Audi R8 V10: German Design, Italian Power
Motoring Channel Staff - 10/December/2008
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Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI
With looks to kill and power to burn, the
Audi R8 V10 will rival Porsches and Ferraris
Lamborgaudi?It
came as no surprise when Audi unleashed its V10-powered R8 super car.
But even though we've seen the spy shots, we've heard the rumours and
we knew it was in the works, there's still something about this car
that makes you take a half-step backwards. Powered by the
Lamborghini Gallardo's 5.2-litre V10 mill, the Audi R8 V10 will be
both cheaper and probably more agile than its Italian cousin. Which begs the question: why build it? Audi,
which owns Lamborghini, will claim the new model will not eat into the
Lamborghini Gallardo LP540-4's sales because its customers want to by
an Italian exotic, not a German dump-mobile. While this is
certainly true for a lot of buyers, there are many drivers out there to
whom badge value means nothing and who would buy the Audi because it
offers similar - if not improved - mid-engined performance at a lower
price. - Feann Torr, Editor |
Is this the face of a new generation of
affordable super cars that don't break?
The Audi R8 V10 is powered by an engine similar in
design to the one used in the Lamborghini Gallardo
Short, low and very German: the new Audi R8 V10
The interior looks like the cockpit of a space shuttle
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Ingolstadt, Germany – One of the most iconic super cars from the last few years has undoubtedly been the German mid-engined R8 sports car. It's
found many friends in the media and enthusiasts have been equally
positive in their praise of the quattro AWD speed machine. But now Audi has raised the bar even further by unleashing the R8 V10. The new car will rival vehicles from Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Spyker, and other European exotics. While
the V8-powered 2-seater model is still available, if you've got more
funds and want more thrills, then you'll be pleased to hear that the
Audi R8 V10 will be on sale in Europe in the second quarter of 2009 and
is expected in Australia in late 2009. The 4.2-litre V8 has been replaced by a larger, more powerful 5.2-litre V10 engine borrowed from the Lamborghini Gallardo, outputting 386kW of power (528hp). DesignWith
a new engine comes a new look and a "very distinctive highlight"
of the R8 V10 models will be the all-LED headlights
as standard equipment. Audi has been pushing the LED mandate for
a while on many of its new models, and the R8 V10 is now the LED pin-up
boy with more light emitting diodes than ever. Audi claims to be the world's first automaker to use LEDs
for the following lights:  High beam
Low beam
Daytime running lights
Turn signals
According
to Audi, each headlight integrates 54 LEDs with a
color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin which ensures the headlights
illuminate very strongly. They are also much more energy efficient than
standard xenon or halogen headlights. There
are other details that distinguish the R8 V10 from its less powerful
sibling, such as the new 19-inch alloy wheels and larger side air
intakes or "sideblades" as Audi labels them. The R8 V10 is
believed to have suffered cooling problems during the prototypical
stage, and was captured exploding into flames in Germany, so it makes
sense that the new model would have an improved engine cooling system. Other changes to the R8 V10 include wider side sills, new exhaust grilles at the rear window with a
matte aluminum look and of course the engine itself, which can been seen through the rear window. PowerOn top of the technical new design, the Audi R8 is more powerful -- and a lot faster. Audi says the new car is the result of cumulative know-how from its string of
Le Mans victories, using things like dry sump lubrication with FSI petrol direct
injection. The 90° long-stroke V10 also features an aluminium-alloy crankcase, aluminium pistons and forged steel con rods. Quad camshafts (DOHC per cylinder bank) are chain-driven and adjustable through 42 degrees. Flow-optimised intake
manifold ducts also improve power development across the rev range. The engine used in the new Audi R8 V10 has the same power output as the
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, which suggests it is the same power unit. But because Audi owns Lambo, the Italian
marque will (try to) keep its complaints to itself. Or release a more powerful 'special edition' of the Gallardo in 2009. In 2009 Audi will also use the V10 engine in the new R8 GT3 racing car, where it will be used on the world's fastest race tracks.
