John Stahmann

This afternoon I took a factory tour at Neckarsulm. For those not familiar, they build the A6/S6/RS6/A8/S8 and R8 in Neckarsulm as well as final assembly of the RS4. I was able to see several RS6 Avants as well as many R8s around the facility.

During the tour, I asked the tour guide if she had seen any RS6 sedans, she replied she normally sees one in the quattro GmbH parking area. She was very friendly throughout the tour and told me that if I wanted to she would walk me back to the parking lot after the normal tour if I wanted. Um, yeah!

So at the end of the normal tour, we started walking back behind the Audi Forum and I noticed two dark grey R8s - one of which had wider side blades. I said "hey, is that a V10 R8?" to which she replied "I don't think so, because the V10 has a different bumper" but we walked over and looked closely and the rear window was blacked out so you couldn't see the engine, but when we looked at the paperwork on the passenger seat it said "V10 FSi". She mentioned that it was odd because the V10s normally have oval exhausts. A very cool guide - you could tell she was way into the cars.

So we arrived at the quattro GmbH parking area around the corner and she walked me to an RS6 sedan in a color she called Sepang Blue - a pretty color that showed the curves on the RS6. To me the RS6 sedan looked much more aggressive than the RS6 Avant - the flared rear fenders seem to protrude more. I don't think they do, but they seem to.

So as we were looking at the RS6 sedan, a red R8 drove by, and it had a really unique sound to it - deeper and louder than any R8s I've heard. We both followed it with our eyes and I noticed it had the wider side blades, then noticed that it had the oval exhausts. Holy crap! She could obviously tell I was excited so on our return to the Audi Forum she walked me in the direction that the R8 had gone and as we rounded the corner of one of the buildings there was the R8 parked with 3 engineer guys looking at it. She walked me right up and started explaining the visual differences to me:

- Different side blades that have a larger opening
- Oval exhaust outlets
- The front and rear bumpers have fewer louvers in them - only 2 per side instead of the 3 louvers on the V8 bumpers
- The rear bumper actually had a defined diffuser on it like the A4 DTM and RS6 have

The R8 V10 had the back window blacked out, so I couldn't see the engine, but it had a VIN number. The RS6 in the Audi Forum did not.

After looking at the R8 for a few minutes we walked back to the Audi Forum and that was it.

I may return later this week if I have time and do a R8 production tour if I have time.

Unfortunately, no cameras are allowed on the tour and she asked me to not take pictures when we were walking around. Bummer to not have pictures of that car!

Here are a couple of the R8 that is in the Audi Exclusive area in the Audi Forum Neckarsulm. Notice the Carbon mirror covers - an option that will be available later this year, as well as the suede steering wheel (which I think is available now in certain markets)...

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2554%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2555%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2561%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2562%20(Medium).JPG">

Some of the R8 cutaway in the Audi Forum. I'd love to see a real car in clear brushed aluminum/carbon like this one is...

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2580%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2597%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2581%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2582%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2583%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2603%20(Medium).JPG">

And, last but not least, some pictures of the RS6 on display in the Audi Forum Neckarsulm:

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2563%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2576%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2574%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2575%20(Medium).JPG">

<img src="http://www.stahmann-motorsports.com/Audi/Neckars08/IMG_2564%20(Medium).JPG">

Phew!

Like I said earlier, I sure wish I could have taken some pictures of the R8 V10 and the RS6 sedan, but it wasn't allowed. Enjoy the rest, though...

John

LIRS6

Nicely done, thanks!

Dr.Aronis

Most excellent , did get her number? LOL.

no.radar

Nice write-up! And cool cutaway R8 photos.

A6sport

Nice, thanks for sharing -

Auditude2.0T: BT PWR

wow.

16 Wins

I'd give my left n_t for the RS6 Avant!!!!!!!!

s6v10

Did they share whether it would come to USA?

16 Wins

never