There are two power outputs available, gone are
the previous V8 configurations, now it is V10 option
with 540bhp or a staggering 610bhp. Gone also
is the option of a manual gearbox,the purists may
raise their eyebrows in horror but the 7-speed
Stronic is an absolute delight. A new development
of the all-wheel drive system with a variable torque
control has been incorporated to enable the huge
amount of power to be delivered both effortlessly
and with rewarding feature for the driver.
The cockpit has retained a lot of its familiarity, new
equipment has been introduced in to the vehicle
including what Audi describe as a virtual cockpit.
Audi connect and more importantly in my opinion
front and rear park assist is now available.
The engines have a direct fuel system with on
demand technology, considering the out and
out power aspect of this vehicle Audi have
succeeded in introducing a more mundane stop/
start system more usually found on economy, city
vehicles.
The new vehicle in its V10 610bhp format is the
fastest most powerful Audi ever produced, with
a 0 - 60 of marginally over 3 seconds and an
astoundingly obscene 205 mph top speed, this
really is a vehicle in the pure sports car derivative.
I cannot find sufficient superlatives or adjectives to
describe, you are cocooned within the vehicle in
figure hugging seats. Visibility isn’t too bad forward,
to the rear it is somewhat limited by the huge V10
engine, but it is not totally over intimidating.
The virtual cockpit display in front of the steering
wheel and built in to the dashboard is controlled
entirely by buttons on the steering wheel or you
can utilise Audi’s well known rotary disc facility
on the console, you can even activate a sport
exhaust system, from the steering wheel, although
the V10 engine in itself is a cacophony of sound to
a petrol head’s ear. Even non-motoring enthusiasts
have to be impressed by the raucous noise when
you first start it up by pressing the ubiquitous red
start button.
The R8 is a vehicle that despite its huge power and
high amount of torque has an engine that likes to
be revved and the driver and passenger for that
matter are then rewarded by the concerto of
sound from the huge exhausts.
I suppose some people will miss having a manual
gearbox but having once driven the twin clutch
derivative it is so user friendly in all situations that
I believe they will appreciate what Audi have
offered.
Overtakes and acceleration were done with less
than a blink of an eye, overtake opportunities
which you would not dream of in normal
conventional car could be done and contained
within a very short period of road and when you
look through the wonderful 19” alloys and glimpse
the size of the disc brakes you see that not only
is this a huge performance car but one that is
capable of bringing the car and driver to a stop .
With its 4-wheel system that can send up to 100%
of the torque to either axle this gives reassurance
at most driving situations unless you are foolhardy
and attempt to defy the law of physics.
It is worth a mention that people who buy an
Audi R8 are not really purchasing one to be a user
friendly trip to the shops or the golf club, it has a
small amount of carrying capacity in the frontal
area and a slight amount of space beneath the
seats but that is about all, this car is more about
appearance, performance and style.
It would be remiss not to mention the CO2 figure
which is given as 272 for the lesser powered V10
and 287 for the higher powered version, the 610
bhp,but this is really academic, if you can afford
an R8 you are not going to be worried by high
CO2 or excise duty.
Fuel consumption figures are quoted at 23mpg,
in a spectacular test route that Audi had set out
for those fortunate journalists who have been
allowed to test drive the first batch of UK spec
cars, in a multitude of driving settings which
encouraged high speed gallops as well as small
local towns, the computer suggested that 18mpg
figure had been achieved. A little down from the
23mpg that Audi projected for the 621bhp version
but certainly for this type of vehicle totally and
completely acceptable. I remember many years
ago a particular motorcycle that I owned was
only capable of doing 12mpg, so for a vehicle of
the R8 size, poise and style, I would find 18-20mpg
perfectly acceptable.
The hard part for those of us mere mortals is the
price structure, the 540bhp, which would be more
than enough for any normal person, will cost
£119,500
on the road. The bigger beast of 610bhp will set
you back
£134,500,
but if you then look at that very nice Audi
specification brochure, you will find that very
quickly your particular derivative as in the case of
my test vehicle nearer
£150,000
than the list price.
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