Why does audi insist on the following two design cues:

- vertical up and down styling (black side panel of R8 and modern audi nose)

- large design voids - just bg black empty spaces with nothing in them (again, black side panel of R8 and the modern audi nose)

Folks, there's a reason you all keep commenting that the black 2006+ A8s look vaguely better, and it's because the big giant gap in the styling is a lot less noticable...

I'm not sure where their market research comes from, but tall vertical spaces are not the makings of a good looking sports cars. I'm going to be awfully annoyed if the r8 fits everything I'd like in a 2-door but has bizarre and annoying styling.

If it weren't for the euro grill and a good body shop to paint the cheap plasticy cross-piece body color, I would not have bought a 2006 a8.

I agree with your comments concerning the back of the car. I asked the service dept. for some black tape and I "blacked out" that metal strip that runs between the two taillights. What a difference!!!!!!!!!! If that metal strip is painted to match the body color, its a major improvement.