It should have been a Gallardo, not an R8, as there was some kind of a tiff between dude who started Lambo (“Hey! Your cars aren’t insane enough!”) and Ferrari (“You’re a looney! You’re fired!”) back in the day.
The story that I recall regarding Ferrari and Lamborghini is probably better than the truth, so if it’s wrong please don’t correct me.
Lamborghini manufactures tractors…. he made some money and so he bought a Ferrari. Had problems with it running rough. He complained bitterly as Marenallo seemed unable to fix the problem.
The problem eventually gets to Enzo’s level and he says roughly, “Listen, I don’t want to hear any static about rough engines from a guy who builds tractor engines. He wouldn’t know a rough engine if it bit him….etc.
The word gets back to Lamborghini… and Bam! He’s in the car business, just to be in Enzo’s face.
True? Who cares?
Oh, and the Audi going to Maranello? I didn’t know that Ferrari would take trade-in’s.
When high-end manufacturers aren’t immune to badge-swapping, that goes to show you that GM isn’t alone. Hell even Ferrari and Maserati gave in to the temptation with their Enzo/MC12 wonder-twins.
While the R8 is no competitor to the F430 or 599 just like the Genesis Coupe is not a competitor to the BMW 3 series but it was still a great move by Audi (and Hyundai). As a brand with upwardly mobile ambitions they are making the most of the buzz created by their halo offering. In reality the R8 is more of a threat to Porsche (which now owns VW and Audi), Aston Martin & Jaguar, high end Mercs & BMWs and maybe Maserati. But it’s always nice to dream.
@Lokkii: This would not be the first-time Enzo got all uppety and created competition. Remember, his bad manners visavis Ford resulted in the birth of the GT40, a purpose-built card intended to whip some Ferrari-ass at LeMans…
Oddly, HFII did not learn his lesson, as he did a similar stupid thing by bouncing Iacocca, who went on to save the walking-dead Chrysler, which spawned the Caravan/Voyager and directly siphoned-off billions in potential profits from Ford (due to Chrysler keeping customers that would have migrated to Ford after a Chrysler bankruptcy, as well as the loss of Ford customers to Chrysler after they started building the minivans and desireable cars…)
Ferraris are known for their obscene maintenance costs. Although many can afford those costs they refuse to buy a car that will cost them that much after purchase. I know a wealthy guy that would not touch Ferrari for those reasons, but owned an NSX until a few years ago. Also, I would think that the R8 would be more reliable and usable as a daily driver than a Ferrari.
Now only if BMW would come out with a “real” sports car!
i am reminded of a person who owned a Ferrari… once
and is now back to Porsches. The running costs of a Porsche pale in comparison to a Ferrari and that’s even with the fact that you have to drop the rear end off a hoist and/or engine out to do any serious work.
The thing is Italians are not that parochial. They are accepting of German, English, Italian and even American power and exotica if it warrants it.
I am reminded that they have a very strong following for the Nissan Skyline GT-R even though to me that always seemed like sending the proverbial coal to Newcastle.
That it has the colour scheme (Red/Silver) of the Smart Brabus Roadster Coupé?
My dream car is a Veyron.
I’ll never be able to afford that.
If I want an R-8 I’ll just go down to Chase and make a withdrawal.
Problem is, I’m 6 foot7 and it ain’t gonna happen.
That it contains a weird message: “people will point and stare at an Audi”.
Audi has angered a lot of people with its low quality products, but I’ve never seen reactions this dramatic.
The NSX was a much bigger threat to Ferrari than this thing; the R8 has much more to fear from the Cayman S than the F430 has to fear from the R8.
It should have been a Gallardo, not an R8, as there was some kind of a tiff between dude who started Lambo (“Hey! Your cars aren’t insane enough!”) and Ferrari (“You’re a looney! You’re fired!”) back in the day.
The story that I recall regarding Ferrari and Lamborghini is probably better than the truth, so if it’s wrong please don’t correct me.
Lamborghini manufactures tractors…. he made some money and so he bought a Ferrari. Had problems with it running rough. He complained bitterly as Marenallo seemed unable to fix the problem.
The problem eventually gets to Enzo’s level and he says roughly, “Listen, I don’t want to hear any static about rough engines from a guy who builds tractor engines. He wouldn’t know a rough engine if it bit him….etc.
The word gets back to Lamborghini… and Bam! He’s in the car business, just to be in Enzo’s face.
True? Who cares?
Oh, and the Audi going to Maranello? I didn’t know that Ferrari would take trade-in’s.
When high-end manufacturers aren’t immune to badge-swapping, that goes to show you that GM isn’t alone. Hell even Ferrari and Maserati gave in to the temptation with their Enzo/MC12 wonder-twins.
That girl on the balcony, if she’d had lasers in her eyes, she would have melted a couple of holes in that car, right through the engine block.
While the R8 is no competitor to the F430 or 599 just like the Genesis Coupe is not a competitor to the BMW 3 series but it was still a great move by Audi (and Hyundai). As a brand with upwardly mobile ambitions they are making the most of the buzz created by their halo offering. In reality the R8 is more of a threat to Porsche (which now owns VW and Audi), Aston Martin & Jaguar, high end Mercs & BMWs and maybe Maserati. But it’s always nice to dream.
it’s a frightfully ugly car, though. a chum has one: evil! e.larry also has one: evil squared!
@Lokkii: This would not be the first-time Enzo got all uppety and created competition. Remember, his bad manners visavis Ford resulted in the birth of the GT40, a purpose-built card intended to whip some Ferrari-ass at LeMans…
Oddly, HFII did not learn his lesson, as he did a similar stupid thing by bouncing Iacocca, who went on to save the walking-dead Chrysler, which spawned the Caravan/Voyager and directly siphoned-off billions in potential profits from Ford (due to Chrysler keeping customers that would have migrated to Ford after a Chrysler bankruptcy, as well as the loss of Ford customers to Chrysler after they started building the minivans and desireable cars…)
It should have been shot in Sant’Agata…
Ferraris are known for their obscene maintenance costs. Although many can afford those costs they refuse to buy a car that will cost them that much after purchase. I know a wealthy guy that would not touch Ferrari for those reasons, but owned an NSX until a few years ago. Also, I would think that the R8 would be more reliable and usable as a daily driver than a Ferrari.
Now only if BMW would come out with a “real” sports car!
the thing about Sant’ Agata made me LOL
i am reminded of a person who owned a Ferrari… once
and is now back to Porsches. The running costs of a Porsche pale in comparison to a Ferrari and that’s even with the fact that you have to drop the rear end off a hoist and/or engine out to do any serious work.
The thing is Italians are not that parochial. They are accepting of German, English, Italian and even American power and exotica if it warrants it.
I am reminded that they have a very strong following for the Nissan Skyline GT-R even though to me that always seemed like sending the proverbial coal to Newcastle.