New Audi R8 promises power, speed and performance

The new Audi R8 can go from 0-100 in 3.2 seconds, and from 0-200 in 9.9 seconds. The naturally-aspirated V10— one of two variants — delivers 610HP to power the car to its maximum speed of 330km/h. “Car racing has been a part of our Audi DNA for many decades,” says Prof Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development. “Audi stands for automotive dynamism, and this applies very much to our new high-performance R8 sports car. In all technical areas it is extremely close to being a race car. It is the most powerful, fastest and sharpest production Audi ever.”The R8 V10 Plus with 610HP it is the most powerful and fastest production Audi ever built, yet the fuel economy has gone up by 13% compared to the previous R8.In the power train, the lightning-quick shifts of the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission, an optimised mechanical differential lock and a new electro hydraulically activated multi-plate clutch work together. The actively cooled all-wheel drive system can distribute torque freely between the axles. The intelligent dynamic control system for the quattro drive is incorporated into the Audi drive select dynamic handling system that offers four basic modes.In its performance mode, it offers three additional modes: dry, wet and snow. They make handling even more precise and sharper, tuned to the friction coefficient of the specific road surface. The new technology is also available on the R8 V10, including the steering wheel that is used to select the special modes.The new Audi R8 V10 plus has a dry weight of just 1,454 kg. This was primarily due to its newly conceptualised Audi Space Frame (ASF) in multi-material construction – which consists of aluminium and CFRP parts. The ASF weighs just 200 kg. The entire under body has a smooth covering, like on a race car, and the air flow exits via a large diffuser. This increases down force. At top speed, this amounts to 40 kg at the front axle and 100 kg at the rear axle. The large CFRP rear wing also plays an important role in attaining these top figures.The interior of the R8 focuses on the driver. The driver can read off all key information at a glance from the Audi virtual cockpit. The steering wheel, instrument cluster and road all line up along one central visual axis. Drivers can operate all important functions with the multifunction and satellite push-buttons without having to take their hands off the steering wheel or look away from the road.The Audi virtual cockpit is user configurable, and it shows all displays in elaborate 3D graphics – if desired, with one large rev counter and auxiliary gages that show much more information, such as tire temperature and torque output. MMI navigation plus with MMI touch is standard equipment in the new R8. The new R8 is hand crafted at a new plant near Neckarsulm. Its range of optional technology components extends to the sound system from Bang & Olufsen and the Audi laser spot, which doubles the range of the high-beam light. No other Audi production car shows as much affinity for the race track as the new R8. This is also proven by its sister models – the new GT3 race car, the Audi R8 LMS. For the first time, Audi developed the two versions simultaneously, in order to optimally exploit synergies. Both the new Audi R8 and its motorsport variant, the R8 LMS, have made significant performance gains, thanks to the close cooperation between race car engineers, motorsport specialists and developers. Just ten weeks after its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, the R8 LMS made its dazzling entrance on the 24 hour racing scene, seizing overall victory on the Nürburgring.