Lamborghini Gallardo - with the Audi R8 V8 engine

[titanz]

http://www.zercustoms.com/news/Lambo...llardo-V8.html

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/secret_...sid=814&page=1


Still want an audi R8?


In a bid to boost Gallardo sales – and reduce development costs by borrowing from sister company Audi – Lamborghini engineers have dropped the R8's 420bhp eight-cylinder into the Gallardo's midship engine bay to create a new entry level Lamborghini that will sit below the current V10 model but above the Audi R8.

That's the thinking behind pilfering Audi's powerplant, but it's all relative, remember. The current V10 Gallardo costs £127,000, so expect this new derivative to cost around £105,000 – a decent saving but still enough of a premium over the £76,825 Audi R8 to justify its Raging Bull badge. Expect it to arrive at the Geneva motor show early next year, with a Spyder to follow for the start of 2009, neatly fulfilling Lamborghini's promise of a 'new' model each year.

It may steal the R8's engine, but don't expect the Gallardo to play second fiddle to the Audi. Although the superb V8 will get a mild power hike to around 430bhp, the Gallardo's lighter kerbweight (130kg less than the R8's) will give it a useful – and, from a marketing point of view, absolutely essential – in-gear performance advantage over the R8. Expect it to rip to 60mph in 4.5 seconds and on to a 195mph top speed.

[rai]

Still want an audi R8?.

yes the Gallardo is much too tight fit for comfort. I love the looks/style performance most everything about the Gallardo except the tight ****pit and the high price. The R8 will be better on both accounts.

[titanz]

It doesn't make any sense. Why would a Gallardo that uses the same Engine as the Audi cost $140,000? and the Audi R8 only $109,000?

I doubt this stuff is true.

[R8 England]

You are simply paying for the name.

Is a V10 Lambo really worth the premium over a V8 R8 in terms of handling ??

Is a Veyron really worth £800,000 ?????

Stupid as it may sound, it actually makes sense. There are Lambo and Ferrari owners who simply would not buy Audi, because it is "just" an Audi.

It has been said elsewhere in the motoring press in the past, that customers simply want more choice. Yes, there would be competition between Lambo and R8 V8 (and even more with a baby Lambo V8), but both companies are owned by VAG.

Think about it. There is already much competition between VW, Skoda & Seat for identical markets, but they are all part of VW, so competition between brands is not new to VAG.

There is also a direct conflict with R8 - Porsche, but Porsche own 31% of VAG, so they win either way.

BUT, and here is the BUT, better to buy an R8 or baby Lambo or Porsche than to lose business completely by buying outside and going for a Jag or Maserati.

The people who thought it up the strategy are either nuts or genius. Take your pick.

[zymval]

If Audi Keeps This Up....they Will Ruin Their Own Brand In Order To Make More Money With Lamborghini.

I Just Think That They Should Leave Lambo Alone , They Already Turned It Around And The Gallardo Is The Best Selling Lambo Ever.
Why After All The Money Invested In The R8 And Showing The World That Audi Can Step Up And Build An Awesome Car That Can Compete With The Best.........do They Have To F**k This Up.
This Is One Of The Things That Pisses Me Off!!!!! "i Know...let's Built A Gallardo That Will Screw Sales Of The R8"

[bz888]

Yep. I think it's a stupid idea. Lambo is supposed to be the Low volume, Bold, Loud, Supercar brand. Why the hell they would dilute this Brand Equity with an entry level V8 is in my opinion insane!! Audi built the R8 so they could lift the Audi profile, pull customers from Porsche & Aston & BMW, whilst protecting the Lambo market. Now, Lambo goes and dilutes it's market appeal by making a V8 Gallardo... What next a Go-Kart based on the Audi S3???

To be honest, I think the OTHER Italians have got their Product Offering sorted. Ferrari, Maseratti, Fiat and Alfa Romeo all have clearly differentiated niches.

The VAG is doing too much, too quickly...

[Guilty]

It's just a rumour.