The Audi R8 is a sports car from the German manufacturer Audi . This is the first GT two-seater coupe of the brand that rivals the historic brands of this segment: Porsche ( 911 ), Ferrari , Corvette or Aston Martin .
The Audi R8 takes its name from the homonymous racing car , victorious at the 24 Hours of Le Mans . The show car Avus the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1991, the Audi quattro Spyder prototype 1 or the concept car Audi Le Mans quattro who inaugurated the LED were the instigators 2 of the current [when?] R8. The R8 was officially presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show and has been present in Audi dealerships since April 2007 . It is produced in Neckarsulm ( Baden-Württemberg) in Germany ; its construction is organized as in a factory 3 where specialists check the quality of each piece Note 1 . The price of the Audi, like that of its competitors, exceeds the mark of € 100,000, without the options.
Faced with the growing craze for the R8 in Europe, Audi had to revise upward its production rate which is now [when?] R8 20 per day 4 . The German manufacturer has even decided to decline the R8, moved initially by a V8 engine , a more powerful version (R8 V10 ) in 2009 , a racing version ( R8 LMS ) in 2009 , then a discoverable version (R8 Spyder) in 2010 .
First generation (2007-2015)
Audi R8 V8
Design
The optics of the Audi R8, “look frowned on the horizon” 6 , are highlighted by a string of 12 LED (light emitting diode) option coupled [not clear] with bi-xenon headlights, one of the new technologies in matter lighting – much more efficient than xenon – for daylighting.
The design of the Audi R8 includes an imposing grille, which incorporates the trapezoidal Single Frame design that equips all recent Audi, framed by two large additional air intakes. The four rings of the mark are placed on the hood. The six colors of the body of the Audi R8 are not necessarily uniform, thanks to the presence of Side Blades (on the flanks) whose color and material ( carbon or aluminum ) may be different from the rest of the vehicle. The engine, very accessible, is covered by a transparent hood; it can also be illuminated as an option 6 , 7 . The four exhaust outlets and the flap that rises from100 km / h (and closes below 80 km / h ) contribute to a sporty look.
Inside, the controls have an asymmetrical architecture. The R8 takes over the non – cyclic flat – bottomed wheel that appeared on the Audi RS4 and that now equips [When?] All the S and RS ranges. Ergonomics and edge lighting are decidedly modern 7 , 8 .
A few months after the V10 Spyder version, it is the turn of the V8 model to be declined in bodywork roadster [When?] . The design is similar to the Spyder V10, so the Side Blades are also missing.
Engine and performance
The Audi R8 is driven by a naturally aspirated 4.2- liter four-valve 4.2- liter V8 engine borrowed from the Audi RS4 9 sedan and placed in a central rear position, a first in the history of Audi 2 . It develops a maximum power 309 kW or 420 hp at 7800 rev / min and a torque maximum of 430 Nm reached at 4500 rev / min 10 . Deploying close to 100 hp per liter and reaching a maximum revs of 8,250 rpm for a top speed of more than300 km / h , superior to its competitor the Jaguar XKR , the Audi R8 goes from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.6 s and from 0 to 200 km / h in 16.5 s 10 in a sound “hoarse and bestial » 7 . The engine is compact and lightweight and consumes only 15 liters on the highway, but this figure rises to nearly 23 liters at a high rate
These performances can be partly explained by the adoption of FSI direct injection . This technology, developed by Audi, offers, according to the manufacturer, significantly more dynamism, an increase in torque and power, and a drop in consumption of nearly 15% 12 . The motor operates to stratified charge in load partial – a butterfly concentrated air flow from the intake manifold at the spark plug – or homogeneous charge under full load – the depressed accelerator pedal, the mixture injected into the combustion chamber is homogeneous. This operation of the injection provides optimal management of the combustion according to the load 13 ,12 . The disadvantage of this type of technology is that it requires good control of its operation since the stratified charge is only feasible over a restricted range of the engine speed 12 , 14 .This performance is also possible thanks to the all-aluminum chassis, which gives “only” 1,560 kg , but also thanks to Audi’s particular attention to aerodynamics . The Audi R8 offers indeed a Cx of 0.345 and a negative lift 15 , thanks to two large diffusers located in the rear bumper. The weight / power ratio is 3.71 kg / hp . Important performance also due to the new location of the engine which allows an ideal distribution of the masses: 44/56 2 .
