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MOTORING NEWS - The Audi R8 is the fastest and most powerful production Audi ever built, designed for maximum dynamism in all of its technical aspects - from its Audi Space Frame (ASF) to its aerodynamics and newly developed quattro all-wheel drive.
The naturally-aspirated V10 mid-engine guarantees tremendous performance, especially in the V10 Plus version sporting 449kW.
The Audi R8 is available with two engine derivatives - with 397kW for the R8 V10 and 449kW for the R8 V10 plus. Their maximum engine torque - 540Nm and 560Nm respectively - is available at 6 500rpm for both engines. Compared to the previous model, power has increased considerably, and the responsiveness of the high-revving (up to 8 700rpm), naturally aspirated 5,2-litre engine is now even more spontaneous.
Like a race car engine, the V10 engine has dry sump lubrication. Its characteristic sound is now even fuller, with an optional sports exhaust system also available to order.
The new V10 engine was given effective efficiency technologies such as the cylinder on demand system, which shuts off one row of cylinders under low load conditions. Another is dual injection, which injects the fuel into the combustion chambers and induction manifold according to demand. When the driver takes the foot off the accelerator pedal at speeds over 55km, the new R8 goes into a coasting mode. When the car comes to a stop, a start-stop system deactivates the V10 engine.
Audi claim the V10 does from 0 to 100km in just 3,5 seconds, with a top speed of 320km. For the V10 plus, the fastest production Audi to date, the figures are 3,2 seconds and 330km and it takes just 9,9 seconds to sprint from 0 to 200km.
Positioned behind the V10 is a seven-speed Stronic that executes lightning-fast gear shifts by electrical control (shift-by-wire). The dual-clutch transmission directs forces to a newly designed quattro drive system with an electro-hydraulically activated multi-plate clutch at the front axle. It has active water cooling for maximum performance. The clutch distributes drive torque fully variably according to the driving situation - up to 100% can be directed to either the front or rear wheels.
Management of the clutch is integrated in the Audi drive select dynamic driving system, and it gives the driver a choice between the basic modes: comfort, auto, dynamic and individual. On the R8 V10 plus (and as an option for the V10), the performance mode comes with three additional modes: dry, wet and snow. They adapt key handling parameters to the friction coefficient of the road surface. A mechanical rear differential lock is standard; its locking values were newly tuned to work together with the actively controlled quattro drive.
On the V10 plus, the suspension tuning is very sporty and electronically controlled shock absorbers (Audi magnetic ride) are available as an option in both engine versions.
The new electromechanical power steering system can be replaced by dynamic steering, which adapts its steering gear ratio to the vehicle's driving speed. In both engine versions, the new Audi R8 has standard 19" wheels and 20" wheels with size 245/30 tyres in front and 305/30 at the rear available as an option. In the top model, brake disks are made of carbon-fibre ceramic (optional on the R8 V10).
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