Research
February 27, 2008
2008 new and redesigned sports cars
2008 new models by body style
Looking for an all-new sports car in 2008? Here's a brief overview of all the sports cars that have been redesigned or are brand-new models to the market in 2008. Some of the highlights include the redesigned Dodge Viper and the brand-new Audi R8.
2008 Audi R8
New for 2008
List prices: Starting at $109,000
After years of making high-performance variants of its existing sedans, wagons and convertibles, Audi enters the supercar market with its new R8. The sports car is named after Audi's five-time Le Mans-winning racecar.
Like the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo with which it competes, the R8 has a mid-mounted engine. Featuring a weight-saving aluminum body and Quattro all-wheel drive, Audi says the R8 can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds and has a maximum speed of 185 mph.
The R8 will be priced at $109,000 with a six-speed manual transmission and $118,000 with a six-speed automatic transmission.
2008 Audi TT
Redesigned for 2008
List prices: $34,800-$44,500
Audi's TT sports car has aged surprisingly well since its 2000-model-year U.S. debut and is still a head-turning design despite the influx of outlandishly styled models.
Longer and wider than the first-generation TT, the 2008 TT Coupe uses Audi's Aluminum Space Frame technology and is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a V-6. The TT roadster has also been re-designed.
2008 Chevrolet Corvette
Redesigned for 2008
List prices: $45,170-$70,175
For 2008, the Corvette two-seater sports car gets a more powerful engine and other powertrain updates, as well as a new interior trim package. A convertible and hatchback coupe are offered, as is a high-performance Z06 coupe. The Corvette competes with the Jaguar XK, Dodge Viper and Porsche 911 Carrera.
The major changes for 2008 are under the hood, as the previous LS2 V-8 engine has been punched out for a more powerful LS3 that makes 430 hp, compared to 2007's 400 hp. Called "the most aerodynamically efficient Corvette ever" by Chevrolet, the coupe has a 0.286 coefficient of drag.
A six-speed automatic transmission, which operates via paddle shifters, and a new three-spoke steering wheel became available on 2006 models. For 2008, the automatic has been improved to offer quicker shifts. The transmission incorporates two electronically controlled automatic modes: Drive and Sport. Dual-stage frontal airbags incorporate passenger-sensing technology.
The Corvette Z06 offers a substantially upgraded chassis and a 505-hp V-8.
2008 Dodge Viper SRT10
Redesigned for 2008
List prices: $83,145-$83,895
Car buyers who can't get enough horsepower will want to thank Dodge for introducing a revised version of its Viper SRT10 sports car. Not content with merely 510 hp, the Viper SRT10 now makes 600 hp from an enlarged V-10 engine. Isn't America great?
The 2008 Viper SRT10 is available in roadster or coupe form.
2008 Maserati GranTurismo
Redesigned for 2008
List prices: Starting at $110,000
Maserati teamed with Italian design company Pininfarina to style its latest model, the Gran Turismo, which is influenced by another of the companies' collaborative efforts, the Maserati Birdcage 75 concept car of 2006.
The Gran Turismo is a replacement for the not-so-gracefully-aging Maserati Coupe that first hit the road as a 2002 model.
