Audi to Give Green Light to New Supercar

VW Still Wants Audi Supercar despite Owning Lamborghini and Bugatti

Although it hasnt been confirmed, it can be said with great certainty, according to company insiders, that Audi will be building a world-class supercar. The idea has been thrown around for quite some time now, but finally, bosses agree that it would be beneficial to the company to give the green light to a version of the Le Mans supercar concept, which debuted during the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Several sources report that at the end of April, Volkswagen Auto Groups Project Strategy Committee (PSC) agreed to have the vehicle committed to production by late 2006 for a 2007 public debut. It is rumored that one of the major reasons for this sudden push for production comes from Audi chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn and VW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder, who have both driven, and were both extremely impressed with, a secret prototype over the past few weeks. Upon production, the car would most likely have the name R9, to fit with the companys new naming scheme.

The upcoming supercar is said to be more or less identical to the Aluminum Space Frame (ASF) design seen in the concept. While there will probably be some mild alterations in the finer details, such as reworked vents for improved engine and brake cooling, and tweaked front and rear air dams to increase downforce and stability, the majority of the vehicle will stay the same. The Le Mans concept, which was debuted just after the Nuvolari GT Coupe concept, was one of the first vehicles to bear the new corporate one-piece trapezoidal grille and curvaceous tail styling. The concepts original design, guided by the watchful eye of Audi design chief Walter da Silva, has been greeted with plenty of positive feedback.

Having invested heavily in Lamborghinis junior-sized Gallardo, Audi will finally be reaping the benefits. Like the Le Mans, the R9 will most likely share many components, but expect to see several key differences, particularly pertaining to size. Despite a similar two-seat, mid-engined layout, expect the Audi version to be longer, wider and slightly taller than its Italian counterpart, for increased comfort and refinement.

At this time, nearly all the components of this supercar puzzle have been put into place; the only thing that bosses cant agree on is what engine will be used. Throughout the gigantic VW empire, there are literally a half-dozen different engines which would prove suitable for use in a supercar. Though the company has V8s, V10s, W12s and W16s at its disposal, picking one in particular has been a difficult task to prevent an overlap with the Gallardo.

So far, we have learned that the candidate list will include two engines, so as to form a two-model range. First up is the newly-announced, naturally-aspirated 414-hp 4.2-liter V8 from the all-new RS4, which would act as an entry-level model. It is high-revving and features FSI direct injection technology which boosts fuel economy and performance, an advantage which many believe helped Audi win so many races at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with their R8 racers - exactly the reputation and qualities which would be beneficial to a modern supercar.

Another possibility is for a detuned and re-worked variant of the Gallardos 5.0-liter V10. VAG has been getting decent mileage out of this engine, in both the Gallardo and indirectly through the North American VW Jetta 2.5 which uses one bank of the engines cylinders. In the R9, the motor would be tweaked to generate more torque, but less power (insiders say 450, instead of 500 hp) giving the Audi a different character. Were confident that this engine will most likely end up on the list, as it has been slated to appear in the upcoming RS6 and S8, albeit without the turbos (wait for the RS9 - but thats another story).

Theres also a slim chance that Audi might go the whole nine yards and fit the RS9 with their best powerplant, the almighty 444-hp W12. This engine, said to be a favorite of Dr. Winterkorn, is also in the running because it showcases effortless power and refinement wrapped in a truly unique package.

Audis original Avus supercar concept shown in the early 1990s featured a mock W12 motor, so fitting the accomplished 6.0L W12 into the R9 would be a worthy tribute to Audis earlier prototype. Lets also not rule out the 553-horsepower twin-turbo version that can be found in the Bentley Continental GT, should Audi decide to chase after the likes of the Mercedes-McLaren SLR.

As with the Le Mans concept, the R9 will feature all-wheel drive, most likely borrowed from the Gallardo, set to a predominantly rear-biased power split of 20:80. Transmissions are said to include a traditional six-speed manual gearbox and a DSG sequential manual (for the V8-powered version), while the V10 would feature Lamborghinis e-Gear sequential-shift gearbox.

The overall marketing strategy for the R9 is for it to compete with entry-level supercars such as the Aston Martin DB9, Porsche 911 Carrera S/GT3/Turbo, and the Ferrari F430. Because this is a new experience for Audi, production volumes arent expected to be massive. Insiders suggest that Audi might produce between 3,000 and 5,000 units per year, at a price in the range of $80,000 - $90,000.

Audi is anticipating the R9 to be the halo of its constantly-evolving model range, and hopes it will have the same effect that the original Quattro Coupe had on its brand image previously. The R9 is looking to be a flagship vehicle for the German company, and an overdue culmination of a dream.