USA R8 update....

[RXBG]

1. approx. 200 vehicles allocated for 2007. about 500 for 2008. these figures are for the V8 model only.

2. car will not come fully equipped. there will be a few separate options that can be ordered. not sure which ones.

3. audi is basing its allocation on two main things-

number of documented people (names and phone numbers) interested in a car (smart way of getting accurate numbers since many people are on various dealer lists and have given multiple deposits)

past sales performance of RS cars, particularly the RS4. some smaller dealers in high demand markets have sold as many, if not more, RS4s than champion!

because of (3) the final allocation could vary. audi wants to sell as many cars as it can but have none sitting on a lot.

audi is not interested in how much money a particular person has given for a deposit... they know these can be returned and therefore do not have much validity.

[Erik]

"past sales performance of RS cars"

Was the RS4 ever sold in the US?

[RXBG]

i'm referring to the new one.

[sticky]

200 cars? Horrible, that isn't enough to satisfy Orange County let alone the country.

[chewym]

200 is very, very very low. Much less than Gallardos. Hoping Audi will sell more than that.

[BBGT2]

A little voice told me that Audi is bringing closer to 1000 R8 alloted for the USA alone for 2007. Could be wrong, but 200 units is just sadly too low if they only bring that many.

[RXBG]

the numbers are from aoa. nonetheless i fancy that more could come. but i doubt as many as 1000. personally i would hope that 400 might make it in 2007 so that availability is at least decent..... the company is out to make money after all......

[nene]

200 maybe a good number, if the R8 only becomes available in October of 2007. If the plan is to get them started out the door by June (July the latest much like the RS6), than 200 is a very small number.

Maybe they are playing the exclusivity card here to get some excitement going, and then proceeding to flood the market a bit. Who knows. Justing bring it on, and don't screw us on the options.

[RXBG]

i'll keep all of you posted.

[RXBG]

rumors that the cars may get to the US as early as april!

servicing them may not be as much of a problem as buying them. sorry cannot elaborate more at this time.

some dealers have been confirmed that they will carry the car. others are still being evaluated...... no final tabulations yet.

[tsunami racer]

most US dealers (and audi of america, for that matter) can barely service RS4's. let alone R8's.

good luck to anyone who buys a R8, and pray nothing goes wrong with it!!

[RXBG]

want to know if your dealer will get an R8 or two or seven?

a good predictor is how many RS4s they sold. if it was more than 10-12 then that would ve very good........

[RXBG]

(data gathered and cross referenced from some credible sources on this site and others elsewhere that i happen to know)

1. various dealers will be meeting with audi in the next 3-4 weeks to get a final answer on their applications to sell the car.

2. the meeting will also introduce the lucky dealers to the planned ordering timeline and the process itself.

3. final options and standard equipment on the car are not finalized for the US market yet, but it is expected that the first batch will be optioned out quite fully....similar to the first RS4s.

4. some dealer training and product intro will take place in february.

5. officially, cars will arrive in sept but they may actually trickle in before that.

6. european delivery will most likely be available for the first batch, but this doesn't mean that those costumers will get their cars any sooner.

7. no official pricing yet.

8. about 200 cars are expected for the CY in the US.


anything else and i'll let you guys now.

[chewym]

Here is some nice information. Looks like a dealer will need to contribute 100,000 to sell the R8.

http://www.autospies.com/news/Audi-R...R8-100k-11221/

[RXBG]

just found out that the closing on a big business investment we are working on has been moved to sept of 2007.... just in time for a so-called car delivery that is not so cheap either.

with good planning it shouldn't be a problem. but this may mean no fancy summer vacation like i had expected. we'll see.

yikes.

[RXBG]

this just in:

1. feb 18, 20, 22
2. cost $500
3. by invite only, potential customers will be invited to attend a vegas track event where they will be able to drive the car for one day with professional driver introduction. attendance will be limited to 150.

that number sounds interesting, doesn't it?

further.... final list of US dealers who will sell at least one car this CY will be out during the first week of february. jan 31 is the deadline for US dealers to apply to be official R8 service and/or sales approved centers.

i am not sure what this means for the other markets, particularly EU, hopefully one of our counterparts on the "other side" can report if any such events are planned there. i could not get any information. this does highlight the importance audi is giving this car in the US market.

[Choleric]

These are from vegas..

[RXBG]

October

• Sneak Preview at Audi Forum Grand Opening events in New York City, with drive down Park Avenue with Mr. Ralph Weyler, Board Member AUDI AG, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, alongside the 1939 Auto Union Type C racer and the R10 TDI
November

• Build early interest through pre-launch information on the Audi brand web site, with a link to the global R8 microsite
• National Auto Show Debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show
• Feature the R8 in our full-line brochure
• Distribute the R8 pre-launch teaser brochure
• Launch the R8 Inside Line prospect marketing campaign
December

• Include the R8 as a feature story in the Audi Owner Magazine (approximately 350,000 subscriptions)
• Feature the R8 in monthly owner and prospect eNewsletters
• Feature the R8 at Design Miami/06
• Build early demand for the new R8 through a U.S. specific online microsite
January

• Feature the R8 at the Detroit and Chicago Auto shows
• First deadline for Dealer Registration in R8 program
February

• The R8 order guide and order binder inserts will be made available to program dealerships
• Training communications for sales, product, and service sent to dealerships
• Begin web-based sales training
March

• Feature the R8 at the Elton John Oscars Viewing event in Los Angeles
• Conduct R8 VIP test drives at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Florida
• Feature the R8 at the ALMS race in Sebring
April

• Feature the R8 as the cover story in the Audi Owner Magazine (approximately 350,000 subscriptions)
• Begin Audi Driving Experience Spring/Summer tour, featuring full-line of Audi vehicles as well as the R8 for VIP test drives
May

• Distribute full-photo R8 launch brochures to program dealers
June

• Post full product information, including pricing and detailed specifications, on the Audi brand web site for consumers, and continue to use the R8 as a halo for the entire Audi brand
• Service technical training self-study programs available
September

• Launch the R8 television and print advertising campaign
• Hold high-profile premier events for VIPs and celebrities to test drive the R8 in key cities