It’s official. The new sports car from Audi has been named the Audi R8.

Presented at Frankfurt Motor Show two years ago as the “Le Mans quattro” concept, the new Audi sportscar has been given the go-ahead in production.

Series production will commence in the fourth quarter of 2006 at Audi’s Neckarsulm facility. Twenty eight million euros will be invested in the R8 production line.

The Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH will be responsible for production. Development and test construction at quattro GmbH and technical development at AUDI AG are currently in full swing. Two hundred and fifty employees will work on the production of the R8.

The market launch is scheduled for the second quarter of 2007.

“Through the R8 we are looking to build on our successes in motorsport and carry them over to series production. This model represents Audi’s very own interpretation of sportiness,” says Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of AUDI AG.

Audi is relying on intelligent lightweight design for its R8, a core area of expertise in Neckarsulm. The Audi A2, A6 and A8 were all developed there at the Aluminium Centre using lightweight design technology.

Audi Le Mans Concept Car

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