Audi To Drop Manual Transmission On R8

Another casualty.

Audi has just announced that it will no longer offer a manual transmission option for the 2014 model year of the R8 if Car Magazine is to be believed. And there really is no reason why they shouldn’t because it seems manual transmission options are dying off faster than support for Mayor Peter Kelly (that’s a Halifax reference for all you non-Haligonians).

Likely the reason for the omission is due to an unfortunate disinterest from most R8 customers to spec their new Audi with a third pedal. Curious, since manual transmissions are pretty synonymous with performance (at least with purists). The R8 can be described as nothing but a brilliant performance car. However the fact of the matter is, most automatic DSG transmissions can shift faster and more smoothly than you ever could. This certainly is an advantage on the track, however with the R8 being able to handle daily driver duties quite well, I personally would rather row my own gears while blasting through the countryside bends.

Another thing the 2014 R8 will not have is the signature side-blade.

Guess I’ll need to buy my R8 before 2014. Then again, Porsche still understands the joy of a performance machine mated to a manual transmission. I suppose I’ll be taking a 911 over an R8!

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FAIL: Audi R8 Poseur

In our quest to bring you the latest and greatest in the automotive world, we sometimes come across a lot of stupid/embarrassing car related pictures and videos. We tend to ignore a good chunk of them, but it seems as though the world will be coming to an end very shortly as the amount of under glow, chrome rims, body kits and over sized spoilers are finding their way onto almost any vehicle imaginable at an astonishing rate.

Therefore, rather than ignoring the tastelessness, we have decided to expose the lack of brain cells out there in a new category called ‘FAILS’.

In this case, someone decided to take their perfectly fine Infiniti G35 coupe, and and tack on the side blade signature a la Audi R8. While the result isn’t quite as vomit inducing as you’d think, it’s still quite tacky and unfortunate. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the G35 coupes style to begin with, and the G35 isn’t exactly everywhere you look so if this person was seeking some form of exclusivity, he probably already had it before the tasteless mod.

In any event, FAIL.

Next Generation BMW M6 to Battle Audi R8

The next generation 6-series is just around the corner and there are now a few details on what the big boy of the line will be like.

The new M6 is going to go head on with the Audi R8. The R8 is a magnificent supercar that is highly touted as a car that can do splendidly on the track, but is comfortable and usable enough to be a daily driver. BMW is going to need to come up with something very good that has an additional selling point that the R8 doesn’t.

BMW recently revealed that it will indeed build the very attractive Vision EfficientDynamics concept, and it looks like it will come to fruition in the form of the new M6. The new M6 will take styling cues from the concept as well as elements from its 3 cylinder diesel electric sports car. The set up makes an estimated 356 horsepower and a ridiculous 590 pound feet of torque. Looks like efficiency is going to be the one up that the M6 will have on the R8.

World Car of the Year 2010: Top Ten Entries Revealed

What is the best car in the world? It’s all relative and subjective and thus, impossible to determine. But that doesn’t stop automotive journalists from trying.

52 automotive journalists representing each continent in the world (except Antarctica – Penguins can’t legally drive yet) have gotten together and submitted their top ten choices for World Car of the Year in two categories: Car of the Year and Performance Car of the Year. There will then be three finalists chosen for both categories.

Find out what car made the top ten and what our pics are for the finalists after the jump!

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