(from Audi press
release) The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro: breathtaking performance
The new
5.2-liter, ten-cylinder engine puts out 525 hp
Sprint to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, top speed 316 km/h
High-performance sports car with striking design
Ingolstadt Audi is
launching the next variant of its top-of-the-line model. With the
R8, the brand has established itself at the forefront of high-end
sports cars from the very start and now comes the R8 V10. Its
5.2-liter, ten-cylinder engine churns out 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm
(390.91 lb-ft) of torque, which makes for breathtaking performance.
With superior Audi technologies such as quattro all-wheel drive, the
lightweight aluminum body, the innovative all-LED headlights, and
its striking design, the
R8 V10 takes pole position against the competition.
The R8 V10 is the result
of cumulative know-how from Audis string of Le Mans victories. Its
naturally aspirated engine combines racing technology such as dry
sump lubrication with FSI gasoline direct injection. The
ten-cylinder design is the perfect synthesis for impressive top
performance, mighty pulling power, and low weight. Starting in 2009,
this engine will also prove its potential on the worlds racetracks
in the new R8 racing car Audi is developing for customer teams in
conformance with the GT3 rules.
The V10 engine in the
production sports car will be almost identical in construction to
the one in the racing version. Its displacement is 5,204 cc, at
6,500 rpm it delivers 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, at 8,000 rpm
its power tops out at 386 kW (525 hp).
The specific power
output is 100.9 hp per liter of displacement and each hp has to
propel only 3.09 kilograms (6.91 lb) of weight, because the Audi R8
V10 in the version with the six-speed manual gearshift weighs only
1,620 kilograms (3571 lb). The engine accounts for 258 of these
kilograms (569 lb) thats only 31 kilos (68 lb) more than the V8.
The Audi R8 5.2 FSI
quattro rockets from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.9 seconds. In
the version with the sequentially shifting R tronic it reaches 200
km/h (124.27 mph) in another 8.1 seconds. Even then its propulsive
power hardly lessens: its sufficient to reach a top speed of 316
km/h (196.35 mph). 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. The
V10 plays a concert with growling bass tones and powerful high
notes, which grows into a grandiose fortissimo as the engine revs
up. This sonorous acceleration doesnt reach its limit until 8,700
rpm.
The 5.2-liter powerplant
uses direct injection according to the FSI principle developed by
Audi. A common rail system injects the fuel into the combustion
chambers with up to 120 bar of pressure. Direct injection reduces
the susceptibility to knocking and provides a certain amount of
cooling through the evaporation of the fuel, which in turn supports
a high compression ratio of 12.5:1. This in turn contributes to
superior performance and improves fuel economy. The R8 V10 with R
tronic gets by on an average of 13.7 liters per 100 km (17.17 US
mpg).
For maximum dynamics: low center
of gravity engine
The technical
refinements of the long-stroke ten-cylinder engine include dry sump
lubrication, which allows the engine to be mounted low within the
chassis. The wide cylinder angle of 90 degrees also makes for a low
center of gravity. The crankcase is a high-strength aluminum-alloy
casting produced in a complex process. The connecting rods are made
of forged steel, the pistons of aluminum. The four camshafts are
chain-driven and each is adjustable through 42 degrees. This
provides great latitude in controlling the valve timing. In
combination with the straight, flow-optimized ducts of the intake
manifold, this improves the charge throughout the entire speed
range.
The R8 5.2 FSI quattro
has a six-speed transmission. A precise and smooth-shifting manual
transmission comes as standard equipment. The sequential R tronic is
available as an option. The high-tech gearshift conveys an authentic
racing feel with the rocker switches at the steering wheel and the
short shifting times of usually less than one-tenth of a second.
When the driver actuates the Launch Control program by pressing a
button, the R8 V10 takes off in a vehement quick-start with
electronically controlled tire slip both with the R tronic and
with the manual transmission.
A contributing factor to
the wide lead in traction and driving safety of the Audi R8 V10 over
the competition is quattro all-wheel drive its the superior
technology especially for a high-performance sports car. Four
powered wheels get more grip than two. They enable the driver to
step on the gas sooner when coming out of a curve. Its not only the
traction that benefits, but also the transverse dynamics and the
stability.
44 to 56 percent the ideal axle
load distribution
The Audi R8 chassis
offers both dynamic performance and astonishing levels of comfort on
long distances. This high-performance sports car from Audi eagerly
responds to any steering action with instant ease, achieves lateral
acceleration of up to 1.2 g, and handles any situation with superb
driving safety. Its mid-engine design provides an ideal axle load
distribution of 44 to 56 percent.
The wheel suspensions on
dual aluminum wishbones front and rear a classic racing technology
are optimized for neutral self-steering characteristics. Even more
than in the eight-cylinder R8, this setup is designed for maximum
performance. 19-inch wheels equipped with tire pressure monitoring
display are standard equipment. Their 10-spoke Y design is exclusive
to the R8 V10. Tire sizes are 235/35 front and 295/30 rear.
The car features a
high-end damper technology as standard: Audi magnetic ride adapts
the characteristics of the suspension in milliseconds to the nature
of the road surface and to the driving style. Suspended in the oil
of the shock absorbers are tiny magnetic particles which, when a
voltage is applied, rearrange themselves so as to slow down the flow
of oil through the valves.
