The Audi R8 is a mid-engined sports car introduced by the German automaker Audi in 2007. The first appearance of the car was in 2006, appear ing at auto shows and events all over the world. The R8 is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform, as Audi has full ownership of subsidiary Lamborghini S.p.A.. Audi announced in 2005 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, which was based on the earlier Audi RSQ concept vehicle, appearing at the 2003 Geneva Auto Show and 2003 International Motor Show. The R8 was officially launched at the Paris Auto Show on 30 September 2006. There is some confusion with the name which the car shares with the Le Mans winning R8 LMP. Originally, many thought the car would be called the R9 (as there is a gap in numbering left when Audi announced the R8's successor, the diesel-powered R10). Pricing for the R8 model starts at around €88,000, although in Ireland, due to high VRT, the base price of the R8 is about €160,000. The base price in the US is $109,000. The Audi R8 is equipped with a 4.2 L FSI V8 developing 420 PS (414 hp/309 kW) and 317 lb-ft, the same engine used in the B7 Audi RS4. The transmission is either a manual gearbox with metal gate, or a "R-tronic" gearbox (single-clutch robotic gearbox). These options are the same that are available on the Lamborghini Gallardo. A double clutch gearbox (DSG, S-tronic) is not currently (as of January 2008) available. The R8 has a dry weight of 1560 kg (3439 lb). Its suspension utilizes magneto rheological dampers.[4] As Audi AG owns Lamborghini (Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.), 15% of the R8 is shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo, including the transmission and chassis. The R8 is made distinct by its exterior styling, cabin, engine, and pricing. The Audi R8 also features an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system,[5] and Carbon-Ceramic composite brakes with monobloc Brembo calipers on all four wheels. In the production of the Audi R8, 70 workers fit 5000 unique parts by hand - the factory produces 25 cars a day. Ninety-five lasers inspect the entire car in 5 seconds to ensure that over 220 measurements are within 0.1 mm of the programmed plans. The 2-seat coupe is already available in Europe, and will be made available to the USA in the summer of 2008. In addition, an open-top roadster, Porsche Carrera GT-like model is rumored to follow in 2009[citation needed]. The engine of an R8 The engine of an R8 Many publications were hailing it as the first car to truly be able to beat Porsche - considered by many to be one of the best sports cars ever made, and the leader in its class.[citation needed] Initial comparison tests have proven quite positive in this respect; Evo Magazine in its comparison test between the R8, 911 Carrera 4S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and BMW M6 have claimed that the Audi is a better supercar saying that "Audi humbles Porsche. A new dawn starts today."[8] Other publications have also made similar reviews of the Audi beating the Porsche in comparison tests.[2][9] The Porsche Carrera 4S, however, costs about $20,000 less (U.S.).[10][11] However, the R8 has not fared as well in comparison tests with the $40,000 cheaper Nissan GT-R. Top Gear compared the two and remarked that the GT-R made the R8 The Audi R8 TDI Le Mans, a 6.0L, 500 hp (370 kW), 738 lb·ft (1,001 N·m) V12 TDI diesel concept car, was presented at the Detroit Auto Show on January 13th, 2008.[14][15] Due to the additional length of the V12 engine, the TDI variant no longer has storage space behind the front seats. It also features modified suspension and brakes to cope with the additional power and weight of the engine. A V10 version is also planned for 2009 but was considered being put on hiatus as of December 2007.[citation needed] This version of the R8 is going to have the same engine from the RS6, a 5.0 litre V10 engine. It was thought initially that this version of the engine, which produces 580hp, was going to be fitted to the RS8. However, the twin-turbo system overheated, and one prototype was destroyed at the Nürburgring. It was initially expected that the production version of the high-power R8 would have a new V10 engine developed from the V8 engine that powers the RS4 and the R8. However, due to extra cooling design work done for the V12 TDI concept, a breakthrough was made, and the initial plan for the use of the 5.0 litre V10 from the RS6 is now currently in the final design stages, so much so that the car has now been signed off for production, and will appear during the second quarter of 2009
Author: whmRabeling
Keywords: v10 powered audi r8 r6 r10 r2 supercar super car muscle cool xtreme airplane auto boat motorcycle motor sport train
Added: May 15, 2008
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