The Audi R8 is the German automaker’s current top of the line model based on the Le Mans Quattro concept car. Thanks to lightweight aluminum construction the mid engine super car weighed in at under 3,500 lbs when it was introduced in 2006. The original 4.2 Liter FSI V8 powered car made 420 HP and 320 lb-ft of torque sprinting the four wheel drive dream machine from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.4 sec, through the quarter mile in 12.8 sec at 113.2 MPH and up to 187 MPH while an updated version will offer a Lamborghini 5.2 Liter V10 making 520 HP and 390 lb-ft of thrust and gets to the 60 MPH mark in only 3.9 seconds and all the way up to 196.4 MPH. The road car is named after the LMP1 endurance race car that won the ALMS title from 2000 thru 2006 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2000 until 2005 only to be beaten in 2003 by a closed roof version from VW family member, the Bentley Speed 8.
Five-time Le Mans veteran and AudiWerks driver, Emanuele Pirro, has been with Audi long enough - 1994, to be straight - to know how the creative minds in the company work. So it really didn’t surprise him when Audi gave birth to the R8 supercar, which later on spawned the R8 GT, arguably the most powerful car to ever roll out of Ingolstadt.
In the second episode of the four-part Audi R8 GT Week series, Pirro talks about the design and overall make-up of the supercar. "I remember when we were shown the mock-up of the car, we were speechless because we couldn’t believe the car looked so beautiful," he said.
But more than just its striking good looks, Pirro also noted that the overall set-up of the car added up to a machine that packed more than just eye-catching aesthetics. It was proportioned really well, it had a good aerodynamic package, and the understatement effect of having that new rear spoiler on the R8 GT contributed to the car having better downforce.
Watch the video to see Pirro talk about the R8 GT in his own words.
The R8 GT is a car that Audi is obviously very proud of, and rightfully so because it’s one menacing beast. About 180 lbs lighter than the R8 V10 and carrying a 5.2-liter V10 engine that produces 560 horsepower, the R8 GT is the grand daddy of all R8 models. For their part, Audi is promoting the supercar with a week-long run of promo videos that it has amusingly called "R8 GT Week". Obviously, these guys must be huge fans of Shark Week.
The first part of this series features 5-Time Le Mans Champion and AudiWerks driver, Emanuele Pirro, giving us his thoughts on the uber powerful German supercar.
If there ever was an authority on Audi supercars, you won’t find a better one that Emanuele Pirro. He’s been front and center when it comes to testing new Audi models and his opinions on the R8 GT drive home the point that this 560-horsepower monster is the top-of-the-mountain as far as Audi performance vehicles are concerned.
Check out the video to watch Part 1 of Audi’s ’R8 GT Week.’
By almost anyone’s standards, Audi’s R8 with the Lamborghini-derived 5.2-liter V-10 is a fast car. The engine puts out some 525 horsepower and 391 ft-lb. of torque, which is enough to get the R8 V-10 Coupe from zero to sixty in 3.7 seconds, or 3.9 seconds for the R8 V-10 Spyder. Top speed on the coupe is said to be 196 miles per hour, which is annoyingly-close-but-just-shy-of 200 miles per hour. If you’re lucky enough to own either version of Audi’s 5.2-liter equipped R8, it’s easy to understand why you’d want to make it just a little bit faster.
Enter Heffner Performance, a tuner with a significant history of making Audis, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Ford GTs, and Dodge Vipers faster, yet still docile enough to drive on the street. Their latest bolt-on package for Audi’s V-10 R8s - the Twin Turbo "bolt on" system with twin Garrett GT35R turbochargers at 6 psi - will get you 725 horsepower at the wheels, on 93 octane pump gas. That’s an increase of 200 horsepower from stock, yet the car retains its sophisticated, grand-touring demeanor.
In this episode, Adam Corolla (comedian and car enthusiast), Dan Neil (automotive columnist for The Wall Street Journal), John Salley (4-time NBA Champion and actor), and Matt Farah (SmokingTire.com) take part in a number of segments that made us laugh at loud, literally. Mixed in with the good times and "Lambo-quality comedy," the guys take part in a test comparing the automated driving versus actual driving in a 2007 BMW 328i sedan, a comparison of the Audi R8 and the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, and an interview with racing legend, Pete Brock.
The fun doesn’t stop there as the boys go through their 0-60 and Adam’s America segments, as well as a trip to North Carolina for some dirt track racing.
Hit the jump for details on The Car Show: Season 1 Episode Three.
Anytime you have an Audi R8 V10, then you already have a car that’s as imposing and powerful as any sports car on the streets. But once you add an Akrapovic exhaust set-up, then, well, all bets are off.
The Slovenian tuning firm and specialists in the science of exhaust systems has released a new package that not only gives the R8 V10 a new exhaust set-up, but a corresponding power increase to go with it. The new titanium Slip-On exhaust system comes with carbon tail pipes with an optional wireless kit to give the driver the option of controlling the sound of the exhaust for either street or track use. The exhaust not only reduces the R8’s overall weight by 16kg (35 lbs), but also bumps up the output of the car’s 5.2-liter V10 engine from the standard 525 horsepower and 391 lb/ft of torque to 536 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 403 lb/ft of torque at 5,000 rpm.
The result might not be all that much given the number of tuning packages already in existence for the R8 V10, but anytime a car that already has 525 ponies under its hood get some added output, it’s still something that’s going to attract its share of customers.
