Autoweek: Audi Le Mans to get green light, Nuvolari axed
09-07-2004, 09:47 AM
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Autoweek: Audi Le Mans to get green light, Nuvolari axed From Autoweek
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100765
Image Boost? Audi leaning toward producing Le Mans concept
JENS MEINERS | Automotive News Europe
Posted Date: 9/7/04
MUNICH -- Audi's Le Mans concept is a likely series production candidate, Audi sources tell Automotive News Europe.
A decision could be made before the end of the year. Production could start as early as next year.
The Le Mans would be another image booster for Audi, showcasing the brand's ability to compete head-on with the best in every premium class. It would be a serious challenger to the Porsche 911 in the premium coupe and roadster segment.
Audi's flagship is the Audi A8, which is in a tight battle with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series for the lead in the upper-premium segment. (See related story, Page 13.)
Shown at the IAA in Frankfurt last September, the Le Mans is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo architecture.
But the build quality of the Gallardo is unsatisfactory for an Audi-badged vehicle, a source well- acquainted with the project tells Automotive News Europe.
"Everything about the Le Mans is under review, including the Gallardo's supplier base," he says.
Lamborghini and Audi are both subsidiaries of VW group.
The Le Mans would likely be built at Audi's plant in Neckarsulm, Germany. The Neckarsulm plant currently produces aluminum space frames for the Gallardo.
Internal competition
To prevent cannibalization, Audi is working on ways to make the Le Mans and Gallardo different.
"The Le Mans will have less power, and it will be a more usable car," another Audi source says.
It is unlikely that the Le Mans would feature the Gallardo's V10 engine. It is more likely to be equipped with V8 engines, possibly turbocharged.
While the Le Mans' future looks promising, the Nuvolari project is almost certainly dead, an Audi source says.
The two-door coupe was shown as a concept car at the Geneva auto show in March 2003.
The concept was based on the A8 platform.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100765
Image Boost? Audi leaning toward producing Le Mans concept
JENS MEINERS | Automotive News Europe
Posted Date: 9/7/04
MUNICH -- Audi's Le Mans concept is a likely series production candidate, Audi sources tell Automotive News Europe.
A decision could be made before the end of the year. Production could start as early as next year.
The Le Mans would be another image booster for Audi, showcasing the brand's ability to compete head-on with the best in every premium class. It would be a serious challenger to the Porsche 911 in the premium coupe and roadster segment.
Audi's flagship is the Audi A8, which is in a tight battle with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series for the lead in the upper-premium segment. (See related story, Page 13.)
Shown at the IAA in Frankfurt last September, the Le Mans is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo architecture.
But the build quality of the Gallardo is unsatisfactory for an Audi-badged vehicle, a source well- acquainted with the project tells Automotive News Europe.
"Everything about the Le Mans is under review, including the Gallardo's supplier base," he says.
Lamborghini and Audi are both subsidiaries of VW group.
The Le Mans would likely be built at Audi's plant in Neckarsulm, Germany. The Neckarsulm plant currently produces aluminum space frames for the Gallardo.
Internal competition
To prevent cannibalization, Audi is working on ways to make the Le Mans and Gallardo different.
"The Le Mans will have less power, and it will be a more usable car," another Audi source says.
It is unlikely that the Le Mans would feature the Gallardo's V10 engine. It is more likely to be equipped with V8 engines, possibly turbocharged.
While the Le Mans' future looks promising, the Nuvolari project is almost certainly dead, an Audi source says.
The two-door coupe was shown as a concept car at the Geneva auto show in March 2003.
The concept was based on the A8 platform.
