Audi to launch super sports car R8 in India

04 July 2008

Mumbai: German luxury car manufacturer, Audi, will launch its exclusive mid-engine R8 in the later part of 2008 in India, the company siad on 3 July 2008. The spectacular model, which  is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform, combines its superior performance with the unmistakable design proportions of a pure sports car and a high degree of day-to-day drivability.

"India is an important market for Audi, and there has been a tremendous interest in the Audi R8 up to pre-orders by our exclusive customers in India, so it was inevitable that we launch the Audi R8 here," Audi India Managing Director Benoit Tiers said in a statement.

The company, however, has not decided about the pricing of the car in the Indian market.

The car is based on the Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car, appearing first at the 2003 Geneva Auto Show and 2003 International Motor Show.

The Audi R8 is powered by a 4.2 L FSI V8 engine developing 420 PS (414 hp/309 kW) and 317 ft-lb (430 N-m), the same engine used in the B7 Audi RS4.

The transmission is either a manual gearbox with metal gate, or an "R-tronic" gearbox (single-clutch semi-automatic sequential manual). These options are the same as those available on the Lamborghini Gallardo. A double clutch gearbox (Direct-Shift Gearbox - DSG, now badged by Audi as "S-tronic") is not currently (as of January 2008) available.