The car features a high-end damper technology as standard: Audi magnetic ride adapts the characteristics of the suspension in milliseconds to the nature of the road surface and to the driving style. Suspended in the oil of the shock absorbers are tiny magnetic particles which, when a voltage is applied, rearrange themselves so as to slow down the flow of oil through the valves.

In the R8 V10, deceleration is provided by an extremely muscular braking system – eight brake pistons at the front and four at the rear grasp the brake disks, which are ventilated and perforated to ensure unimpeded heat transfer. The brake disks on the front axle have a diameter of 380 millimeters (15 in); the rear discs span 356 millimeters (14 in).

The R8 5.2 FSI quattro is optionally available with a ceramic brake system whose disks are made of a composite material containing high-strength carbon fibers and abrasion-resistant silicon carbide. These are especially light: their combined weight is nine kilograms (19.84 lb) less than the weight of equivalent steel disks. The ceramic brakes can easily cope with the harsher requirements of racing, won't corrode, and have a typical service life of 300,000 kilometers (186,400 miles). Their calipers are painted charcoal gray and emblazoned with the inscription "Audi ceramic".

Typically Audi: Sharp lines and an elegantly curved roof

The wide, full shape of the R8 5.2 FSI quattro seems to hug the road. The brawny proportions and prominent wheel wells underscore its potential. The high-precision styling of the lines and the elegant curve of the roof are typical Audi features. A continuous contour optically connects the front, the wheel wells, the sides and the rear. Located well forward, the cab visually expresses the mid-engine design. The vertical air scoops (sideblades) on the sides are also indicative of the engine location. The massive aluminum gas cap is mounted flush within the right sideblade.

The design of the Audi R8 has already impressed experts, as evidenced by the double victory in the "World Car of the Year Awards 2008". In the ten-cylinder model, the styling has been sharpened up even more.

The front air inlets, which feed air to the coolers, and the lip of the front apron are painted in high-gloss black. The number of cross-braces has been reduced from four to two. The vanes of the single-frame grille have a striking chrome finish.


A very distinctive highlight of the R8 V10 are the all-LED headlights as standard equipment. Audi is the world's first automaker to use LEDs for the high beam, low beam, daytime running lights, and turn signals. Each headlight integrates 54 of these high-tech light sources. With a color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin the LED light closely resembles daylight, which is less tiring to the eyes in night driving. Further advantages of the LEDs include brilliant illumination, low energy consumption, and a virtually unlimited service life.

Special details also distinguish the body of the R8 V10. Its sideblades are more accentuated than in the eight-cylinder version. The side sills are more striking and wider; the exhaust grilles at the rear windows have a matt aluminum look. Through the large rear window, the ten-cylinder engine is clearly visible in its consummate technical beauty.

When in motion, this Audi high-performance sports car creates a downforce that keeps it in firm contact with the road – thanks to a rear spoiler which deploys automatically at 100 km/h and the fully enclosed underbody, which terminates in a sharply upward-curved diffuser. The dominant color at the rear end is high-gloss black, including the settings of the LED tail lights. The air outlets at the rear end also have only two cross-braces, and the exhaust system terminates in two large oval tailpipes.

Audi sets the example – in body weight and rigidity

The body of a sports car must be especially lightweight and rigid. Audi meets these requirements with the technology of the Audi Space Frame (ASF) and its high-tech aluminum construction. The body-in-white of the R8 V10, which includes an engine frame made of ultra-light magnesium, weighs only 210 kilograms (463 lb), and the quality of its lightweight design – the relation of weight to torsional rigidity – is the best in the sports car segment. The body is composed of profile extrusions, sheet aluminum and very complex gusset castings, all held together by 99 meters (325 ft) of welding seams, 782 rivets, and 308 special screws.

The interior of the R8 V10 provides a unique racing ambience at the luxury level. Its dominant element is the so-called monoposto – a wide arc that contains the steering wheel and the cockpit. As always in an Audi, the workmanship is of the highest quality. The surfaces of the dashboard and doors are lined with fine materials and adorned with precisely stitched decorative seams. Many customizing solutions are available: Audi supplies leather in a wide range of colors, packages with a carbon and piano-lacquer finish, or a made-to-measure luggage set. quattro GmbH, which has developed and is producing the R8 V10, also provides solutions for unconventional requirements.

