Audi is not playing catch-up, unlike other carmakers that adjust their product lines and release dates to better meet the global crisis, but it is really trying to take competitive advantage. One of the ways it will be doing this is by releasing the R8 Spyder equipped only with the 5.2-liter V10 unit that is used in the R8 V10, passing over the 4.2-liter V8 of the basic R8 model.

Reports say that the smaller powerplant could come later, but it looks like that V10 will power all the R8 model as the sole option for the Spyder. Audi will also delay the A8 to push product cycles to a more profitable position. Delaying the launch of the A8 toward past the Frankfurt Motor Show, in which it was originally scheduled to be shown. It will furthermore allow the A8 to get all the remaining sales it possibly can for reason of a slowing down of purchase rate across market lines.

[via caranddriver]

Tags: audi a8 delayed, audi news, audi r8 spyder v10, car news

This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 12:19 am and is filed under 2009, 4wheels News, Audi, Automakers, Body style, Categories, Convertible, R8, Sports cars, Worldwide, Year, Zone. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.