Born on the track, built for the road

The all-new Audi R8 is the most powerful and fastest production Audi ever built.Designed for maximum dynamism in all of its technical aspects – from its Audi Space Frame (ASF) to its aerodynamics and newly developed quattro all-wheel drive. The naturally-aspirated V10 mid-engine guarantees tremendous performance, especially in the V10 Plus version sporting 449 kW.The Audi R8 success story began with the market launch of the first generation in 2007. Since then, the company has sold just under 27 000 units of the model worldwide. A powerful, high-revving mid-engine, a quattro drive system with freely variable torque distribution, systematic lightweight design with an ASF made of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and aluminium, and a dynamic chassis all make the R8 the sporty vanguard of Audi.The close cooperation between race car engineers, motorsport specialists and developers has led to significant performance gains – in both the road-version sports car and the R8 LMS race car that was designed simultaneously.“The new Audi R8 V10 plus is the most powerful and fastest production Audi ever,” says Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Board Member for Technical Development. “Motorsport has always been a solid component of our brand character. With the new R8, our engineers are transferring their entire accumulated racing expertise from the race track to the road. It also lets us reinforce our core brand values of dynamism, design and quality.”EngineThe new Audi R8 is available with two engine derivatives – with 397 kW for the R8 V10 and 449 kW for the R8 V10 plus. Their maximum engine torque – 540 Nm and 560 Nm respectively – is available at 6,500 rpm for both engines. Compared to the previous model, power has increased considerably, and the responsiveness of the high-revving (up to 8,700 rpm), naturally aspirated 5.2-litre engine is now even more spontaneous. Like a race car engine, the V10 engine has dry sump lubrication. Its characteristic sound is now even fuller, with an optional sports exhaust system also available for order.Stability and dynamicsPositioned behind the V10 is a seven-speed S tronic that executes lightning-fast gear shifts by electrical control (shift-by-wire). The dual-clutch transmission directs forces to a newly designed quattro drive system with an electro-hydraulically activated multi-plate clutch at the front axle. It has active water cooling for maximum performance. The clutch distributes drive torque fully variably according to the driving situation – up to 100 percent can be directed to either the front or rear wheels.Lightweight designIn the top model, the R8 V10 plus, the unladen weight (without driver) is only 1 555 kg, and the dry weight is a low 1,454 kg. Playing a decisive role in this systematic lightweight design concept is the Audi Space Frame (ASF), which weighs just 200 kg thanks to a new type of multimaterial construction. It comprises 79 percent aluminium and 13 percent CFRP.As in a race car, the aerodynamic concept of the new Audi R8 is designed primarily for driving stability. Its central element is a long and wide diffuser in the underbody. On the R8 V10 plus, a total of 140 kg of downforce is generated at top speed: 40 kg at the front axle and 100 kg at the rear axle.DesignThe new Audi R8 is 4.42 metres long and 1.94 metres wide. Its proportions – with its cabin placed far forward, a long back and relatively short wheelbase – make the technology concept of the mid-engine sports car clearly recognizable at first glance. Large air inlets with vertical fins and LED headlights flank the wide, low-profile Singleframe grille that has a strong sculpted appearance. As an option, Audi can deliver LED headlights with laser spots that double the range of the high-beam headlights This option also includes dynamic turn signals in front; they are standard in the LED tail lights. The look at the rear is shaped by the diffuser, the ventilation screen of the engine compartment and – on the V10 plus – a CFRP fixed wing.ProductionThe new Audi R8 is being built in a specially constructed production facility known as the “Audi Böllinger Höfe” in Heilbronn, Germany. Body manufacturing and final assembly both feature many new methods and are organised highly flexibly – especially for limited volume series with a handcrafted character. They offer a lot of freedom that enables fulfilment of individual customer requests. As many as 500 highly qualified specialists are employed in the new R8 manufacturing facility, which is operated by quattro GmbH. They build each car with the greatest handcrafting precision in 15 cycles, each around 30 minutes long. Before delivery, each new high-performance sports car must successfully complete a stringent quality acceptance process. – Words and images Motorpress.co.za

Born on the track, built for the road

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Republikein 2025-08-06

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Born on the track, built for the road

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