Slung a rung below the likes of the Italian supercars--though only in price and discomfort--the Audi R8 has looks, performance, and luxury that only a few less-exotic cars can match.
The Maserati Gran Turismo is even rarer in the U.S., and offers distinctive Italian style, ample performance, and a larger cabin, but sports a less-than-stellar track record for reliability.
Chevrolet's Corvette ZR1 falls well short in style, luxury, and comfort, but offers incredible performance among the top handful of production cars in the world.
Porsche--a sister company to Audi within the VW Group--has just released its newest 911, and though the upper end of the 911 range isn't out yet, even the base Carrera and slightly more powerful Carrera S make a strong case for an R8 alternative at slightly lower prices, with outstanding handling, acceleration, comfort, and quality.
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 2012 Audi R8Browse Used Listings |  2012 Chevrolet CorvetteBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Porsche 911Browse Used Listings |  2012 Maserati GranTurismoBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||
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A marriage of the best of German handling and Italian power, the 2012 Audi R8 is a fantastic all-around supercar. |
From fast to insanely fast, yet still practical and affordable, the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette is a great balance and a strong value. |
The 2012 Porsche 911 is one of the best buys in the sports car market, and quite possibly the most practical, luxurious car at its performance level available. |
The 2012 Maserati GranTurismo carves out a grand-touring niche for itself with Italian cachet, an earthy Ferrari rumble, and a serene blend of ride and handling. |
| MSRP From | |||
| $114,200 | $49,600 | $79,000 | $123,000 |
| Gas Mileage | |||
| 11 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 26 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 13 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||
| Gas V8 | Gas V8 | Gas Flat 6 | Gas V8 |
| EPA Class | |||
| Compact | Two Seater | Mini-Compact | Subcompact Cars |
| Style Name | |||
| 2-Door Coupe Manual quattro 4.2L | 2-Door Coupe w/3LT | 2-Door Coupe 997 Carrera | 2-Door Coupe GranTurismo S |
| Drivetrain | |||
| All-Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Passenger Doors | |||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||
| Coupe | 2 Door Coupe | Coupe | Coupe |
| Transmission | |||
| Manual | Manual | Manual | Automatic w/Manual Shift |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||
| 2012 Audi R8 vs. 2012 Chevrolet Corvette | 2012 Audi R8 vs. 2012 Porsche 911 | 2012 Audi R8 vs. 2012 Maserati GranTurismo | |
