r - Package inputenc Error: Unicode char \u8 in RStudio -

in rstudio, when go convert markdown file pdf gives me error:

output file: report.knit.md

! package inputenc error: unicode char \u8: not set use latex.

see inputenc package documentation explanation. type h immediate help. ...

l.117 performance 32 automobiles (1973â

try running pandoc --latex-engine=xelatex. pandoc.exe: error producing pdf tex source error: pandoc document conversion failed error 43 in addition: warning message: running command '"c:/program files/rstudio/bin/pandoc/pandoc" +rts -k512m -rts report.utf8.md --to latex --from markdown+autolink_bare_uris+ascii_identifiers+tex_math_single_backslash-implicit_figures --output report.pdf --template "c:\users\user\documents\r\win-library\3.2\rmarkdown\rmd\latex\default.tex" --highlight-style tango --latex-engine pdflatex --variable "geometry:margin=1in"' had status 43 execution halted

my r version (windows 7):

r version 3.2.1 (2015-06-18) -- "world-famous astronaut" copyright (c) 2015 r foundation statistical computing platform: x86_64-w64-mingw32/x64 (64-bit)

given identical error message, tried following @scoa's suggestion, putting line in yaml header did not change error, whatever reason, knitr wasn't looking there determine latex engine. however, next "knit pdf" button in control bar settings menu allows specify latex ending in "advanced" pane. solved problem me. produces slight variation on suggestion above, modifying yaml header thus:

  output:      pdf_document:          latex_engine: xelatex 

i can see @scoa may have assumed yaml output formatted way, missing colon after 'pdf_document'. using settings dialogue created proper syntax in header.

rstudio version 0.99.896, knitr version 1.12.3.