The great everyday utility of the Audi R8 V10 is based in part on its spacious interior made possible by the long wheelbase of 2.65 meters (8.69 ft). Drivers and passengers of any size will always find a perfect sitting position. Visibility too is surprisingly good. Slender hinge pillars optimize the obliquely forward field of view. Another advantage for convenient everyday use is the luggage space: 100 liters (3.53 cu ft) fit under the front hood, another 90 liters (3.18 cu ft) can be stowed behind the seats. There is also room for two golf bags.

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro combines its colossal performance with a generous complement of standard equipment. Highlights include heatable seat covers made of Fine Nappa leather, a driver information system, the navigation system plus and the Bang & Olufsen sound system along with deluxe automatic air conditioning and an alarm system. The instruments and the gearshift knob are decorated with red rings; the footrests and the rocker switches of the R tronic have an aluminum finish.

The list of options includes other highly attractive features – such as the Audi parking system advanced with its integrated rearview camera or numerous Audi exclusive customization options. Various leather packages provide a luxurious touch, while the bucket seats from the Audi exclusive program bring a highly concentrated racing atmosphere into the R8 V10.

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro will be rolled out in Germany in the second quarter of 2009 at a basic price of EUR 142,400.

 

 

I like the crazy looking wheels. Car is so sexy! And then there's this:

YouTube - Audi R8 Driver Loses It At Virginia International Raceway

 

always a nice car



i would be that pissed too if i ruined that car.

seems like there are lots of video on youtube of this car crashing

 

no one knows how to drive it thats probably why. just cause you got the dough doesn't mean you can buy the skill.

this car is sexy.

 

nice~~~~ :)

 

Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI Quattro

Building the R8 has been one of the best decisions Audi has ever made. At launch, Audi had almost everything right. Indeed, avant-garde styling, light weight from an all-aluminum body and structure, and nearly perfect handling with a standard all-wheel-drive system all contribute to the car’s special nature. Alas, one thing was missing from the package: brute force.

It’s true that tuners such as MTM in Wettstetten, Germany, have squeezed extra power out of the R8’s standard 420-hp, 4.2-liter V-8, bringing it into supercar territory. But it has been a poorly kept secret for some time that Audi was planning its own, more-powerful version of the R8, with a V-10 installed behind the driver’s head. And now it has arrived.

Simple to Accomplish

Audi didn’t have to reengineer the car or even develop a new engine for the R8 5.2 FSI Quattro, as the new V-10 model is officially designated. This is the very engine launched in the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 last year, including the cylinder head. "The only difference lies in the intake and exhaust system, as well as the electronics," an Audi engineer told us at the launch of the R8 V-10 in Marbella, Spain. The engine is equipped with a dry-sump lubrication system, as well.

In deference to the Volkswagen Group's internal pecking order, the R8 V-10 is rated at 525 hp, 27 less than the Gallardo’s. It is also noticeably quieter than the super-loud Lambo, although it sacrifices little in the character department. The engine’s tone is unmistakable as being racing-bred, whereas the regular R8's V-8 timbre possesses less fullness.

Make Sure You Have a “Get Out of Jail Free” Card

In the Audi R8 V-8, you are standing on the gas all the time; the new V-10, on the other hand, teaches you to treat the fun pedal with a bit more respect. This car is wickedly quick, and if you don't watch the speedometer, you will be driving with one foot in jail most of the time.

Despite its all-wheel-drive system, the R8 behaves a lot like a rear-drive car. It sends almost all of its power to the rear wheels, with up to 30 percent of the power transmitted to the front wheels once wheelspin is detected. The weight distribution is about 44 percent in the front and 56 percent in the rear, and the bigger engine doesn't add much heft. At 569 pounds, the V-10 is just 68 pounds heavier than the V-8.

The limits of the R8 V-10 are extremely high. The ESP stability-control system has very little work to do even when you corner at insane speeds. The steering is precise and direct but not exceedingly aggressive. This car will stay neutral for a long time, and when it finally breaks loose, it doesn't bite like other mid- or rear-engined sports cars. Just don't stomp on the throttle clumsily.

Unless, that is, you plan to use the V-10's launch control system. When driving an R8 equipped with the optional six-speed R tronic automated manual, the launch control procedure is thus: Turn the ESP off, push the transmission's Sport button, put the car into gear, step on the brake with your left foot, and floor it. The engine settles in at a nice 5000 rpm. Lift off the brake pedal and hang on. (You even get launch control with the six-speed manual transmission. Remove the Sport button bit, and substitute dropping the clutch for standing on the brakes, and the method is the same.)

