Last month Audi launched their re-worked sports spearhead, the R8, in Rimini on the Italian Riviera
The new car doesn’t get just Audi’s trademark LED headlamps and tail-lamp; as a matter of fact, there are a lot of changes under the skin.
The car has been put on a crash-course diet, as a result of which it has lost 50 kg. This weight-saving was achieved from a lighter set of alloy wheels, the insulating material in the bulkhead between the engine compartment and the cabin. The ceramic brakes, the newly developed running gear, the front splitter and the rear diffuser have also contributed to the weight reduction along with the new FRP bucket seats. The most important one being the forged aluminium wishbone, making the suspension lighter and reducing the unsprung weight.
The location for the launch of the new R8 was perfect as you could let off all your steam on the Misano racetrack before heading out to drive along the coastline with the roof down.
The road leading to the paddock has been named after the late Daijaro Katho, former 250-cc motorcycle world champion, and the Misano Circuit has been named after Marco Simoncelli, another 250-cc world champion.
As we were waiting for some of the other journalist to finish driving the R8, we got an opportunity to do a couple of laps in the race-prepared LMS R8 with the Audi works driver, Markus Winlelhock. He gave us a bit of a scare as he exited the very narrow pit lane at full clip. The two laps with Markus were quiet demanding on the body as a lot of G-force was generated not only while acceleration and braking, but also laterally and that is thanks to the racing suspension and tyres.
The minute you slide into the Nappa leather seat, you are surrounded by luxury; in fact, the quality of the interior makes it feel more like a luxury car than a sports car.
Thanks to the modified engine management, now the V10 motor produces 550 BHP and 540 Nm of torque and this engine is mated to a new seven-speed S tronic gearbox with dual clutch and the power is put on to the road via the four-wheel drive quattro system. When you floor the throttle, you are greeted by a rush of acceleration that pushes you right back into the seat. The exhaust sound from the high-revving engine will make your hair stand on end.
Most of the weight loss has come from the light alloy wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes and this reduces the unsprung weight and that improves the handling to a great extent. In the ‘Sport’ mode the suspension stiffens up and the steering becomes direct and weighs up nicely with excellent feedback, so you can put the car where you want. The handling is very sharp and the steering is not heavy and, at the same time, it gives excellent feedback. The carbon brakes provide phenomenal braking power with a good feel.
On the road under normal driving conditions with the car in the ‘Comfort’ mode the steering becomes less direct and the suspension softens up. The road surface in Rimini is more or less like that in India and the R8 took it in its stride without rattling our bones. The ride quality was good for a sports car.
The R8 is a supercar that can give breathtaking performance when you want and, at the same time, you can drive it around town like a luxury sedan.
The R8 is a supercar that can give breathtaking performance when you want and, at the same time, you can drive it around town like a luxury sedan
Story: Aspi Bhathena
Photography: Audi
