Nooooooo!!!! Audi R8 Goes Up In Flames, We Cry

Yes, it would appear that's an Audi R8 that's just burst into flames. No, we don't know exactly why. Yes, one of us is very, very, very sad. Although we remember a ~~diesel~~ V10 mule going up in flames earlier this year. Any connection? Again, we've no clue. But feel free to walk through these shots below to figure it out yourselves — if there's anything left to discern any facts from. [via R8Talk.com]

3:06 PM on Sun Sep 2 2007
By Ray Wert
6,028 views
18 comments

Comments

smokyburnout at 04:10 PM on 09/02/07
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ive seen this happen to a ferari f430 too. does the bodywork melt away because it's made of a metal with a low melting point, or what?
rgseidl at 05:29 PM on 09/02/07
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I believe both of those cars use an all-carbon fiber body shell. If so, the material will burn rather than melt.
Jonny Lieberman at 06:38 PM on 09/02/07
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Connectedness Index: 100
Brought to you by Acura TSX

@rgseidl: The Audi is without question Aluminum -- hence our running joke, Aluminum und Schteel!!!!!.

The F430 is also bodied in Aluminum.
Collins1 at 06:54 PM on 09/02/07
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They tested the R8 at Nurburgring to see how well it would burn.

@smokyburnout: I think it's just that the high-quality petrol owners of these cars use burns VERY hot.
SonomaSteve at 07:31 PM on 09/02/07
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This reminds me of all those pictures of Lambos burning to the pavement. Hmm....
dculberson at 12:27 AM on 09/03/07
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Thin aluminum melts pretty readily. If you put a beer can in a decently hot camp fire, it ends up a puddle in the ashes. I'm pretty sure you can figure out how I know that.
superbmtsub at 12:46 AM on 09/03/07
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This related to flameable airfilters?
Shapeshifter at 07:13 AM on 09/03/07
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Wow, that car is toast...

Now on EBAY!

"Audi R8, low mileage, slight fire damage. No picture at this time (sorry). Not sure if it runs."
busessuck1 at 07:27 AM on 09/03/07
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Didn't the same thing happen to early TTs, and that almost had Audi bankrupt?
rognbrow at 11:48 AM on 09/03/07
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@busessuck1: er, not quite. Early TTs had a habit of careering off the road backwards which Audi blamed on over ambitious owners but they still did a recall which tweaked the rear suspension and added the "spoiler" on the cars rump. It was an expensive exercise but nowhere near bankrupted them and of course the TT went on to become a hugely successful model
tony-e30 at 11:50 AM on 09/03/07
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I've heard that Audi is planning some changes to the R8 after the 2 burn incidents. The first major change to be incorporated is the automatic burner in the front end. The purpose of this is to ensure the corporate schnoz burns evenly with the rest of the car, helping obscure the car's identity to casual onlookers.
Adam at 01:46 PM on 09/03/07
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@Shapeshifter:
"Low mileage, NEW ROOF!"

Always check the carfax report...

Where is the "Save The R8s!" t-shirt guys! Now that's a cause I can wear a t-shirt in support of.
biminitwst at 01:54 PM on 09/03/07
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Are you sure that isn't a rebodied Fiero?
[I'm so ashamed]
RoninianHoon at 04:37 PM on 09/03/07
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@smokyburnout: Just put an Aluminum can in the fire place and watch with amazement...
smokyburnout at 08:34 PM on 09/03/07
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@PlatformHoon: oh, don't think i won't...
FreeMan at 12:21 PM on 09/04/07
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1) Lambo-flambe.
2) Audi learns lesson, installs 847,392 radiators on Veyron, none burn
3) Audi forgets lesson
4) R8-flambe.
squablow at 03:15 PM on 09/04/07
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What's left of that thing would make a sweet desk for my office.
Garebear at 01:50 PM on 09/05/07
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I saw an R8 driving up the 710 here in LA with a giant bashed-in hole in the rear bumper. I wept a little bit, but not as much as I wept when the crappy-camera-phone pictures didn't come out well...I want a hat tip!!