R.i.p. R8

[f1esp]

from Autoblog.com:
"While there were some R8s that burned in the development phase, Audi worked hard to massage the platform and make it production ready. These pictures are reportedly not a mule, but a production R8 that went up in flames. Scuttlebutt has it that fuel spillage was the culprit here, though speculation of something else is also offered if you click through and read the related thread on the R8talk forum. Either way, it's a tragic end to this particular R8's short life. Of course, in the end, it's only a car, so as long as everyone escaped unharmed, it's not even a blip on the cosmic scale."

[n0iz3]

poor lil thing... it makes me cry

[Arslanoff]

Poor baby! Rest in Peace, R8

[Audi.de]

cry baby cry...sad story

[Ruergard]

Rest in peace in carheaven!

[Audiphile]

Wow! What a shame! Audi PR is going to have to work overtime on this. Not good if your R8 has potential to burn-up. Orders will drop like a rock. Audi better take care of this immediately! I can see the Audi-haters going to town on this.

[artur777]

Yes, already one R8 was burnt at the Ring app. 2 month ago.
So it becomes a tendency.
As far as I understand the main problem is overheating.

[Audiphile]

The R8 that burnt on the ring was a V10 prototype, so I am not sure one can relate this to a production car. No production car should burn up. The is a serious black eye to Audi's vaunted quality reputation if this gets out and Audi does not control the PR on this. You just cannot have cars of this stature burn. I am concerned that this could affect the R8 and Audi very negatively, especially in the US where there are so many ignorant Audi bashers.

[Audiphile]

It states this was a pre-production vehicle. Is this true?

[Andyuk911]

clearly the fire started at the rear ...

[AndyBG]

I think this is Audis car, not an ordinary custumer vehicle...

[Arslanoff]

May be it is enother V10 prototype on the street tests in the ordinary R8 mule?

[Z07]

I guess the V10 TT is definitely off then.

[Duma]

[Arslanoff]

And what about V10TT on RS6? Can it influence the production?

[itisme]

All Audi-Owned cars got the HN witch is for Germany Hannover for some time now... I really don't think its a customers car.. must be one of Audi. But I'm not sure whether its a Test-Mule or not.

[Audiphile]

I think this is an early test-mule, not production nor customer.

[Audiphile]

One simple question that has not been answered: What is the date of the incident or these photos?