Since engine lubrication is carried out by dry sump, the Audi R8 easily supports maximum longitudinal and transverse acceleration. This technique makes it possible to lower the engine, and therefore the center of gravity, since the engine does not have an oil sump at the bottom 16 .
Transmission
Two types of transmission are available: a manual six-speed gearbox, touch and precise 17 and the sequential gearbox Audi R-tronic (also called robotised gearbox ) operating on the same principle as the box E-gear in Lamborghini , using electro-hydraulic actuators (paddles) located on the steering wheel 18 , 16 . The Shift by Wire technology applied to this transmission allows very fast gearshifts which, combined with a compact gearbox, ensures maximum driving pleasure 19 , 16. Nevertheless, it would have gained in efficiency thanks to a better calibration and does not bring the precision and the softness of DSG boxes with double clutch , nor the speed of passage of F1 boxes of Ferrari 8 .
The latest-generation quattro all-wheel drive installed on the Audi R8 favors torque on the rear axle between 65 and 90%, thus confirming its propulsion character 2 . This torque is variably distributed between the two axles via a visco-coupler 16 .
Chassis and behavior
The frame structure, called Space Frame and already used on the Lamborghini Gallardo , is made of 77% extruded aluminum profiles, 22% aluminum sheets, and 8% molded parts, so that its weight is only 277 kg 20 . This chassis is also equipped with forged aluminum double transverse arms guaranteeing optimum guidance of the wheels 21 . This geometry gives the Audi R8 its “incredible dynamism” 17 , which many specialists agree on. The frame of the engine is on the other hand in magnesium, powerful for more rigidity and a weight 9. The Audi R8 also shines with its versatility that Martin Winterkom, the leader of Audi, summarizes with humor by “a car to get bread
and four in the rear, is very biting. The friction plates are connected to the central aluminum elements by heat sinks intended not to propagate the heat in the hubs 22 . Brake resistance is, according to Evo magazine , an incredible asset for the R8 17 . The ceramic brakes are optional, thus avoiding any heat problems. The imposing 235/40 front and 285/35 rear tires, placed on 18 or 19 inch wheels are developed specifically by Pirelli and ensure a good grip of the R8 20.
At both low and high speeds, the Audi R8 enjoys remarkable stability thanks to the double wishbone suspensions but also thanks to the Audi Magnetic Ride Note 2 option , which enables the damping force to be adjusted continuously. This technology uses an oil containing fine metal particles of a few microns (called magneto-rheological fluid), which under the effect of a magnetic field created by a coil placed in the piston body , modifies the cohesion of the particles and varies as a result, the viscosity of the oil, thereby causing the suspensions 23 to firm up . The original suspensions, too firm according to Top’s Cars magazine, are perfectly compensated by the latter option
Livability – Comfort
In terms of interior space and comfort, the Audi R8 is equipped with many technologies from the standard version such as: xenon headlamps, automatic air conditioning, CD radio, idSAT system (immobilization and satellite location) and leather upholstery ( sports seats). The full leather trim is optional. The only two places of the R8 is largely sized to accommodate semi-bucket seats “best” in terms of comfort and ergonomics 24 . They provide a very good lateral support and a “perfect driving position” 24 . However, the volume granted to the load is rather limited: 100 dm 3 in the front part of the Audi R8 and 90 dm 3 behind the seats.
Audi offers a range of options, such as the Audi Hill Hold Assist system, assistance with front and rear parking (with or without back-up camera), automatic headlighting, the Bang & Olufsen speed controller or audio system , comprising twelve speakers powered by ten amplification channels and a digital audio processing system, for a total amplification power of 465 watts 25 . Moreover, the soundproofing of the R8 is particularly neat and “the V8 with its turbine accents transcends the driver, a small automatic return of speed punctuating the rise of each report in sequential mode” 26 .
The Audi R8 is equipped with numerous electronic aids: ABS with amplifier and brake distributor, electronic differential lock, ESP deactivated on two levels, traction control , etc. The safety of this supercar is not neglected either: all the necessary airbags are present and ISOFIX fixings are available as standard. In addition, the windshield slightly inclined gives excellent visibility to the pilot