Audi’s R8 promises to pamper its customers almost as fast as it can accelerate to 100km/h. But if you haven’t already paid a deposit you’ll have to wait until 2009 to park an Audi R8 in the driveway.
The sleek two-seater R8 coupe sells for a hefty $259,900 and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds. But the R8 already has people queuing for the privilege. Just 20 R8s will be made each day, with only 80 destined for Australia in 2008.
That makes the R8 the fastest, most desirable Audi ever and elevates the R8 into the realms of more established supercars from Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Aston Martin.
As well as speed, style and plenty of substance, the Audi R8 brings a few surprises for those already waiting up to 15 months for the first mid-engined, all-wheel drive coupe from Audi.
All R8 customers get the mobile phone number of Audi Australia managing director Joerg Hofmann, part of the personalised service. Having placed a deposit on an Audi R8, they get a welcome booklet with more details on their car.
Later in the waiting process R8 customers receive an aluminium booklet with more details and an update on the progress of their car. Closer to the arrival date of the car, each customer gets some prints of the original sketches of the car, each personally signed by Audi design boss Walter de’Silva.
It’s all part of Audi’s ambitious plan to take on more established supercar players with a brand that also competes in the lower end of the prestige market.
Hofmann says one of the R8’s attractions is that it’s the freshest supercar on the market.
“Whoever buys an R8 can be guaranteed they have the latest product,” says Hofmann. “About 70-75 per cent of our sales are conquest; we have people stepping out of Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati and BMW 6-Series.”
Key to the appeal of the Audi R8 is its sleek, futuristic styling. Based on the Audi Le Mans concept car, the R8 boasts a distinctive coupe silhouette, topped off with the prominent side blades that dominate the profile.
A more traditional Audi grille is flanked by sleek headlights while the rear has a purposefully stout appearance with four exhaust pipes hinting to what lurks beneath.
The engine in the Audi R8 is a 4.2-litre V8 (the same used in the Audi RS4), which means there is 309kW of power and 430Nm of torque. The engine’s performance appeal lies in its high-revving ability. The V8 strives to 8250rpm before an electronic limiter halts proceedings.
Combined with the relatively lightweight (1560kg) body, the R8 accelerates to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds. It keeps going until it reaches a top speed of 301km/h, well above the self-imposed 250km/h limit applied to all other Audis – and most German performance cars.
Power for the Audi R8 is sent to all four wheels via Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. However, the Quattro set-up has been tweaked specifically for the R8, sending the majority of drive to the rear wheels between 10 and 35 per cent to the front wheels, depending on conditions. Think of it as Audi’s way of instilling a performance-oriented, rear-drive bias into an all-wheel drive vehicle.
The R8 is a one-model-fits-all – albeit with a bunch of options – apart from the choice of a regular six-speed manual gearbox ($259,900) or a six-speed sequential automatic, which Audi calls R-Tronic (a $15,000 premium, for a total of $274,900).
Like other Audis (and Volkswagens) the R-Tronic transmission has two clutches. One clutch selects first, third and fifth gears while the other looks after second, fourth and sixth. The idea is that the first clutch is driving, the second clutch has already pre-selected the next gear, ensuring a super-fast gear change.
The R-Tronic transmission also comes with a Formula One-style launch control, whereby it will automatically engage drive for a vicious take-off that makes the most of the Quattro system.
Equipment levels are generous, as you’d expect for the near-$300,000 ask. All R8s come with an alarm, trip computer, reversing camera, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning, cruise control, leather trim and a six-stack CD player.
There’s an adaptive damping system, brighter xenon headlights, airbags front and side and a stability control system to catch a slide. Attention to detail is also high, with aluminium pedals and silver inlays sprucing up the already high quality interior.
The Audi R8 sits on 19-inch alloy wheels.
While there’s only one basic R8 model – with the choice of two transmissions – Audi is offering plenty of options to ensure no two R8s are identical.
A “carbon sigma” engine cover, for example, can jazz up the engine bay for a cool $7850. Fine Nappa leather is just $5300 extra, or you can option for the extended leather (covering everything from the dashboard to the door compartments) for $13,450.
For many owners, the Audi R8’s most important credential is its ability to take two golf clubs in the 90-litre storage area behind the occupants.
“It’s really important to be able to fit golf clubs (in the R8); it’s a global requirement (of Audi’s),” says Audi’s Joerg Hofmann.
Audi R8 4.2 FSi Quattro
Price: $259,900 (manual), $274,900 (automatic), plus on-road costs
Body: Mid-engine, two-seat coupe, aluminium space-frame construction
Engine: 4.2-litre V8
Power: 309kW at 7800rpm
Torque: 430Nm at 4500rpm
Maximum engine rpm: 8250rpm
Weight: 1560kg/1565kg (manual/auto)
Weight distribution: 44% (front), 56% (rear)
0-100km/h: 4.6 seconds
Top speed: 301km/h
Transmissions: 6-speed manual or 6-speed “R-Tronic” semi-automatic sequential
Wheels/tyres:
19 x 8.5-inch, 235/35 (front). 19 x 11-inch, 295/35 (rear)
