√Audi’s “special” send-off for the R8 is a social-media video
If you were expecting Audi to do something special to say auf wiedersehen to the R8, you – and many other fans of the supercar – were sadly mistaken.
Fans of the Audi R8 – the mechanical twin to the Lamborghini Huracan – have been left deflated after the German car-maker teased fans with a special send-off to the V10-powered supercar, only to announce a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ style video.
Last week, Audi’s US division said it had “something special” planned for the R8, which is due to wrap up production in the near future as its V10 engine will no longer be built, and its Huracan twin is about to be replaced.
While fans of the German supercar were left salivating at the proposition of another final-edition variant – in addition to the R8 GT RWD, announced a year ago – Audi burst the bubble this week by revealing the surprise is nothing more than a short film honouring the model.
In a post on social media platform Instagram, Audi announced online users will be able to use the app to choose how the final video is presented by voting on its ‘Stories’ feature.
The first round of voting was to determine the video’s location – a race track, city streets, a desert setting or winding roads – and the time of day (sunrise, ‘golden hour, ‘blue hour’ or midnight).
Overall voting for the video’s direction is due to end after September 15, US time, though it’s not yet known when the final video will be released.
The R8 in the race track setting is being driven by Tom Kristensen, who currently holds the record for nine overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – eight of which came driving for Audi.
The announcement doubles down on the disappointment for Australian fans of the Audi R8, following the supercar’s local axing almost two years ago after the engine tune used by Australian-delivered examples went out of production.
While there has been speculation that the Audi R8 nameplate will eventually live on with electric power, overseas reports in December 2022 claimed the German car-maker is not developing a battery-powered supercar.
At a media launch event for the Audi R8 GT, US publication Car and Driver was told by an Audi spokesperson the company is not developing an electric successor to its flagship supercar.
“Rumours suggest that an electric supercar called the RNext is in the works, but these plans are uncertain and an Audi spokesperson denied these rumours to Car and Driver,” the report said.
“Even if it did materialise, such a vehicle likely wouldn’t arrive until 2029 at the earliest.”
The post Audi’s “special” send-off for the R8 is a social-media video appeared first on Drive.
Post a Comment for "√Audi’s “special” send-off for the R8 is a social-media video"