Audi R8 Designer Reveals Unusual Inspirations Behind Supercar’s Style
The Audi R8 has a truly memorable design, one that was inspired by not only other cars, but also birds and a tennis ball.
As Audi prepares to go all-electric in the coming years, that means that sadly, we’re saying goodbye to some pretty fantastic ICE-powered models. That list includes, of course, the recently-retired TT, as well as the Audi R8 – two of the more iconically-styled vehicles in modern automotive history, without a doubt. The R8 was always interesting as perhaps a more subdued, gentleman’s version of the dramatic Lamborghini Gallardo/Huracan with which is shares so much, and managed to carve out its own niche over the years as a result. However, the inspiration behind the R8’s incredibly unique styling came from some pretty unusual places, as the car’s designer, Frank Lamberty, recently revealed in an interview with MotorTrend.
Lamberty was incredibly lucky to earn the right to design a new mid-engine supercar at a very young age, particularly one that was essentially a Lamborghini in a suit, given the fact that the both the Gallardo and R8 shared crash structures and much of their powertrains. However, the Audi R8 needed to have its own distinct design, one that was “uniquely German,” and that’s precisely what prompted Lamberty to look at some pretty iconic machines for inspiration.
He admits that the side profile of the R8 was inspired by the Porsche 904 racer, while the Ducati 996 sport bike also played a bit role in this process. However, the idea for the front end design of Audi’s mid-engine marvel came from a far more unique place – the eagle and other, similarly fierce birds, complete with a “beak-like” grille and headlights that look like eyes, which helped push the hood line higher, too.
As for the overall profile of the R8, Lamberty imagined a tennis ball being smashed down, flattened and stretched, with the seam running from the front grille/headlights up the fenders, A-pillars, side blades, and back to the rear splitter. Speaking of those side blades, not only do they provide space for air ducts, but they also help visually separate the cabin from the engine bay, and have obviously become perhaps the most notable part of the R8’s design in general.
The design that Lamberty came up with made its official debut at the IAA show in 2003 as Project F03, or the Le Mans Quattro concept, as it was otherwise known to the public. It spawned the ultra-successful GT3 racer and, of course, the Audi R8, which immediately became one of the more memorably-styled and successful supercars of the modern era. Now, sadly, that chapter is coming to a close, but at least we can look back fondly on what inspired its unique style in the first place.
Photos: Audi
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