In the R8 V10,
deceleration is provided by an extremely muscular braking system
eight brake pistons at the front and four at the rear grasp the
brake disks, which are ventilated and perforated to ensure unimpeded
heat transfer. The brake disks on the front axle have a diameter of
380 millimeters (15 in); the rear discs span 356 millimeters (14
in).
The R8 5.2 FSI quattro
is optionally available with a ceramic brake system whose disks are
made of a composite material containing high-strength carbon fibers
and abrasion-resistant silicon carbide. These are especially light:
their combined weight is nine kilograms (19.84 lb) less than the
weight of equivalent steel disks. The ceramic brakes can easily cope
with the harsher requirements of racing, wont corrode, and have a
typical service life of 300,000 kilometers (186,400 miles). Their
calipers are painted charcoal gray and emblazoned with the
inscription Audi ceramic.
Typically Audi: Sharp lines and an
elegantly curved roof
The wide, full shape of
the R8 5.2 FSI quattro seems to hug the road. The brawny proportions
and prominent wheel wells underscore its potential. The
high-precision styling of the lines and the elegant curve of the
roof are typical Audi features. A continuous contour optically
connects the front, the wheel wells, the sides and the rear. Located
well forward, the cab visually expresses the mid-engine design. The
vertical air scoops (sideblades) on the sides are also indicative of
the engine location. The massive aluminum gas cap is mounted flush
within the right sideblade.
The design of the Audi
R8 has already impressed experts, as evidenced by the double victory
in the World Car of the Year Awards 2008. In the ten-cylinder
model, the styling has been sharpened up even more.
The front air inlets,
which feed air to the coolers, and the lip of the front apron are
painted in high-gloss black. The number of cross-braces has been
reduced from four to two. The vanes of the single-frame grille have
a striking chrome finish.
A very distinctive
highlight of the R8 V10 are the all-LED headlights as standard
equipment. Audi is the worlds first automaker to use LEDs for the
high beam, low beam, daytime running lights, and turn signals. Each
headlight integrates 54 of these high-tech light sources. With a
color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin the LED light closely resembles
daylight, which is less tiring to the eyes in night driving. Further
advantages of the LEDs include brilliant illumination, low energy
consumption, and a virtually unlimited service life.
Special details also
distinguish the body of the R8 V10. Its sideblades are more
accentuated than in the eight-cylinder version. The side sills are
more striking and wider; the exhaust grilles at the rear windows
have a matt aluminum look. Through the large rear window, the
ten-cylinder engine is clearly visible in its consummate technical
beauty.
When in motion, this
Audi high-performance sports car creates a downforce that keeps it
in firm contact with the road thanks to a rear spoiler which
deploys automatically at 100 km/h and the fully enclosed underbody,
which terminates in a sharply upward-curved diffuser. The dominant
color at the rear end is high-gloss black, including the settings of
the LED tail lights. The air outlets at the rear end also have only
two cross-braces, and the exhaust system terminates in two large
oval tailpipes.
Audi sets the example in body weight and rigidity
The body of a sports car
must be especially lightweight and rigid. Audi meets these
requirements with the technology of the Audi Space Frame (ASF) and
its high-tech aluminum construction. The body-in-white of the R8
V10, which includes an engine frame made of ultra-light magnesium,
weighs only
210 kilograms (463 lb), and the quality of its lightweight design
the relation of weight to torsional rigidity is the best in the
sports car segment. The body is composed of profile extrusions,
sheet aluminum and very complex gusset castings, all held together
by 99 meters (325 ft) of welding seams, 782 rivets, and 308 special
screws.
The interior of the R8
V10 provides a unique racing ambience at the luxury level. Its
dominant element is the so-called monoposto a wide arc that
contains the steering wheel and the cockpit. As always in an Audi,
the workmanship is of the highest quality. The surfaces of the
dashboard and doors are lined with fine materials and adorned with
precisely stitched decorative seams. Many customizing solutions are
available: Audi supplies leather in a wide range of colors, packages
with a carbon and piano-lacquer finish, or a made-to-measure luggage
set. quattro GmbH, which has developed and is producing the R8 V10,
also provides solutions for unconventional requirements.
The great everyday
utility of the Audi R8 V10 is based in part on its spacious interior
made possible by the long wheelbase of 2.65 meters (8.69 ft).
Drivers and passengers of any size will always find a perfect
sitting position. Visibility too is surprisingly good. Slender hinge
pillars optimize the obliquely forward field of view. Another
advantage for convenient everyday use is the luggage space: 100
liters (3.53 cu ft) fit under the front hood, another 90 liters
(3.18 cu ft) can be stowed behind the seats. There is also room for
two golf bags.
The Audi R8 5.2 FSI
quattro combines its colossal performance with a generous complement
of standard equipment. Highlights include heatable seat covers made
of Fine Nappa leather, a driver information system, the navigation
system plus and the Bang & Olufsen sound system along with deluxe
automatic air conditioning and an alarm system. The instruments and
the gearshift knob are decorated with red rings; the footrests and
the rocker switches of the R tronic have an aluminum finish.
The list of options includes other highly attractive features such
as the Audi parking system advanced with its integrated rearview
camera or numerous Audi exclusive customization options. Various
leather packages provide a luxurious touch, while the bucket seats
from the Audi exclusive program bring a highly concentrated racing
atmosphere into the R8 V10.
The Audi R8 5.2 FSI
quattro will be rolled out in Germany in the second quarter of 2009
at a basic price of EUR 142,400.
