By: IOL Motoring Staff
Ingolstadt, Germany - Audi has released full details of the second-generation R8 just ahead of its world debut at the Geneva motor show next week.
Let's start with the numbers - an uprated 5.2-litre V10 delivering 449kW, 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, 0-200 in less than 10 seconds and 330km/h flat out, making this the fastest and most powerful series-production street-car in Audi history.
Actually, that's only half the story; instead of offering two derivatives with different engines, Audi has fallen into the VW trap of using the same engine in differing states of tune.
In this case the top-of-the-range R8 V10 plus is quoted at the aforementioned 449kW, with 560Nm delivered at 6500rpm, while the more softly-tuned R8 V10 delivers 397kW and 540Nm at the same revs. Claimed performance is very little down at 3.5 seconds to 100km/h and 323km/h flat out.
In each case, the 5.2-litre V10's direct fuel-injection is supplemented by indirect fuel-injection when necessary, improving performance and reducing fuel-consumption. In addition, each variant automatically shuts down one bank of cylinders under light-load conditions, contributing to their nominal fuel-consumption figures of 12.4 litres per 100km for the full-fat flavour and 11.8 litres pr 100km for the low-calorie version.
Each drives all four wheels via a shift-by-wire seven-speed S tronic transmission, featuring three automatic modes, a manual mode and launch control, as well as a coasting mode. If you take your foot off the loud pedal at more than 55km/h, both clutches open and engine speed drops to idle, saving significant amounts of fuel.
An electrohydraulic multiplate clutch on the front axle replaces the viscous coupling of previous models, allowing totally variable torque distribution between the axles - up to 100 percent either way. There's also a mechanical differential lock on the rear axle for maximum traction.
CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION
The new R8 is built on a space-frame with carbon-fibre B pillars, central tunnel and rear wall; the front section, roof arch and rear sub-frame are fabricated from aluminium extrusions and cast-aluminium nodes.
The complete body-shell weighs only 200kg - about 15 percent lighter than the previous version, and contributes to a kerb weight for the whole car of 1555kg, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 289kW per ton.
The outer skin is all aluminium on the V10, but with carbon-fibre front splitter, diffuser and side blades on the V10 plus.
Suspension is by aluminium double wishbones all round, with variable adaptive magnetic-ride dampers available as an option. Also optional is dynamic steering with variable ratio according to road speed and drive-mode settings.
Ninteen-inch rims shod with 245/30 front and 245/35 rear radials are standard, with 20-inch hoops available on option for the first time. Brakes are carbon-ceramic on the plus, steel on the vanilla V10.
The standard V10 has an electrically-operated spoiler, the V10 plus a fixed carbon-fibre wing.
DIGITAL COCKPIT
All the displays on the flight deck are digital, presented on a 12-3-inch screen set in a freestanding housing, and controlled by button clusters on the steering wheel, or by switches on the centre console.
The driver can toggle between different display modes and also adjust the digital instrument cluster to his needs in individual mode.
A shift light, and MMI navigation plus with MMI touch are standard - and, just when you thought you were getting used to selecting how you want the car to respond, Audi has succeeded in making it more complex.
In addition to the four standard modes - comfort, auto, dynamic and individual - controlling the engine characteristics, steering, shift points, and quattro drive, there's an new 'performance' mode (optional on the V10, standard on the V10 plus) accessible via a separate button on the steering wheel and modulated between dry, wet and snow modes by a rotary knob, also on the wheel.
SISTER SHIPS
The new R8 V10 models will share the spotlight on the Audi stand in Geneva with two more derivatives, the new Audi R8 e-tron and an all-new R8 LMS racing car built to the new GT3 regulations that will come into effect from 2016.
The battery-powered e-tron now boasts 340kW and 920Nm, taking it from 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds, while new battery cells more than double its nominal range from 215 to about 450km.
The large T-shaped battery is built into the centre tunnel and across the chassis behind the occupant cell - optimally positioned in the car.
The high-voltage lithium-ion battery is manufactured in-house by Audi; its capacity has been increased from 49kWh to about 92kWh.
The second-generation rear-wheel drive R8 LMS race car has a reinforced carbon-fibre and aluminium space frame with a built-in steel roll-cage; most of its body panels are carbon fibre, and its type approval weight is 1225kg.
Its V10 engine is almost identical to the production version, delivering about 430kW, depending on the applicable regulations for the class you're racing in.
EURO PRICING
The new R8 will go on sale in Europe in mid-2015, at €165 000 (R2 135 000) for the V10 and €187 400 (R2 425 000) for the V10 plus, and in South Africa in the second qurter of 2016; local pricing has yet to be finalised.