Audi R8

The Audi R8 (Typ 42 is a sports car with a longitudinally mounted mid-engine, and uses Audi's trademark quattro permanent four-wheel drive system.[3][7] It was introduced by the German automaker AUDI AG, a subsidiary ofVolkswagen Group, in 2006.
The car was exclusively designed, developed, and manufactured by AUDI AG's high performance private subsidiary company, quattro GmbH, and is similar to the Lamborghini Gallardo. The fundamental construction of the R8 is based on theAudi Space Frame, and uses an aluminium monocoque which is built around space frame principles. The car is built by quattro GmbH in a newly renovated factory at Audi's 'aluminium site' at Neckarsulm in Germany.
In 2005, Audi announced 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 International Geneva Motor Show, and 2003 Frankfurt International Motor Show. The R8 road car was officially launched at the Paris Auto Show on 30 September 2006. There was some confusion with the name, which the car shares with the 24 Hours of Le Mans winning R8 Le Mans Prototype (LMP). 6-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx described the R8 as "the best handling road car today".
The Audi R8 is used as a safety car in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and British Superbike Championship racing series.

Powertrain

The V8 engine in the R8

The Audi R8 was initially equipped with a 4.2 litre V8 engine. Specifically, it is an all-aluminium alloy 32-valve (four valves per cylinder) petrol engine, utilising Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI), and has a displacement of 4,163 cubic centimetres(254.0 cu in). It develops a motive power output of 309 kilowatts (420 PS; 414 bhp) (Directive 80/1269/EEC), and generates 430 newton metres (317 ft·lbf) of torque, on 98 RON 'Super Unleaded' petrol. It is basically the same engine used in the Audi B7 RS4, but is modified to use dry sump lubrication system. This V8 is a highly reworked, high-revving variant from the existing 4.2 litre V8, but includes cylinder-direct fuel injection (Fuel Stratified Injection), and four valves per cylinder, instead of five (as used on the previous non-FSI variants). It also uses two chain-driven double overhead camshafts (DOHC) per cylinder bank, and utilises variable valve timing for both inlet and exhaust camshafts.
The transmission options are either a Lamborghini sourced six-speed manual gearbox with metal gate for the shift lever, or an Audi-developed R tronic gearbox - which is a semi-automatic, without a traditional clutch pedal with automatic gears shifting mode. These options are the same as those available on the Lamborghini Gallardo. A double clutch Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG), now badged by Audi as S tronic, is not available (as of April 2010).

V10 engine

Audi R8 with a V10 engine at the 2009North American International Auto Show

AUDI AG unveiled the Audi R8 V10 on 9 December 2008. It uses a 5.2 litre FSI engine, based on the unit in the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 (which in turn was based on the 5.2 FSI V10 as used in the Audi C6 S6 and Audi D3 S8), but is re-tuned to produce a power output of 386 kilowatts (525 PS; 518 bhp), and generate 530 newton metres (391 ft·lbf) of torque. Compared to the V8 variant, the R8 V10's performance numbers are enhanced. Audi states the new 0 to 100kilometres per hour (0 to 62.1 mph) time as only 3.9 seconds 60 to 124 miles per hour (97 to 200 km/h) in 8.1 seconds, and a top speed of 317 kilometres per hour (197.0 mph). Other changes to the V10 version of the R8 include some aesthetic differences: such as all-LED headlights (a world-first),[3] interior enhancements such as Bang & Olufsen 465 watt sound system, and a more aggressive body styling,[14] larger rear brakes and unique road wheels.
It was initially thought that this version of the R8 was going to have the same engine as the C6 Audi RS6, a 5.0 litre V10 TFSI twin-turbo engine, which produces 427 kilowatts (581 PS; 573 bhp). However, some components of the twin-turbosystem overheated, and one prototype was destroyed by fire at the Nürburgring. This model was shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.

Other technical details

Black Audi R8

As Volkswagen Group owns both Audi and Lamborghini (Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.), some of the R8 is shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo, including some of the chassis and floorpan, transmissions, and the revised V10 engine. The R8 is made distinct by its Germanic exterior styling, cabin, smaller V8 engine, magnetic dampers, and pricing.
The R8 (with the V8 engine) has a kerb weight of 1,560 kilograms (3,439 lb). Its suspension uses Delphi magneto rheological dampers.
Safety features include Bosch ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme which includes Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), front dual-stageairbags, and 'sideguard' curtain airbags. The R8 also features a distinctive curved bar of LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) mounted insided the xenon HID headlamp casings.
The R8, like most mid- or rear-engine designed sports cars, utilises wider roadwheels and tyres on its rear axle. For the 18 inch alloy wheels (on standard summer tyres), there is just one range of sizes - the fronts are sized at 8.5Jx18H2 ET42, whilst the rears are two inches wider at 10.5Jx18H2 ET50. With the 19 inch wheels (standard fit in most markets), the theme continues - the fronts are all 8.5Jx19H2 ET42, and the rears are 11.0Jx19H2 ET50.[3] 19" wheels for the winter tyre package have a ½" narrower rear compared to the summer tyre wheel package. There is also a corresponding difference in tyre sizes - 18's are 235/40 ZR18 95Y XL (eXtra Load) up front and 285/35 ZR18 101Y XL at the rear. For the 19" tyres, two different options are available - all fronts are 235/35 ZR19 91Y, and the rears are either 295/30 ZR19 100Y XL or 305/30 ZR19 102Y XL. Standard factory supplied tyre makes offered are either Continental SportContact3, or Pirelli P-Zero Rosso.