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Audi's first true sports car: Grrrr8!

At long last Audi announces the R8 - a two-seater that brings the brand's Le Mans-winning capabilities to the street.

By Sue Zesiger Callaway

10 of 10

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"The Audi guys have been trying to build a sports car for 25 years - this has been a long wait," Winterkorn told me as he flogged the R8 around the track. I asked him, yelling to be heard over the engine's snarl, what impressed him most about the car. "That anyone can drive it" - he glanced at me - "even a woman." If Audi wants to conquer America, it had better get a mindset adjustment: Next time, Herr Doktor, I'll drive.

Winterkorn and Rupert Stadler, Audi's new boss, confirmed that the next step for the R8 is to get a bigger engine. Eventually, says Winterkorn, it will share a new platform with Lamborghini, Bentley and (hooray!) Bugatti. But for now, Audi can rest easy in the knowledge that it has created a classic.

Jonesing for a Maybach

With Quincy Jones riding shotgun, Fortune's Sue Callaway straps in - and takes the sinister, sexy, $8 million Maybach Exelero for a spin. (more)

Test drive: The $8 million car

Fortune's Sue Callaway test drives the new $8 million Maybach Exelero. (more)

Audi: The luxury car brand nobody knows

After years of erratic efforts, Audi tries to crack the U.S. market - again. (more)

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