In Latin, the word “Audi” means to hear the other side. For roughly 100 years Audi has accepted its name as more than just a trademark, but also as a philosophy. The company actively studied aerodynamics after WWI, popularized four-wheel-drive passenger cars in 1980, and introduced Audi’s first mass-produced all-aluminum bodies in 1994. These innovations were the result of Audi listening to the other side and producing cars that reflected its customer's desires.
A well-known terror on the race track is the Audi R8. It spent seven seasons in professional sports car racing and practically mocked the competition with 61 wins out of 77 races through its campaign -- included among those victories are five 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now retired from motorsports, the R8 nameplate adorns Audi's first entry into the supercar world for late 2007. There’s no doubt that Audi is planning to replicate the racer's reputation.
the luxury ride
Based on the 2003 Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car, the R8 works hard to achieve the ideal balance between styling and German engineering.When you look at the car’s profile, you will see the curvature of the roof sink uninterrupted into the supercar's tail, which gives form to a masterful use of aluminum. In fact, the Audi R8’s entire body is designed to utilize aerodynamics for optimal vehicle performance. After that, the vehicle becomes a terrific high-powered machine.
At first glance, it’s very clear that the R8 craves air. The crisp front end wears Audi's single-frame grille, which is wedged between two air-induction ports that immediately calls attention to the mid-mounted engine. The air channels that run through the contours of the doors gain access to even more air via the sideblades, which are distinctive body panels between the doors and rear wheels that will sport colors that contrast with the rest of the R8's body color. Another unique style element is the complete use of LED headlights on the R8, which is the first production car to do so.
The R8's interior compliments and accentuates both racing inspiration and luxury style. Preferring to keep things simple, Audi has made sparse use of chrome trim and gave the driver easy access to simple buttons and knobs. The company also sat the driver in comfortable leather bucket seats and adorned the R8 with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.
The most inspiring element of the Audi R8 is the 420-horsepower, mid-engine V8, which provides all the muscle needed for the Autobahn. That 4.2-liter, naturally aspirated power is manipulated with either a six-speed manual or R tronic transmission, which it shares with the Lamborghini Gallardo (in addition to the layout and chassis). Shifting this beast to top speeds can be done either with the joystick or with the paddles located on the steering wheel. Audi has taken an extra step to make your dreams come true -- they have transferred racing technologies, such as the mid-engined configuration, the dry-sump oiling system and Audi's FSI Direct Injection Technology, from the R8 racer to the supercar. Returning to reality, the Audi R8 posts very real top speed times of 187 mph and a 0 to 62 time of 4.6 seconds, all through the famous Quattro four-wheel-drive system.
Unlike traditional sports cars, the R8 actually rides quite nicely. Providing comfort and stability to the driver, the Audi Magnetic Ride technology uses electromagnetic fields to actively adjust the special damper fluid in the shocks to give you the best ride on any road.
The shocks and the power aren’t the only elements of the R8 that make the ride pleasing to the driver. The cockpit is completely driver-oriented, fusing the dash, driver and center console into a single harmonious unit. Everything, including the angled instrument panel, the flat-bottomed steering wheel, the styling of the window sills, and the materials used, has been engineered with the driver in mind.
Adding to the luxury and the desirability of the R8 is the fact that Audi will only produce a maximum of 20 cars per day at a specialized Audi plant in Neckarsulm. This measure assures the supercar’s rarity and ensures that the Audi R8 will have a stellar build quality. It also helps justify the estimated $110,000 price tag.
The verdict
In a wonderful fusion of technology and luxury motoring, Audi proved in less than five seconds that they know how to build a supercar. A driver should feel firmly confident and cozy behind the wheel of a car that wants to take him anywhere he wants to go -- fast.Luxury Score: 39/50
the practical ride
The projected sub-$150,000 price could make this exotic ride a truly great bargain. In order to accomplish this, Audi turned to its sister company, Lamborghini, and integrated a modified Gallardo's chassis and transmission into the R8. Include Audi’s RS4 engine and the R8's serviceability may prove better than average for a limited-production, six-figure supercar. Sadly, unlike the racing R8, the road version does not feature the quick-change transmission that the racing team used to win at Le Mans.Inside this German street machine, the R8 welcomes 6'5" drivers and passengers into its understated interior. A sizable storage space behind the two luxurious bucket seats will accommodate small loads inside the cabin. Yet storage remains is one of the few negative points about the R8. Like many mid-engined cars, trunk space is not a keen selling feature on the Audi R8 -- there’s only 3.5 cubic feet of cargo space in the nose. Another negative point is the three-quarter blind spot caused by the small rear window, but at least the side mirrors provide good visibility. Then again, you’ll be going faster than anybody else on the road and shouldn’t need to shoulder check too much, especially with the aid of the easy-to-use navigation system.
One of the R8's practical features is the LED lights that allow you to see and be seen. When the beautiful Audi R8 is miserably submerged in darkness, the LED lights will illuminate the road better than any HID headlamps. LED lights also offer an extended life and run on less power than conventional lights.
Although the R8’s fuel consumption numbers have yet to be published, they probably won’t stray far from those of the 4.2 liter found in the RS4, which sees 14 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. If these numbers are maintained in the R8, it will actually be fairly outstanding for a two-seat supercar.
The verdict
This is quite a surprise. The Audi R8 is a fairly practical car with some usable cargo space. Producing and selling them at the price of a fairly equipped Porsche 911 will definitely get the Audi R8 noticed.Practical Score: 40/50
and the total is...
It’s difficult to believe that the R8 is Audi’s first venture into the exotic supercar market. Already a terrific high-speed machine with its 4.2-liter V8, there are rumors that Audi is looking at a TDI diesel engine for the future. The 2008 Audi R8 does a lot of things right; it offers an endless array of technologies, luxury comfort and high performance.79/100
Resources:http://autos.aol.com/
http://www.audi.com/audi/com/en2.html
http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2.html
http://www.caranddriver.com/previews/7880/audi-le-mans-quattro-concept.html
http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2007/01/22-audi-r8-design
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/audi_r8.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_R8_(road_car)
http://www.forbesautos.com/research/reviews/2008/audi/r8/test-drive_1.html
http://www.edmunds.com/
0 comments:
Publicar un comentario