The V-10 is more powerful and serves up more torque (391 lb-ft versus 317 lb-ft for the V-8), and it also revs to an 8700-rpm redline versus the V-8's 8400 rpm. Audi claims that 0 to 62 mph comes up in 3.9 seconds versus the factory's conservative 4.5-second figure for the V-8. (The original R8 has reached 60 mph as quickly as 4.0 seconds in our tests.) Top speed climbs from 187 mph to 196 mph. As a comparison, our tests show the Gallardo LP560-4 covering 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of 202 mph.

To shift gears using the R tronic, you have a choice of paddles on the steering wheel or using the gearlever, which is maddeningly backward with its push-forward upshifts and pull-back downshifts. Instead, you could just stick with the manual gearbox, which is operated through a beautiful open gate. It's so easy to match the revs when downshifting, and the shifter makes such a beautiful clack-clack sound, that we wouldn't miss the R tronic for a second.

Double-Clutch Fun? No. Ceramic Brakes? Maybe.

Why doesn't Audi have a dual-clutch transmission? The R8’s sales volume is too small, and there is no transmission on the market that would fit the car, making development prohibitively expensive. But with BMW, Porsche, and even Ford gravitating toward the new technology, Audi might reconsider, especially since VW and Audi actually pioneered the widespread use of the technology in cars such as the GTI and TT.

Europeans get to choose between fine-performing regular brakes and optional ceramic stoppers. The ceramics virtually eliminate fade and are so aggressive that you won't ever forget you paid €8820—$11,000—for them. It’s not clear whether they will be offered here.

Still Livable, Still Beautiful

Even with all this performance, the R8 V-10 won't exhaust you on long trips. Driver and passenger travel in great comfort, and there is ample storage space in the front trunk and behind the seats. The standard driver-adjustable magnetic shocks let you choose a sporty or more comfortable setup. The standard seats are wide and comfortable. There are also body-contoured sport seats with adjustable width, but they likely won’t be offered in the U.S. The center console and the dashboard make liberal use of TT parts, but the TT has one of the best interiors in its class, and the R8's still shines above the competition. V-10 models get red trim around the main instruments.

You might need to be an Audi aficionado to notice the changes to the exterior. The areas around the front and rear air intakes and vents are now painted black, the side skirts and the rear diffuser are altered, the rear lights are darker, and the trademark side blades behind the doors are wider to suck in more air. The V-10 also gets specific 19-inch wheels with a futuristic and edgy 10-spoke design.

Full LED headlights, which are optional on the European R8 V-8, are standard on the V-10. Disappointingly, neither the standard xenon headlights of the V-8 nor the LED units provide swiveling or cornering lights. Audi says the LEDs are the quickest high-beams on the market, for whatever that’s worth. But even though flashing to pass is not considered good etiquette in Europe anymore, these ultraquick LEDs come in handy when you are perhaps in too much of a hurry to consider the feelings of those moving roadblocks ahead of you. Unfortunately, the super-cool LED strips that serve as rear turn signals won't make it across the pond, as they are too thin for U.S. regulations.

Audi has built more than 10,000 R8s in just two years, and the plant that assembles the car in Neckarsulm, Germany, is running at capacity. The V-10 cures the V-8’s single problem—its relative lack of power versus other supercars.

In fact, Audi is so confident about its new top dog that it has priced the R8 5.2 FSI a proud €35,000 ($44,750) above the 4.2. We believe that the V-10 will cost about $150,000 in the U.S. when it appears in the fourth quarter of 2009. That’s not an insignificant chunk of change, but what’s an extra dash of brutality worth these days, anyway?

----Source: C&D

 

 

we have two of these on our showroom floor.very beautiful cars indeed.

 

LOL @ someone driving a sick car like that listening to KISS FM!!!!

 

Audi announces U.S. 2010 model-year prices for its Audi R8 sports cars, including the V10-powered R8 5.2 FSI quattro

* Base MSRP on the all-new Audi R8 V10 model starts at $146,000
* Strong interest in the Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro drives early shipment to certified Audi R8 dealerships this week
* MSRP on the V8-powered Audi R8 4.2 FSI quattro models remain unchanged from 2009 model-year pricing

Audi today announced that the U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the highly anticipated 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro V10 sports car will start at $146,000, with shipments to authorized Audi R8 dealerships across the country beginning this week.

