TYPE.

Every other supercar comes standard with some sort of stigmatic stereotype, and I have to think there are a lot of men (and some women) out there who want a high performance car such as this, but don't want the stereotypes that come with a lot - probably all - the other cars in this performance/price category.

Certainly there is nothing else with a mid-engine design that can compete re lack of 'stigma'.

It seems to me this will be something of a German NSX - a more understated car that can be driven daily with relatively high expectations of reliability and low expectations of the annoyances that come with typical high 'bling' factor cars.

Don't get me wrong, I love most all of those higher 'bling' cars, but depending on one's circumstances, purchasing such a 'symbol' can be detrimental to the same degree that it is 'satisfying'. The R8 seems likely to offer the 'performance satisfaction' and typical Audi sophistication without the 'baller' image.

The R8 seems destined to find a lot of homes by this route.

Audi had just better put up some astonishing performance numbers with it. <b>Walking quietly with a medium-sized stick won't cut it. </b>I hope they don't kill it's chances by standing down to the G'do. The styling polarity between those two is differentiation enough.

<b>A quietly underperforming R8 would be a marketing travesty against the backdrop of their racing domination. </b>

I'm sure it's too late for my opinion to matter much to Audi, but I hope they'd agree, and I hope they give this car the big brass cajones it deserves. <u>The use of V8 and V10 options is disconcerting</u> - This car is a flagship, a <i>model</i> of 'no holds barred' high-performance engineering. Leave the engine options to the more 'rank and file' TT (which I like, the new one particularly).

What do the rest of you think?

I have thought of buying an NSX for many years for the main reason that I only want a performance car that I can drive a lot and not be concerned with the need of excessive upkeep. Have you ever noticed the high miles that are on most NSX's for sale. They are driven! I've had my TT for 5 years, which is about twice as long as any previous car, because it's reasonably fast, w/mods, has been reliable, and it's even more fun in the winter (w/snow tires). It's a great daily driver. With the R8, I actually will prefer a V-8, but do believe it should be initially be sold with the V-10 so that bragging rights are more easily attainable. Then bring out the V-8 six months later with the DSG transmission. : ) What ever happens, I can't wait to see the details.

"A quietly underperforming R8 would be a marketing travesty against the backdrop of their racing domination. "

I'm waiting for the intro to put down my deposit... I'm curious what the V10 vs V8 pricing, performance and weight are going to look like, as well as what the wait will be for the V10.

I'll probably also opt for DSG over stick, which I hadn't initially thought but if the performance is sufficiently extreme, it's preferable to have that much less to think about while you're diving into turns IMO.

I'd still prefer a stick in slower cars like the S6 and S8, however.