performance measure vs. other road cars of it's era.
2) Must be the pinnacle of performance within it's brand.
3) Must be purpose-built, not a variant of any other model.
Therefore - R8 is a sportscar by my definition (because there are at least two versions.)
For me - Carrera GT, yes, GT2, no. Ford GT, yes, Corvette variants, no. Enzo & LaFer, yes, 458, no.
1) Must be in the top 1% of any performance measure vs. other road cars of it's era.
2) Must be the pinnacle of performance within it's brand.
3) Must be purpose-built, not a variant of any other model.
Therefore - R8 is a sportscar by my definition (because there are at least two versions.)
For me - Carrera GT, yes, GT2, no. Ford GT, yes, Corvette variants, no. Enzo & LaFer, yes, 458, no.
bashful said:
My humble personal definition of a supercar:
1) Must be in the top 1% of any performance measure vs. other road cars of it's era.
2) Must be the pinnacle of performance within it's brand.
3) Must be purpose-built, not a variant of any other model.
Therefore - R8 is a sportscar by my definition (because there are at least two versions.)
For me - Carrera GT, yes, GT2, no. Ford GT, yes, Corvette variants, no. Enzo & LaFer, yes, 458, no.
R8 Yes - 458 No ...........??????? You might attract some comments on that!! 1) Must be in the top 1% of any performance measure vs. other road cars of it's era.
2) Must be the pinnacle of performance within it's brand.
3) Must be purpose-built, not a variant of any other model.
Therefore - R8 is a sportscar by my definition (because there are at least two versions.)
For me - Carrera GT, yes, GT2, no. Ford GT, yes, Corvette variants, no. Enzo & LaFer, yes, 458, no.
bashful said:
My humble personal definition of a supercar:
1) Must be in the top 1% of any performance measure vs. other road cars of it's era.
2) Must be the pinnacle of performance within it's brand.
3) Must be purpose-built, not a variant of any other model.
Therefore - R8 is a sportscar by my definition (because there are at least two versions.)
For me - Carrera GT, yes, GT2, no. Ford GT, yes, Corvette variants, no. Enzo & LaFer, yes, 458, no.
R8 Yes - 458 No ...........??????? You might attract some comments on that!! 1) Must be in the top 1% of any performance measure vs. other road cars of it's era.
2) Must be the pinnacle of performance within it's brand.
3) Must be purpose-built, not a variant of any other model.
Therefore - R8 is a sportscar by my definition (because there are at least two versions.)
For me - Carrera GT, yes, GT2, no. Ford GT, yes, Corvette variants, no. Enzo & LaFer, yes, 458, no.
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