TTAC Photochop: New Audi R4

Andrei Avarvarii
by Andrei Avarvarii

Imagine you have a twin brother (or sister) and you both have a mad need for an Audi R8, but finances only for one car. What to do? How to share? Well, no worries. Audi's considered that possibility and decided to cut their R8 in half. Yes, you've read correctly. They will just divide some R8s by two and start selling little R4s. Number of cylinders, power figures and prices will follow the same simple scheme: R8 ÷ 2. Of course Audi isn't producing motorcycles yet, so each R4 will have four wheels, two chairs, etc. But it'll a little bit smaller than the R8. And to show just how confident they are with their R8 halves, they'll make them compete against entire cars, like the Porsche Cayman/Boxster or the Lotus Elise. Design-wise expect the initial coolness of the R8 but reduced by a half for the R4 in an attempt to avoiding cannibalism. Still, I bet we'll be seeing a lot of that as VAG wants to produce a Seat and a VW on the same platform. Some even say that the new VAG "sponsor" would like to develop the future Cayman/Boxster pair on the same platform. They should just offer interchangeable brand logos; that way you could change your car according to mood.

Andrei Avarvarii
Andrei Avarvarii

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  • Nemphre Nemphre on Jul 25, 2008

    Audi is adding way too many models. This will bite them in the ass eventually.

  • Capeplates Capeplates on Jul 26, 2008

    Audi are the tops! They look good, drive good and make you feely bloody good. I'm in

  • Johnster Johnster on Jul 26, 2008

    I like the idea, although it does seem uncomfortably close to Audi's own TT. If it were to go forward the platform could be shared with VW, as they have been teasing us with small mid-engined concept roadsters for what seems like forever. And it might work as a replacement for Porsche's Boxter/Cayman, or perhaps a car slightly smaller to slot in below the Boxter/Cayman. (A revived 914 anyone?)

  • Akatsuki Akatsuki on Jul 30, 2008

    If they announce a lightweight, mid-engined R4 targa that maybe slots between the Elise and Boxster in specs - well, it will be the first car I will put a deposit down that day. As for the TT, I imagine the R4 would replace it. Between an R4 and maybe an A3 coupe and convertible, there would be no room.

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