Matchbox Audi R8, along with other Matchbox Audi's

Just as Mattel says 'welcome back'  to the Alfa Romeo brand, they are also saying "goodbye" to the Audi brand.  Apparently from a fuss with the idea that Audi want tampo's on all four sides of the vehicle, which Mattel would love to but couldn't for cost reasons, Audi decided to revoke their license approval from Mattel.  So, what does this mean?  You won't see Audi in the Mattel line for quite some time.  So, to show the best I assembled a few Matchbox Audi's to showcase alongside the final R8 for 2013.  Note that I passed on a few Hot Wheels because the Avus and R8 were poorly done, and I regret snatching up the TT RS from the 2010 speed machine line.

R8: From a champion of winners

After Audi's successful R8 LeMans race car program, Audi wanted to put that knowledge to the streets.  The Le Mans Concept car of 2003 was the beginning of the Audi supercar.  Released in 2007, the R8 had some added (and cost-effective) help from partner Lamborghini to use the Gallardo platform.  That means the AWD system can use the famous Quattro nameplate, and in the beginning use the 4.2 DOHC V8, mid-mounted and off-center to allow the AWD system to fit, producing 309 hp. through a six-speed manual or Tiptronic automatic.  The Gallardo's V-10 and dual-clutch transmissions was offered later on.  The exterior gracefully carries over from the concept, including the shield grille with aggressive headlights and LED running lamps.  The rear has square taillights and vents in the bumper to exhaust heat from the engine bay.  The side blades can be color-matched or separate color from the body.  The interior is very familiar to Audi owners, but with a more grippier steering wheel.

Well done Matchbox, well done!

Since 2007 this casting has been nicely executed by the Mattel crew.  Recently it has been with or without blades, 10-sp to 5-sp wheels, and with or without rear tampo's.  This final version returns the metallic blue from the 2007 10-pack.  It looks gorgeous, and the silver blades really enhance the look.  The front is nicely done with headlight and grille details.  It's a bummer that the rear-end does not have any detailing because this is one nicely-done variation!  The interior and engine bay are nicely-executed and follow the lines of the actual car.  It's one casting you can't keep your eyes off of, and it will be a disappointment to see it vanish for a while from the Matchbox line.

Avus before R8

But the R8 wasn't the first mid-engine supercar for Audi, go back to 1992 and see the Avus concept of what was almost the first production Audi supercar.  Designed by J. Mays, the smooth and chrome Audi showed off styling elements that would be seen in upcoming Audi's in the late 1990's.  The W-12 engine was also the first showing of VW's wild marvel: Two large V's with three cylinders on four rows.  It was connected to a six-speed manual and through all four wheels.  Matchbox did a stunning job with this casting, showing off the chrome more accurately.  The best part is the matching chrome engine cover in the back!  Unlike the narrow Hot Wheels version, this Matchbox version has the right stance and look of the actual concept car.  I guess upper-level management of Audi at the time saw no profit from an expensive-to-engineer supercar and decided to leave the Avus as a concept-only.

The one, er two, that made it to production

Even though the Avus never made it to production, the TT did.  Introduced as paired concepts at the 1994 Geneva Motor Show, the TT showed a more radical, smooth design reminiscent of the Audi racers of the 1930's and their advanced aerodynamics at the time.  The TT made it into production as a coupe in 1999 and as a roadster in 2000.  Sharing the VW Golf and New Beetle chassis, the TT featured a 1.8 DOHC Turbo I-4 producing 178 hp. through a six-speed manual to either front or all-wheel drive.  The interior featured a retro-grade look with exposed aluminum trim parts.  You'll notice on the roadster the rear spoiler: this was a response to fatal accidents caused by the slick bodyline lifting the car up at high speeds.

The Matchbox coupe debut in 1999 internationally and in 2000 for the U.S.  The casting was nicely done, though some lighting details front and rear would've been nice.  The rings are molded into the grille nicely.  The coupe has a functioning suspension.  The roadster in 2001 shares the same color and dimensions, but featured front and rear lighting details, no functioning suspension, and larger so-called flower pedal wheels.  The roadster features a two-seat cockpit with roll bars and the convertible top just behind the seats.  The trunk was smaller than the coupe.  The open top allows more closer examination of the dashboard detailing.

The oddball hot-rod wagon

Out of the TT's and supercars, how come Matchbox decided to make this wagon?  Turns out one of the Matchbox designers at the time was an owner of the RS6 Avant, so it was natural for them to make one.  The RS6 was the first generation of the RS brand to one-up the S line, once considered the performance benchmark to the BMW M and Mercedes-Benz AMG.  The RS6 Avant takes an A6 Avant wagon and gives it aggressive front and rear fascia's, flared fenders and ground-effects.  The setup is mild, but noticeable.  The interior carries over from the A6 except for bolstered front seats and special stitching on the leather.  The powertrain consists of 4.2L DOHC BiTurbo V8 producing 444 hp. and 428 ft-Ib torque through a five-speed tiptronic automatic and through the Quattro all-wheel drive system.  End result is one quick and versatile wagon that can handle any type of weather.

Matchbox did an excellent job with this model.  Introduced in 2007, it features lighting detail front and rear, RS6 badges, 10-sp that look like the ones on the real vehicle (6-sp wheels arrived later on), and the interior is nicely done with a realistic look to all the gauges and switches.  The blue color was lukewarm for a performance wagon, but later colors including red, light blue, yellow, and black really made the RS6 stand out.  Pretty soon after this, more wagon's started to reappear in Hot Wheels and Matchbox line, so you'd have to give credit to the RS6 Avant for bringing back the station wagon body.