Audi R8

The Audi R8 is a mid-engined sports car introduced by the German automaker Audi in 2006, appearing at auto shows and events all over the world. The R8 is based on the Audi Space Frame, which contributes to the car's relatively light weight. It is built by Audi AG's wholly owned private subsidiary company, quattro GmbH.

Audi announced in 2005 that the name of the successful Audi R8 race car would be used for a new road car in 2007, the Audi R8, based on the Audi Le Mans quattro concept car, appearing at the 2003 Geneva Auto Show and 2003 International Motor Show. The R8 was officially launched at the Paris Auto Show on 30 September 2006. There is some confusion with the name, which the car shares with the Le Mans winning R8 LMP and also the 1989 Mk2 Rover 200, codenamed R8.

The R8 is used as a safety car in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters racing series.

Technical details

The Audi R8 is equipped with a 4.2 litre Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) V8 engine developing 420 PS (309 kW; 414 hp) and 430 N·m (320 ft·lbf), and is basically the same engine used in the B7 Audi RS4, but modified to use dry sump lubrication. A new additional variant with a 5.2 litre Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) V10 engine was added on the 9th of December 2008, which produces 386 kW (525 PS; 518 hp) and 530 N·m (390 ft·lbf).

The transmission is either a manual gearbox with metal gate for the shift lever, or an "R-tronic" gearbox (single-clutch semi-automatic sequential manual transmission). These options are the same as those available on the Lamborghini Gallardo. A double-clutch gearbox (Direct-Shift Gearbox - DSG, now badged by Audi as "S-tronic") is not available (as of December 2008).

The R8 has a dry weight of 1560 kg (3439 lb). Its suspension uses magneto rheological dampers.

As Audi AG owns Lamborghini (Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.), much of the R8 is shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo, including the transmission. The R8 is made distinct by its exterior styling, cabin, engine, and pricing.

Safety features include Bosch ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme with ABS, front dual-stage airbags, and side-impact airbags.

Amongst the options list for the Audi R8 are a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and "Audi Ceramic" Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) composite brakes with monobloc alloy Brembo calipers on all four wheels (6-piston at front, 4-piston at rear) with SGL Carbon ceramic discs.

Production

To produce the R8, seventy workers fit 5,000 unique parts by hand. The factory produces 15 cars a day. It has also been credited as the only car in the world to undergo a CT Scan. Ninety-five lasers inspect the entire car in five seconds to ensure that over 220 measurements are within 0.1 mm of the programmed plans. The 2-seat coupé is currently available in Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan. Rumours hold that an open-top roadster model like the Porsche Carrera GT will follow in 2009.

In Latin America, the R8 became available at the end of 2008 at dealers in Mexico City, Bogota, Medellin, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Santiago. Customers bought every unit available for 2008 within a week after the R8 premiered at the Bogota International Auto Show and Auto Expo of Medellin.

In Asia, the R8 is available in India, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines and Hong Kong, and will be available in China, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Indonesia in 2009.

Reviews

Many publications were hailing it as the first car to truly be able to beat the Porsche 997 considered by many to be one of the best sports cars ever made, and the leader in its class. Initial comparison tests have proven quite positive in this respect; Evo Magazine listed it as a "supercar", compared the R8 to the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and BMW M6 and after praising the R8's "amazing stability, traction and grip, unparalleled steering accuracy and bite, (and) its uncannily flat and disturbance-free ride", claimed that as a result of "the sublime effortlessness of it all", the Audi is a better sports car. The article concluded that "Audi humbles Porsche. A new dawn starts today".

Other publications have also written similar reviews of the Audi beating the Porsche in comparison tests.

Top Gear compared the Nissan GT-R to the R8, and remarked that the R8 was "simultaneously less impressive and yet somehow more involving". On the R8 they wrote that "it rewards driver input", calling it "fantastic in a way that will appeal more to true car enthusiasts" but also remarked that it was "much slower" and the GT-R was cheaper. On their test track, the car performed better than a Lamborghini Gallardo and an Aston Martin DB9.

