The All New R8

Named after the 5-time Le Mans winner and the first Audi to ever feature the four ring emblem on the hood instead of the grille, the production model Audi R8 is finally being readied to blast down highways, autobahns, motorways and autostradas across the world. Some three years after the unveiling of the Audi Le Mans quattro concept car, the production version made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in the guise of the new Audi R8 mid-engined sports model.

"With the launch of the R8, Audi has reached the highest level of the automotive world. The world of sports cars. We now address the most demanding group of international customers. People who want to own the most well-crafted, precision objects. In the automotive arena, the Audi R8 is such a car," said Dr. Martin Winterkorn - the main man at Audi AG - in his '06 Paris Motor Show address.

"In terms of design, for example, we have created a dress code for our cars. Audi vehicles are neither brash, nor do they seek to hide their dynamics," added Dr. Winterkorn.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the R8 project has been a very personal one. I started it when I returned to Audi as chairman in 2002. I have overseen the design and engineering teams for the past four years. Everyone has been looking forward to this day, the world premiere of our first mid-engined sports car. It is a key moment in the history of Audi," beamed Dr. Winterkorn from the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

Powered by a similar direct injection petrol V8 engine as seen in Audi's RS 4, the new R8 eschews the traditional front-mounted engine style in favour of a entirely exotic layout, placing the engine in a mid-mount position. With the 309kW (420bhp) V8 FSI engine beating away behind the driver, the new vehicle is expected to attract an all-new type of buyer to the Audi brand.