The R8's Racing Heritage:
Though it seemed like the Audi R8 came
thundering out of nowhere, it has a solid racing history in prototype form. The
Audi R8 prototype won the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans five times: 2000, 2001,
2002, 2004, and 2005. If that's not enough "Vorsprung durch Technik,"
or advancement through technology, for you, R8 prototypes took first, second,
and third place in the legendary French race twice. Besides being fast enough
to win with handling to take on the famed curves of the Le Mans route,
engineers had to design a car that could last the length of the race and an
interior that would allow drivers to last, too.
The Paris Debut:
When Audi decided to bring its race winner to the people, it
debuted its R8 concept at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The car had a new-for-Audi
mid-engine structure, with the V8 mounted close behind the cockpit. It was as
if Audi took its rounded, sloping silhouette and pumped it full of steroids.
Most noticeable were the carbon-fiber "blades" that covered the air
intakes just behind the doors. In later editions of the car with larger
engines, these blades would grow to provide more air.
The Engine:
The engine is placed behind the seats and in front of the
rear axle, as it would be in a race car. The 4.2-liter direct-injected V8 has
420 hp packed inside and 317 ft-lbs of torque. The
remarkable thing about the torque curve is that 90% of the maximum can be
maintained from 3,500 to 7,600 rpm, though its peak is at 4,500 rpm. All-wheel
drive adds stability, while a six-speed transmission links it all together. All
of this adds up to a top speed of 187 mph and a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds.
The Interior :
The Audi R8 is all about the driver, from the angle of the
instrument clusters to the flat-bottomed steering wheel for easy entry and
exit. Interior colors are dark to echo the functional look of the race car, and
ergonomics come straight from 24 hours at the track to you. Leather or leather
and Alcantara are used throughout. The official word from Audi is that two golf
bags fit behind the seats, but a large duffel bag or two is really all that can
be wedged back there. There is a bit of space in the front for a luggage
compartment, though, since the engine rides in the rear.
Extras and Options:
The headlights of the R8 are pure Audi, with LED eyeliner
rimming their sweeping shape. (The R8 V10 will be the first production vehicle
with all-LED headlights.) The aluminum chassis sits on standard 19"
wheels, and the stereo is satellite-ready. The carbon-fiber side blades can be
ordered in body color or Oxygen Silver, depending on whether you want to blend
in or stand out (as if there's a choice when you're in an R8). An acoustic
parking system and rear-view backup camera are optional, as is a custom Bang
& Olufsen 12-speaker system with a vehicle-noise compensation system to
adjust the volume automatically.
Audi R8 V10 Variation:
At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Audi R8 V10 made its
debut in a cloud of smoke, just like the bright-red rock star it is. While
little upgrades have been made to the exterior -- including all-LED headlights
and larger side intakes to cool the engine -- the real difference is in the
additional two cylinders. They add 105 hp (for a total of 525), which brings
the top speed nearer to 200 mph and the 0-60 time under 4 seconds. Even with
those few external changes, the R8 V10 still earned the EyesOn Design award for
production vehicles in Detroit.
Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro:
The convertible R8 debuted, after much rumor, anticipation,
and even a few photos leaked to the Internet, at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The drop-top Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro is only available with the larger
V10 engine; the original V8 will remain a coupe only. Still, with the fully
automatic cloth top up or down, the 0-60 mph time is only 4.1 seconds, and it
has a top speed of 194 mph. The carbon fiber panels behind the doors have been
removed in the Spyder, but a seatbelt microphone has been added. The seats are
even covered in an infrared-reflecting material to keep them up to 68 degrees
cooler.
source: http://exoticcars.about.com/od/guidedtours/p/AudiR8.htmFrom Kristen Hall-Geilser
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