I saw a blurb in Car and Driver about it. Looks kinda like the Nuvalari, just sublte differences on the skin. Underneath though is BIG difference. It will be built on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform with the same AWD (Quattro) and 5 liter V-10 making 500 hp. Or possible the VW W12 making 444 hp. Estimated arrival is early 2007, $90,000 to $120,000.

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Lawton sucks

The Nuvalari is a front engine design. The R9 is a mid-engine design, the "Le Mans" concept. The R9 looks like a Gallardo, except for the Audi styling cues. It is a V-10 Bi-Turbo under the engine cover of the concept. The unofficial buzz is that the Nuvalari is to become the A5, a coupe for either the A4 or A6, and will compete with the BMW 6-series. The Le Mans is to becaome the R9, a streetable production that gives a similar experience to driving the RS8 24 Hours of Le Mans race cars.



[IMG]local://upfiles/9927/1ECD11B38F124297BE42428206D850C5.jpg[/IMG]

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Audi Technical Specialist

You are right about the front engine. I didnt catch that on the Nuvalari. I was just happy about the R9 being based on the Gallardo.

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Lawton sucks

I'll start saving my $

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2000 A6 2.7T Auto w/ Tip convenience+cold weather package

Really, I heard that the R9 is going to be the sole advisary to the world loved 9/11 turbo. So, will the tuned down version without the v10 or v12 be the A5? What your saying is that the lower end version will compete against the 6 series, or will that be a completely different car design from the R9?

It's probably the best looking coupe to come out in my opinion. I love it. Maybe I'll lease one... LOL

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Dog the bounty hunter is my idol.

sole advisary? umm have you heard of the new z06? because if we are going off of the magazines then the z06 easily out does it. 3.5 sec nill to 60 in 1st gear, 49%/51% balance, ranked above the ford gt which is ranked above the turbo S.

I was with my family this weekend and me and the pops were talking about cars so i pulled up the le mans. He's really interested and that would be pretty rad to check one out for real even if he didnt get one. How do you go about purchasing one? Are they in showrooms of any kind?

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I'm really confused about this R9 debacle?

Audi Corp. informed me about a month ago that the R9 would start at approx. $59K for the base. I assume this is with the 4.2 V8 I am guessing, and the V10 stands at the top of the pile around the 100K mark???

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08 S4 Avant 6MT - Ibis/Black/CF
06 A4 2.0T Quattro - APR stg1