The R8 is Audi's 1st mid-engine sports car.

Audi has incorporated the name and the genes of a five-time Le Mans winner, the Audi R8 prototype race car, into a spectacular production sports car.

Three years after unveiling the Audi Le Mans quattro concept car, the production version debuted at the 2006 Paris Motor Show as the new Audi R8 mid-engined sports model.

The Audi R8 is a fascinating driving machine and the sporty pinnacle of the Audi brand.

 

The midmounted 420 hp V8 FSI engine, quattro® permanent all-wheel drive and Audi Space Frame® aluminum body form the basis for truly outstanding driving dynamics.

Audi R8 Exterior

The Audi R8 sits wide and low on the road, with its strongly accentuated rear end appearing to flex its muscles like a sprinter ready to leave the starting block.

The proportions of the Audi R8 are dictated by the location of the engine behind the cockpit, where it's also found in race cars. One of the most striking examples of this design – and as such one of the legitimate antecedents of the Audi R8 – is the Auto Union Type C Grand Prix car.

The central position of the engine is a boon to driving dynamics, with a weight distribution, as on the R8, of 44 percent to the front and 56 percent to the rear.

The R8's body is highly compact in appearance.

The front end and the gently curved roof arc are drawn in a sweeping line that immediately marks the two-seater as an Audi.

The side view also reveals familiar contours.

The dynamic line above the wheel arches and the shoulder line interlink the front end, side and rear, imbue the doors and the transition to the side air vent with a strong presence, and even more emphatically highlight the typical Audi rounded wheel housings that accommodate the big wheels

 

The cabin of the Audi R8 is pushed far forward.

Behind the cabin, positioned in front of the rear axle, is the V8 FSI engine, a sculptured piece of engineering visible both through the large, shield-shaped rear window and from inside the car.

The Audi R8 measures 75 inches wide by 174.5 inches long and 49.3 inches high a 104.3-inch wheelbase.

Behind the doors, a large-surface 'sideblade' air deflector sweeps between the wheel arch and the roof section, delivering air for the V8 to breathe as well as for cooling.

The paint finish of the sideblades is contrasted with the body color, or it can be ordered to match the body color.

The front end is characterized by the trapezoidal styling of the Audi single-frame grille, flanked on the right and left by additional large-dimensioned air intakes.

For the first time, the Audi four-ring badge is positioned on the hood, above the grille. The LED daytime running lights, with their clear-glass covers, join flush to the tops of the air intakes.

Two large-format diffuser openings in the rear bumper illustrate how the R8's styling is dictated by aerodynamics. The two pairs of circular twin exhaust tailpipes sit at the right and left above the diffuser openings.

The rear spoiler deploys automatically.

It provides additional downforce to boost the suction effect produced by the aerodynamic styling of the underbody and by the diffusers. When traveling at lower speeds, the R8's rear spoiler automatically retracts flush with the body.

The full aluminum body uses the Audi Space Frame (ASF) design. Its perfect synthesis of minimal weight and maximum rigidity provides the ideal foundation for optimum driving dynamics and an outstanding weight-to-power ratio of just 8.6 lbs./hp.

Audi R8 Interior

The interior is based on a driver-oriented cockpit architecture called "Monoposto" that positions the driver between the dashboard and the high center console. The instrument panel above the console is angled slightly towards the driver.

Form follows function throughout the Audi R8. The driver-oriented architecture also is reflected in the styling of the side window sills. The styling and placement of all elements in the cockpit of this driving machine mimic the R8 race car. They are focused on the essentials that make the driver the center point.

The combination of aesthetics and ergonomic considerations is maintained in the colors used and the overall ambience they create. Dark hues reflect the emphasis on engineering and are again reminiscent of the motorsport world. Professional functionality and ergonomic styling are enhanced by the visible presence of top-quality materials and exceptional craftsmanship.

The sports seats are trimmed as standard in a sporty Leather/Alcantara combination, or optionally in full leather. There is plenty of room for the two occupants, with comfort levels well beyond the norm of high-performance sports cars. There is space behind the seats to stow large bags, or even two golf bags. The luggage compartment at the front has a capacity of approximately 3.5 cu. ft.

Audi R8 Drivetrain

In the high-revving 420 hp eight-cylinder engine, the evolution of FSI gasoline direct injection technology has reached new heights. This is the same technology that also has enjoyed many triumphs in the Audi R8 race car.

These figures illustrate the outstanding potential of the eight-cylinder unit: at 7,800 rpm the 4.2-liter engine delivers 420 hp of power output; peak torque is 317 ft. lbs. from 4,500 to 6,000 rpm; no less than 90 percent of this maximum torque is maintained consistently throughout a wide range of engine speeds from 3,500 to 7,600 rpm. As a result of these qualities, the eight-cylinder power unit provides maximum thrust in virtually any driving situation.

The Audi R8 accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 187 mph.

The engine is a high-revving unit with a maximum engine speed of 8,250 rpm. The results are superior power output at high engine speeds and a smooth, responsiveness across the revs range.

The R8's dry sump lubrication – another technology that flows directly from motor racing – provides the ideal basis for maximum longitudinal and lateral acceleration. It allows the V8 to be positioned lower, thereby lowering the center of gravity and further enhancing driving dynamics.

Two transmissions are available: a manual six-speed gearbox or the Audi R tronic sequential-shift gearbox.

'Shift by wire' technology provides for very fast gear-shifting and an outstanding power-to- weight ratio, allied to compact gearbox dimensions.

The R8 is fitted with permanent all-wheel drive, which distributes the power variably to the front and rear axles by way of a viscous clutch. On the Audi R8, the quattro system is adapted to the axle load distribution typical of mid-engined cars.

Audi R8 Chassis

The Audi R8 chassis features forged aluminum double wishbones at the front and rear. At the front they are triangulated, while at the rear the top one is triangulated and the bottom one is a triangulated wishbone with a track rod. This provides for optimum wheel control, and it is a geometry that has proved itself to be the ideal solution for delivering agility, maximum steering precision and precisely defined self-steering characteristics. Direct, hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering provides optimum feedback to assist the driver.

The spring and damper setup is stiff in order to deliver maximum driving dynamics, while still providing an astonishing level of ride comfort. The shock absorbers employ an innovative technology. Instead of conventional damper fluid, they use a magnetorheological fluid. This is a fluid whose viscosity can be influenced by an electromagnetic field, thereby enabling the damping characteristic to be influenced electronically at will and instantaneously by applying a voltage to the electromagnets.

Audi magnetic ride uses this property to deliver the correct damping forces in every driving situation, thus optimizing ride comfort and driving dynamics. A computer equipped with sensor technology determines the prevailing driving situation in a matter of milliseconds. Drivers can choose between two driving programs, depending on whether they want to drive in a highly sporty style – with the magnetorheological fluid adjusted to a low viscosity – or with the emphasis more on ride comfort.

The Audi R8 is fitted with split five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels. The 235/35 size performance tires at the front and 295/30 tires at the rear provide the necessary roadholding. This tire configuration also ensures that this mid-engined sports car always is able to translate the dynamism of its drivetrain and chassis into optimum grip and maximum lateral dynamics.

Audi R8 Dimensions

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