German Car Zone

Deutsch · 02-05-2007, 12:26 PM

Quote:

By JASON STEIN | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE

AutoWeek | Published 02/05/07, 8:43 am et
Audi is developing a small sports car called the R4 to challenge the Porsche Boxster, company sources say.

By directly taking on the Stuttgart sports car maker, Audi will invade the territory owned by Porsche, which now has a near-controlling interest in the Volkswagen group, Audi's parent company.

If launched, the R4 would test the new ownership structure at VW, which has some Audi executives nervous.

At the Detroit auto show last month, one high-ranking Audi official said executives are "concerned about how far [Audi] can go" in competing with Porsche.

Porsche has spent more than €4 billion so far buying shares in VW group and recently increased its stake to 27.4 percent, which makes Porsche the largest VW shareholder.

The executive cited the R8, Audi's new supercar, as a current example of Audi pushing into Porsche territory. When it goes on sale in the spring, the R8 will compete against the Porsche 911.

Audi plans to build 4,000 units of the €104,000 R8. Through 11 months, Porsche sold 18,889 911s in Europe.

Though smaller than the R8, the R4 is expected to have a much higher sales target – at least 30,000 a year.

Porsche wants to increase its influence in VW group's decision-making. Porsche currently holds two seats on the VW supervisory board and Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking wants to add "at least one more."

Industry observers have wondered whether the Porsche-VW ownership structure would affect Audi and Porsche sales.

Audi marketing executives say the R8 will directly target 911 buyers. "We will be a new competitor in the segment where the 911 sits," Jens Meier, head of product marketing for Audi, told Automotive News Europe. "Our goal is to get some volume from our competitors."

Audi declined to comment whether it will make the R4, but Meier said "we think we can fill the holes between the TT and Lamborghini." Audi owns Lamborghini.

Audi sources said the R4 will arrive in showrooms in 2010 as a mid-engine, two-seat sports car. Seat, VW group's Spanish brand, also could receive a similar vehicle, a separate source said.

"Audi is not only targeting Porsche but also drivers of the Mercedes SL or those who want a fast car but for whom a Lamborghini would be too extreme," said Frankfurt-based CSM Worldwide analyst Henner Lehne.

Said Porsche spokesman Stephan Marschall: "We welcome competition and we are confident Porsche will fare well in comparison."

Jens Meiners contributed

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...528/RICHCEPPOS

Just_me · 02-05-2007, 02:08 PM

Article summary:
A small sports car Audi is developing will directly challenge the Porsche Boxster, which is making executives at the Volkswagen group nervous.

Osnabrueck · 02-05-2007, 02:21 PM

Whenever I hear a story about "Brand X will produce microniche car" I just don't buy it.

If the goings-on at VW tell us anything, it's that our favorite car brands are thinking twice before heading off into uncharted terrirory with specialized models.

Common sense tells us that the Audi TT franchise already competes with the Boxster. There's been plenty of money and "brand capital" poured into the new car, so I have no reason to believe an R4 is anything more than a sketch on somebody's desk.

Deutsch · 02-05-2007, 03:38 PM

I don't know what Porsche is expecting of Audi, they're only doing what they should in response to their competiton in their segment of the market. I don't see too big of a problem though, competition is good. I'm sure they'll find some way to maneuver whatever overlap there may be but I wouldn't expect drastic measures taken on either side.

As for the R4, nice idea but no need since there's the TT. A better idea would be to use this concept for the evolution of the TT.

Yannis · 02-05-2007, 03:50 PM

Well i have some news for you. The R4 is real. It's not a sketch on someone's office but a project which is alive and kicking. Winterkorn had given the go ahead about a year ago and the initial testing has begun (computer simulations of body , chassis, aerodynamics and kinetics).

Problem is Wiedeking doesn't want to hear anything about another Audi (second one after the R8) getting into Porche territory. OTOH Piech is backing Winterkorn's decisions so it's uncertain right now who is going to win.

Deutsch · 02-05-2007, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yannis

Well i have some news for you. The R4 is real. It's not a sketch on someone's office but a project which is alive and kicking. Winterkorn had given the go ahead about a year ago and the initial testing has begun (computer simulations of body , chassis, aerodynamics and kinetics).

Problem is Wiedeking doesn't want to hear anything about another Audi (second one after the R8) getting into Porche territory. OTOH Piech is backing Winterkorn's decisions so it's uncertain right now who is going to win.

Winterkorn knows best.

Yannis · 04-25-2007, 03:12 AM

Audi is rummored to be working on a smaller sibling to it's R8 super car, which could be named the R4.
If it makes production the mid-engined R4 will rival sports cars such as the Porsche Boxster. TopCar magazine reports that the entry-level R4 will get the VW/Audi group's 2 lt TFSI engine while the RS model will have a 2.5-litre in-line five cyl. turbocharged.

The R4 is expected to hit the streets at the end of 2009.

More details

Illustration from TopCar: TopCar - Way Ahead With You

Choleric · 04-25-2007, 03:15 AM

TT replacement?

Centurion · 04-25-2007, 03:23 AM

That chop is

Cayman competitor? I say bring it on.

Yannis · 04-25-2007, 04:39 AM

R4 is R8's small brother Jeff.

Price will be between TT and R8 (whatever that means).

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