Audi R8
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Audi R8 | |
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| Manufacturer | quattro GmbH, (a subsidiary of Audi AG) |
| Parent company | Volkswagen Group |
| Production | 2007–present 4,289 built[1] |
| Assembly | Neckarsulm, Germany |
| Class | halo vehicle |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | Mid-engine, quattro permanent four-wheel drive[2] |
| Engine(s) | 4.2 L V8 FSI |
| Transmission(s) | 6-speed manual 6-speed single-clutch semi-automatic |
| Wheelbase | 104.3 in (2649 mm) |
| Length | 4431 mm (174.4 in) |
| Width | 1904 mm (75 in) |
| Height | 1249 mm (49.2 in) |
| Curb weight | 1560 kg (3439 lb) |
| Related | Lamborghini Gallardo |
The Audi R8 is a mid-engined sports car introduced by the German automaker Audi in 2007.
The first appearance of the car was in 2006, appearing at auto shows and events all over the world. The R8 is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform, as Audi has full ownership of subsidiary Lamborghini S.p.A..
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. Originally, many thought the car would be called the R9 (as there is a gap in numbering left when Audi announced the R8's successor, the diesel-powered R10).
Contents |
[edit] Technical details
| Top speed | 301 km/h (187 mph) |
|---|---|
| 0-100 km/h (62 mph) | 4.6 seconds[3] |
| 0-100 mph (160 km/h) | 10.1 seconds |
| 1/4 mile (~400 m) | 12.5 seconds @ 113.2 mph (182.2 km/h) |
| Type | V8 |
| Displacement | 4.2 L (4163 cc) |
| Power | 420 PS (309 kW/414 bhp) @ 7,800 rpm |
| Torque | 430 N·m (320 ft·lbf) |
| Lateral Acceleration (200 feet (61 m) skidpad) |
1.01 g |
The Audi R8 is equipped with a 4.2 L FSI V8 engine developing 420 PS (414 hp/309 kW) and 317 ft·lbf (430 N·m), the same engine used in the B7 Audi RS4.
The transmission is either a manual gearbox with metal gate, or a "R-tronic" gearbox (single-clutch semi-automatic sequential manual). These options are the same that are available on the Lamborghini Gallardo. A double clutch gearbox (Direct-Shift Gearbox - DSG, now badged by Audi as "S-tronic") is not currently (as of January 2008) available.
The R8 has a dry weight of 1560 kg (3439 lb). Its suspension utilizes magneto rheological dampers.[4]
As Audi AG owns Lamborghini (Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.), 15% of the R8 is shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo, including the transmission and chassis. The R8 is made distinct by its exterior styling, cabin, engine, and pricing.
The Audi R8 also features an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system,[5] and "Audi Ceramic" Carbon-Ceramic composite brakes with monobloc alloy Brembo calipers on all four wheels.
[edit] Production
In the production of the Audi R8, 70 workers fit 5000 unique parts by hand - the factory produces 25 cars a day. It has also been credited as the only car in the world to undergo a CT Scan.[citation needed] Ninety-five lasers inspect the entire car in 5 seconds, to ensure that over 220 measurements are within 0.1 mm (0.004 in) of the programmed plans.[6] The 2-seat coupé is already available in Europe, and will be made available to the USA in the summer of 2008. In addition, an open-top roadster, Porsche Carrera GT-like model is rumored to follow in 2009.[citation needed]
[edit] Reviews
Many publications were hailing it as the first car to truly be able to beat the Porsche 911 — considered by many to be one of the best sports cars ever made, and the leader in its class.[citation needed] Initial comparison tests have proven quite positive in this respect; Evo Magazine listed it as a "supercar",[7] 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 supercar. The article concluded that "Audi humbles Porsche. A new dawn starts today".[8]
Other publications have also written similar reviews of the Audi beating the Porsche in comparison tests.[2][9] The Porsche Carrera 4S, however, costs about $20,000 less (U.S.).[10][11] The $40,000 cheaper but more powerful and practical Nissan GT-R outperformed the R8 in a CAR Magazine comparison test; nevertheless, the article lauded the Audi's "agility and lightness of touch," declaring it "absolutely, utterly amazing to drive".[12]
Top Gear compared the two, 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".[13]
On Bedford Autodrome, tested by Evo Magazine, R8 was faster then Lamborghini Gallardo and Koenigsegg CCX.[citation needed]
[edit] Future development
[edit] R8 TDI Le Mans
The Audi R8 TDI Le Mans,[14] a 6.0 L, 500 PS (493 hp/368 kW), 1,000 N·m (738 ft·lbf) V12 TDI diesel engined concept supercar,[15] was presented at the 2008 North American International Auto Show on 13 January,[16] and the Geneva Motor Show in March.
[edit] Specifications
The R8 TDI Le Mans produces 500 PS (493 hp/368 kW) and 1,000 N·m (738 ft·lbf) 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 more than 185 mph (298 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.
[edit] V10 engine
A V10 engined version is also planned for 2009, but was considered being put on hiatus as of December 2007.[citation needed] This version of the R8, was initially going to have the same engine from the RS6, a 5.0 litre V10 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 at the Nürburgring.[17] It was initially expected that the production version of the high-power R8 would have a new V10 engine developed from the V8 engine that powers the RS4 and the R8. However, a different approach using the V10 of the Gallardo is currently in the final design stages, so much so that the car has now been signed off for production, and will appear during the second quarter of 2009.[18]
[edit] 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 Magazine named the Audi R8 the 2007 Car of the Year.
- 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 430 into 2nd with 13%, and the BMW M3 into 3rd with 11%.[19]
- 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
[edit] References
- ^ as of 31 Dec 2007. Source: Audi.de - Financial Information (German) (PDF)
- ^ a b Car & Driver - 2007 Aston Martin V-8 Vantage v 2008 Audi R8 v 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo - Comparison Tests
- ^ Audi R8 microsite/performance. microsites.audi.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
- ^ Primary Suspension
- ^ Sound System - R8. www.bang-olufsen.com.
- ^ Audi UK R8 microsite.
- ^ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedEvo - ^ Evo Magazine: Audi R8 v rivals - "it will rupture the supercar status quo"
- ^ Motor Trend - Head to Head: 2008 Audi R8 vs 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 - "should Porsche be worried by Audi's new supercar?"
- ^ Audi of America - R8 webpage.
- ^ Porsche Cars North America - Carrera 4s webpage.
- ^ http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122409
- ^ http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2008/02/stories/07/4.html
- ^ Audi UK - Audi R8 TDI Le Mans
- ^ Audi R8 - Diesel power for Audi R8 supercar | Auto Express News
- ^ 2008 Detroit Auto Show Preview: Audi R8 TDI Concept
- ^ Autoblog Mysteriously burnt Audi revealed to be V10 RS8
- ^ Autocar Audi RS8 will get turbo V10
- ^ MSN UK - Audi R8 is crowned Car of the Year 2008
[edit] External links
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| Mid-size car | ... 100 (C1) | 5000 (C2) | 100 / 200 (C3) | 100 / 200 (C4) | A6 (C4-C6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founder: August Horch • Audi corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • quattro GmbH • Audi Driving Experience • Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. • VolkswagenGroupAmerica corporate website • Electronics Research Laboratory | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