Weighing
1620kg, with the 5.2-litre engine taking up just 258kg, the Audi
R8 V10 has "top performance, mighty pulling power, and low weight" with
a 8700rpm redline. The 5.2-litre V10 engine's output is as follows: Power: 386kW @ 8000rpm
Torque: 530Nm @ 6500rpm
Displacement: 5,204cc The mid-mounted exotic V10
lump channels its power through 6-speed manual or R tronic
transmissions, and each horsepower (of which there are 528) has to move
just over 3kg of weight. Imagine a horse with a phonebook
on its back. Then times it by more than 500 and you're getting close to
the performance threshold of the Audi R8 V10. PerformanceThe
world-famous zero to 100km/h benchmark test is a quick, concise way to
gauge a cars performance, and based on the 3.9 second claimed time of
the Audi R8 V10, there is no denying this vehicles super car nature. Roughly
as quick as a Ferrari F430, the new all-wheel drive Audi rocket can
accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, then to 200km/h
in 8.1 seconds, and on to a top speed of 316km/h (196mph) with the R
tronic sequential gearbox. Audi is very happy with its work on
the new model, saying the "immense force, the spontaneity and the
thrust of the acceleration, plus the sound of the engine – all
these impressions coalesce into a breathtaking sports car
experience." Though V10 engines aren't as acoustically
appealing as a V8, Audi promises to deliver growling bass tones
that rise into a "grandiose fortissimo as the engine revs up". The
petrol is directly injected into the engine cylinder according to
the FSI (fuel stratified injection) principle developed by Audi, at up
to 120 bar of pressure. As well as providing a small
amount of cooling through the evaporation of the fuel, it also
supports a high compression ratio of 12.5:1. Fuel
economy for this super car is also quite good, and better than many HSV
and FPV cars found in Australia at just 13.7 litres per 100km. Both 6-speed transmissions, manual and R tronic, feature Launch
Control programs. According to Audi you just hit a button and the R8 V10 "takes off in a
vehement quick-start with electronically controlled tire slip". DynamicsOne of the key aspects of the Audi R8 V10's driving dynamics is its low centre of gravity. The
V10 block is mounted low in the vehicle, and is located in front of the
rear axle for optimum weight distribution. Audi claims the car has
a 44:56 front-to-rear weight distribution ratio, which is ideal
for a sports car. Audi also claims to have the best weight to
torsional rigidity ration in the sports car segment thanks to its
aluminium space frame that weighs only 210 kilograms (463 lb). Featuring
Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system, the new R8 V10 is bestowed
with high levels of grip that "enable the driver to step on the gas
sooner when coming out of a curve" says Audi. With its
fierce power delivery and high traction level, Audi claims the new
model can achieve lateral acceleration of up to 1.2g, which is highly
impressive. The wheels are suspended by dual aluminium wishbones
front and rear that "are optimised for neutral self-steering
characteristics" whatever that means. Running gear is
19-inch 10-spoke Y design wheels hooked up to a tyre pressure
monitoring display. The wheels are exclusive to the R8 V10 and are
fitted with 235/35 front and 295/30 rear tyres. Some of the
other standard features of the 2009 model Audi R8 V10
include high-end damper technology as standard (Audi magnetic
ride) which can adapt the characteristics of the suspension in
milliseconds to the nature of the road surface and to the driving
style. Stopping power on the Lamborghini R8, sorry Audi R8,
is significant: 8-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston brake
calipers at the rear bite ventilated, perforated brake rotors measuring
380mm and 356 mm respectively. Potential customers of the Audi R8
5.2 FSI quattro can also ask for the ceramic brake system (best used on
the racetrack) with rotors made from high-strength carbon fibers
and abrasion-resistant silicon carbide. The ceramic anchors also wipe
9kg off the cars unsprung weight. ComfortAudi is promising to deliver a super luxury feel in its fastest car ever made. Is
it any surprise that the dashboard and doors are lined with fine
materials and adorned with precisely stitched decorative seams? No, not
really. Leather is in abundance, and the customisation
options are varied. You can go with carbon fibre or aluminium trim for
example. Buyers can even specify made-to-measure
luggage sets (the Audi R8 doesn't have a lot of cargo space at 100
litres) and the German car maker also "provides solutions for
unconventional requirements". Does that mean fat people? We're not sure. Some
of the standard equipment includes heated seat covers made of fine
Nappa leather, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, a driver
information system with sat nav and deluxe automatic air conditioning
and an alarm system. A rearview camera can be optioned. PriceThe
Audi R8 V10 is priced at £121,800 in the UK (€140,800
or ). It is expected to fetch around $320,000 when it launches in
Australia as the V8-powered R8 costs around $280,000. Related Links:
- Audi A5 Cabriolet (2009)
- Audi A7, A8, R8 Roadster (2010)
- Audi A1 Sportback Concept (2008)
- Audi A5 (Road Test)
- Audi S4 (2009)
- Audi TT Clubsport quattro (2008)
- Audi S3 (Road Test)
- Audi
RS 4 (Road Test)
- Audi S8 (Road Test)
- Audi R8 GT3 (2009)
- Audi RS6 Sedan (2009)
- Audi A6 (2009)
- Audi Vehicle Schedule Leak (2010)
- Audi A4 (2008)
- Audi TT Coupe (Road Test)
- Audi Q5 (2009)
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