Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes-Benz to build R8 rival

AMG wing to develop new £80K Mercedes sports car to take fight to the Audi R8

Rather than work with McLaren again, Mercedes-Benz has decided to commission HWA – the motorsport wing of AMG set up in 1999 by AMG co-founder Hans Werner Aufrecht – to develop a competitor to Audi’s new R8. And if everything goes to plan we should see the first concept of this all-new, mid-engined AMG at next year’s Geneva show.

Advertisement - Article continues below

HWA is investing 4.5m euros to triple the size of its factory in preparation for building the car, which will cost around £80,000 in today’s money and be powered by the 6.3-litre V8 currently found in a number of AMG models.

Mercedes has been put off developing another car with McLaren because of the very high cost of the SLR project and that car’s subsequent disappointing sales. Instead it hopes that HWA (which is run by respected former Mercedes CEO Jürgen Hubbert) will do a much better job – and as HWA has always been disappointed that the SLR project went to McLaren, it will undoubtedly be out to prove that it can outdo the famous race-car manufacturer.

Expect the new car to be production-ready by the end of 2009.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

TVR: Why we think it’s all over
TVR Griffith
Opinion

TVR: Why we think it’s all over

There’s barely a flicker of life when it comes to TVR and the ‘new’ Griffith. We can only fear the worst
17 Jul 2025
Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!
Range Rover
News

Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!

Discounts on new Range Rovers are so big you could buy a new Renault 5 with the money you save…
15 Jul 2025
​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
14 Jul 2025