INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi has given the production go-ahead to the exciting Le Mans quattro supercar after a prototype was driven by Audi chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn and VW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder.
The Le Mans quattro is expected to be ready for production in late 2006 with deliveries to customers likely in the first half of 2007. The car is pitched directly at Porsche's 911 and the least expensive Ferrari models — though it will be priced below cars from its VW group stablemate Lamborghini.
The aluminum spaceframe concept car, first shown at the Frankfurt show in September 2003, was powered by a 610-horsepower twin-turbo V10 engine but the production version could have a 444-hp W12 power plant or the new RS4's 414-hp, 4.2-liter V8, according to U.K. magazine Autocar.
Though VW has not yet set production volumes or prices, output is rumored to be between 3,000 and 5,000 per year in both left- and right-hand drive. A convertible version is also under consideration.
Audi has now committed two of its three 2003 concept cars to production; the Pikes Peak SUV will become the Q7. At the time, it said it would build all three. Only the Nuvolari GT coupe is yet to get the go-ahead — this could easily be built from the A6 platform.
What this means to you: Audi, like Porsche, is on a roll. Now the two "hot" German brands will go head-to-head in the supercar sector. With so many lovely possibilities — how does one choose? Guess we'll just have to test-drive 'em all.
The Le Mans quattro is expected to be ready for production in late 2006 with deliveries to customers likely in the first half of 2007. The car is pitched directly at Porsche's 911 and the least expensive Ferrari models — though it will be priced below cars from its VW group stablemate Lamborghini.
The aluminum spaceframe concept car, first shown at the Frankfurt show in September 2003, was powered by a 610-horsepower twin-turbo V10 engine but the production version could have a 444-hp W12 power plant or the new RS4's 414-hp, 4.2-liter V8, according to U.K. magazine Autocar.
Though VW has not yet set production volumes or prices, output is rumored to be between 3,000 and 5,000 per year in both left- and right-hand drive. A convertible version is also under consideration.
Audi has now committed two of its three 2003 concept cars to production; the Pikes Peak SUV will become the Q7. At the time, it said it would build all three. Only the Nuvolari GT coupe is yet to get the go-ahead — this could easily be built from the A6 platform.
What this means to you: Audi, like Porsche, is on a roll. Now the two "hot" German brands will go head-to-head in the supercar sector. With so many lovely possibilities — how does one choose? Guess we'll just have to test-drive 'em all.
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