Audi said the MSRP for the 2010 Audi R8 4.2 FSI quattro will start at $114,200, unchanged from the base prices for 2009 models:

2010 R8 5.2 FSI® quattro® (V10) pricing (excluding $1,200 destination charge, taxes, title, options and dealer charges):

R8 5.2 FSI quattro coupe (manual) $146,000
R8 5.2 FSI quattro coupe (R tronic) $155,100

2010 R8 4.2 FSI® quattro® (V8) pricing (excluding $1,200 destination charge, taxes, title, options and dealer charges):
R8 4.2 FSI quattro coupe (manual) $114,200
R8 4.2 FSI quattro coupe (R tronic) $123,300

The addition of the R8 V10 adds new levels of power to a sports car already renowned for delivering premium comfort uncommon in its class without performance compromises. The 10-cylinder 525 hp engine is the same power plant found in the R8 LMS GT3 racecar and is capable of delivering breathtaking performance. The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro delivers 391 lb-ft of torque and achieves a 0-60 mph time of just 3.7 seconds.

Anticipation has been building for the U.S. introduction of the R8 V10. Today, the first two 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro models available in the U.S. were delivered to the two winning bidders from the 2009 Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance charity auction held in February to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Fla. The two winning bids raised a combined $850,000 for the charity, with the top bidder paying a record $500,000 for the new 2010 R8 V10, the highest amount ever paid for a new Audi vehicle in the U.S.

Since its U.S. launch in September 2007, demand has remained strong for the V8-powered R8 4.2 FSI quattro featuring 420 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The hand-assembled R8 V10, developed by the Audi high-performance division, quattro GmbH, receives unique exterior features as standard equipment. Chief among these: innovative full-LED headlights, a world’s first. The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro also receives new 19-inch Y-design forged aluminum alloy wheels with summer performance tires, sideblades with larger air intakes, front grille with chrome-optic accents, unique rocker panel shaping, dual oval rear exhaust tips, “V10” front fender badges and instrument cluster labeling, unique front and rear sections along with a larger rear diffuser all finished in high-gloss black.

Other R8 5.2 FSI quattro standard equipment highlights include rear-biased quattro all-wheel drive, Audi magnetic ride, Audi Navigation plus with 3D graphics and real time traffic, 465-watt Bang & Olufsen Sound System®, 6-disc CD changer, Bluetooth® telephone preparation, SIRIUS satellite radio®, Audi parking system plus with rearview camera and 10-way power heated sport seats. Sepang Blue pearl effect will be offered as an optional R8 V10 exclusive exterior color.

“The R8 is a proven worldwide success story for Audi,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “The positive effects of the vehicle on dealers, customers, and Audi fans alike have exceeded all expectations. The addition of the V10-powered R8 5.2 FSI quattro adds further equity into the already sought-after R8 nameplate and the Audi brand.”

The R8 is one of four Audi models currently built with the revolutionary ASF® chassis, a technology that Audi has mastered in more than a decade of experience. ASF is customized by model, including its application with the A8 and TT Coupe and Roadster models. The framework of an ASF body consists of extruded aluminum sections and pressure castings. The aluminum chassis and sheet metal are just as strong as steel, but lighter to boost performance and efficiency. This frame carries the sheet aluminum elements, for example the roof panel, which are rigidly connected to it and help to withstand loads on the body. The elements of ASF are varied in shape and cross-section, depending on the tasks they have to perform. Like the bones of a human skeleton, they combine optimal function with low weight. The ASF application on the Audi R8 offers extremely high torsional rigidity, light weight and high strength for optimal performance characteristics.

All R8 models are produced in Neckarsulm, Baden Württemberg, Germany along with the aluminum A8 model. Audi is continuing to shape the future in lightweight design and elsewhere too. Inaugurated in 1994, the Aluminum and Lightweight Design Center in Neckarsulm, Germany employs more than 120 specialists to work on new joining techniques, body structures, materials and construction techniques. They also look into the use of high-strength and ultra-high-strength grades of steel. In the area of fiber composites, Audi also acts as an innovative pioneer and trend-setter by leveraging its significant racetrack experience and success to test advanced component concepts under extreme conditions prior to implementation on its road vehicles.

Audi expects to release 2010 pricing and model year changes for the remainder of its lineup within the next few weeks.

 

AT,... no care.

 

Great car I'm sure but I still prefer the V8 more.

Autocar did one of their comprehensive road tests on the R8 V10 recently. They mentioned the V8 version is the better drive, although the V10 is the proper supercar.

Maybe the R8 never really needed more power...