On Bedford Autodrome, tested by Evo magazine, the R8 was faster than the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Future development

R8 Diesel

The Audi R8 TDI Le Mans, a 6.0 L, 500 PS (493 hp/368 kW), 1,000 N·m (738 lb·ft) V12 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engined concept, was presented at the 2008 North American International Auto Show on 13 January, and the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Specifications

The R8 TDI Le Mans produces 500 PS (493 hp/368 kW) and 1,000 N·m (738 lb·ft) of torque. It uses Audi's quattro permanent four-wheel drive system, and is mid-engined. It has a six-speed manual gearbox. It goes from 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds, and its top speed is 202 mph (325 km/h).

The R8 TDI Le Mans has modified suspension settings and brakes, to cope with the added power and weight (300 kg (661.4 lb)) as a result of replacing the standard V8 engine with the V12 TDI. The V12 TDI requires more cooling than the standard R8, hence the NACA duct in the roof to feed additional air in to the engine. The vents on the front and back of the car have also been increased by 20% in size. The headlights are all-LED. For its appearance at the Detroit Motor Show, Audi fitted 20-inch alloy wheels. The rear bulkhead has been moved forward in order to accommodate the V12, meaning it loses the space behind the rear seats usually found on the standard R8.

V10 engine

Audi unveiled the Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro on the 9th of December 2008. The engine is based on the unit in the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 but is detuned to produce 386 kW (525 PS; 518 hp) and 530 N·m (390 ft·lbf) of torque. The R8 V10's performance numbers are enhanced as a result. Audi estimates the new 0-62 mph time as only 3.9 seconds, 60-124 mph in 8.1 seconds, and a 196 mph top speed. Other changes to the V10 version of the R8 include some aesthetic differences such as all-LED headlights, interior enhancements, and a more aggressive body styling.

This version of the R8 was initially going to have the same engine as the RS6, a 5.0 litre V10 TFSI engine. It was thought initially that this version of the engine, which produces 580 PS (572 hp/427 kW), was going to be fitted. However, the twin-turbo system overheated, and one prototype was destroyed by fire at the Nürburgring. This model is showing at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.

Convertible model

Although it was rumored by the automotive press since the announcement of the production R8 in 2006, it was only in August 2008 that spy shots of a convertible R8 were published online. Although there is still some camouflage on the car itself, a "soft-top" roof is clearly visible and the unique sideblade has been removed. Compared with the coupe model, the convertible will have extra chassis support, a pair of roll-over safety bars as well as minor changes such as the location of the fuel tank filler. It is expected as both a V8 and V10 powered model.

LMS

Audi announced the production of an R8 LMS racing car, designed for the FIA GT3 European Championship and various national racing series. Known within Audi Sport as the 'R16', the R8 LMS features a 500 hp (370 kW; 510 PS) V10 engine. Because the GT3 regulations prohibit the use of four-wheel drive, the R8 LMS comes with the typical rear-wheel drive setup. The torque is transmitted via a newly developed 6-speed sequential sports gearbox.

Sales of GT3 model would begin in autumn 2009.

Despite the development of the car, Audi does not plan to enter any races with the new GT3 car.

The car was unveiled at Essen Motor Show.

The first Audi R8 LMS (chassis number 101) was delivered to Audi Sport Italia in 2009.

Awards

• The R8 was awarded Best Handling Car and Fastest Car In The World of 2007 by Autocar magazine.
• It was awarded SportsCar of the year by German magazine Autobild.
• Playboy magazine awarded it Car of The Year for 2008.
• The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) named the R8 Canadian Car of the Year, and, in addition, awarded it Best Prestige Car and Most Coveted Car of 2008.
• Top Gear named the Audi R8 the 2007 Car of the Year.
• Fifth Gear named the R8 both the Best fast car and the Car of the Year 2007.
• Automobile Magazine awarded the R8 the 2008 Automobile of the Year.
• The Audi R8 was named 2008 "MSN Car of the Year", with 42% of the votes, beating the Ferrari F430 into 2nd with 13%, and the BMW M3 into 3rd with 11%.
• The JB car pages awarded the Audi R8 its maximum rating of 5 stars.
• In the 2008 World Car of the Year awards, the R8 was awarded World Performance Car of the Year and World Design Car of the Year.
• European Car magazine rated the R8 as Car of the Year.