Revised stability control programming lets the top model come to a stop 4.9 feet sooner from 62 mph.
Audi unveils a slick refresh for the R8, and contrary to rumors, the supercar sticks with a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter 10 rather than downsizing to a turbocharged V6. The powerplant even gets a boost in output, and there are other technological upgrades to make the machine even sharper on the road.
Aesthetically, the new R8 has a sharper look. The designers make the center portion of the grille wider and incorporate angular uprights to separate the corner intakes. At the back, a vent now extends across the entire tail, and the diffuser is far more prominent. Audi also revises the look in the engine bay by fitting a new three-piece cover that hides components like the air filter. The base R8 has high-gloss black trim on the exterior, and the R8 V10 Performance Quattro (the company’s new name for the R8 V10 Plus) has a matte titanium finish. High-gloss carbon fiber is an option for both models. In addition, there’s an optional carbon fiber-reinforced polymer front splitter that saves 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms).
The refreshed R8’s cabin is largely the same other than tweaked upholstery colors.
In the standard R8, the V10 now produces 562 horsepower (419 kilowatts) and 405.7 pound-feet (550 Newton-meters) of torque, which is a boost of 30 hp (22 kW) and 7.4 lb-ft (10 Nm) over the previous version. The updated powerplant gets the coupe to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 3.4 seconds or 3.5 seconds for the convertible. The hardtop can achieve a top speed of 201.3 mph (324kph) or 200.1 mph (322 kph) for the droptop.
The Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro, and its 5.2-liter V10 now makes 612 hp (456 kW) and 427.8 lb-ft (580 Nm) – an increase of 9 hp (7 kW) and 14.75 lb-ft (20 Nm). The more potent powerplant gets the coupe to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds or 3.2 seconds for the Spyder. In addition, the hardtop can reach 205.7 mph (331 kph) or 204.4 mph (329 kph) for the convertible.
The engineers also tweak the R8’s suspension tech. For example, the drive select dynamic handling system has more distinct separations between the drive modes, and there are three new settings for the R8 V10 Performance Quattro: dry, wet, and snow. Revisions to the stability control programming also let the top model brake to a stop from 62 mph in 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) less distance and 16.4 feet (5 meters) shorter from 124 mph (200 kph).
The updated R8 will go on sale in Europe in the first quarter of 2019.
Source: Read Full Article