| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 Audi R8 V8 CoupeThe Audi R8 was first launched back in 2007 and even though it has remained successful throughout its many years on the market, Audi has just released an update for the entire R8 line-up before its new generation is debuted in 2015. The new R8 went on sale in Europe at the end of 2012, while American customers had to wait a little bit longer. The biggest change for the new Audi R8 V8 has been made under the hood where the V8 engine has been tricked to deliver an extra 10 horsepower over the previous version. There is also a new 7-speed S tronic gearbox. Exterior updates are minimal and include a new front bumper and single-frame grille. UPDATE 04/11/2013: Audi USA announced today prices for the revised R8 set to go on sale today, April 11th, 2013. Prices for the base R8 version start at $114,900 and go up to $179,645 for the R8 V10 Plus equipped with the S-tronic gearbox. Full prices after the jump. UPDATE 05/10/2013: Audi has unveiled a new video revealing how the facelifted R8 is being "handcrafted" at the company’s factory in Neckarsulm. Enjoy! Full story 2012 Audi R8 V10 by APR TunedUS-based tuning company, APR Tuned, has produced a modest performance upgrade for the Audi R8 V10 that allows it to be more competitive than its R8 V10 big brother, the R8 GT. In order to do this, the tuner from Alabama tweaked the German supercar’s ECU unit in a variety of levels for different fuel quality to give it that added juice. Stage One, as the video above previews, gives the R8 V10 an increased output of 559 horsepower at 7,950 rpm and 411 lb/ft of torque when the car carries 91 octane fuel. Should you be using 93 octane fuel, that output rises to a tidy 583 horsepower at 7,850 rpm and 431 lb/ft of torque. An impressive improvement, to say the least. Especially when you consider that the standard R8 V10 is capable of "only" 526 horsepower at 7,750 rpm and 395 lb/ft of torque. The program, it appears, is still under development, but like we said, APR Tuned has released a video of the Stage One ECU program to give us an idea of what’s in store.
2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder "Triade Bianco" by Wheelsandmore 
German tuner Wheelsandmore is back, and they’re returning with yet another impressive tuning program. This time for the limited-run Audi R8 GT Spyder. Since the German super car is only limited to 333 units, the fact that it gets its own tuning program ramps up the exclusivity to a whole new level. The whole onus of the program was to make the R8 GT Spyder lighter and more powerful, a task that’s easier said than done. In order to accomplish it, Wheelsandmore prepared a special performance package that includes a lighter stainless steel exhaust system with remote-able valve flaps that’s 40% lighter than the standard equipment. Add that to special carbon-frame air filters and a reprogrammed ECU that nets a new output of 620 horsepower and 435 lb/ft of torque, and you have an R8 GT Spyder that’s even more special than the rest of its special edition brethren. Suspension was also an important part of the program. In this case, Wheelsandmore fitted the German super car with the latest state-of-the-art motorsports technology from KW-Automotive within the LCS (level-control-system) hydraulic lift up system. There’s also a remote control switch that provides an additional road clearance of +40mm and a separate and independently adjustable rebound- and compression damping, giving the owner free reign over his super car’s suspension set-up. Finally, there are the handcrafted 3-piece ultralight forged 6Sporz² wheels that can be customized and finished according to the customer’s whims. The wheels are then wrapped in a set of Continental Sport Contact 5P tires. Audi R8 e-tron becomes fastest electric vehicle around the NurburgringEven though the Audi R8 e-tron hasn’t officially been launched yet, it is already a world record breaker. With a lap time of 8:09.099 minutes, the R8 e-tron has just become the fastest production vehicle with an electric drive system around the Nurburgring. The car was driven to success by racing driver Markus Winkelhock. The R8 e-tron is powered by electric motors that deliver an output of 375 HP and a peak torque of 604 lbs-ft. The electric car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 124 mph (electronically limited). To achieve the record-setting lap, the electronic speed limiter was removed so that the top speed could go up to 155 mph. "The R8 e-tron has given a magnificent demonstration of its potential on the toughest race track in the world," said Michael Dick, Audi AG Board Member for Technical Development. Dick, who completed a fast lap himself in the R8 e-tron, added: "The record-setting drive confirmed that we are on the right track. To us, electric mobility has never been about sacrifice, but rather is about emotion, sportiness and driving pleasure." The Audi R8 e-tron will grace the market with its presence by the end of 2012. 2012 Audi R8 Collection Sport by Graf Weckerle
Ever since the Audi R8 first made us fall in love with it some years ago, it has been one of our favorite super cars. So much so, in fact, that we never get tired of seeing a tuning company perform some aftermarket modifications on it. The latest to do is German tuner Graf Weckerle who recently unveiled their new Collection Sport program for the venerable German supercar. Comprising of aesthetic and performance upgrades, Graf Weckerle gave the R8 the kind of aftermarket love it’s been known for. For starters, the R8 was finished with a new color scheme - a two-tone anthracite shade - and fitted with Graf Weckerle brand logos on the side blade. On top of that, the German tuner also added a fully adjustable aluminum coilover suspension and a new set of lightweight multi-piece Graf Weckerle Collection Sport Forged Wheels that have been dressed in a special high-gloss black coating with the wheel discs polished to a brilliant finish. Under the hood of the R8, Graf Weckele went and gave the Audi super car’s 4.2-liter FSI engine a reprogrammed ECU, as well as a new handmade stainless steel exhaust system with exhaust flaps. All told, these mechanical enhancements paved the way for the R8 to produce an output of 455 horsepower, an increase from the standard model’s 420-horsepower output.
2012 Audi R8 V10 by Racing One
We’ve seen plenty of tuning programs done on the Audi R8 V10 super car. Today, we add another one to that collection. This program comes courtesy of German motors sports service provider, Racing One, who gave the German supercar a whole lot of new race-ready modifications, highlighted, of course, by a remapped ECU that netted 610 horsepower. That’s up from the 525 horsepower output from the standard model. Interior modifications were also done on the car, particularly the addition of bucket seats with six-point belts, braces, and even a fire extinguisher. Mechanically, Racing One adapted a running gear that comes with two-way MDS dampers from Bilstein Motorsport. There are also brake pads from Performance Friction Brakes, and a titanium, naturally flip-controlled exhaust system made by the authority in exhaust systems, Akrapovic. All told, the program will cost more than just a pretty penny for a lot of interested buyers. If you want this installed on your R8, prepare to shell out €26,000, which is around $33,000 based on current exchange rates.
Video: Audi R8 Facelift spied in actionJust like all of the other models in Audi’s line-up, the R8 is also about to receive a facelift version to revitalize the line. The new model is set to make its world debut in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, but it was recently caught testing around the famous Nurburgring race track. The Audi R8 will feature redesigned front and rear bumpers and revised grille and headlamps, plus new taillights with repositioned LEDs. Audi also promised that important changes will be made under the hood: the 5.2 liter V10 engine will be tuned to deliver 533 HP, up from today’s 518 HP, and will be combined with a new seven-speed dual clutch S-tronic gearbox. Let us know what you think of the facelift version of the Audi R8 in the comments section below.
Video: Audi R8 GT Spyder tested at SilverstoneWith only 333 units being produced, not many of us will have the chance to drive the Audi R8 GT Spyder, but British magazine AutoExpress managed to get their hands on the sports roadster and put it under extreme testings at the Silverstone race track. Did they think the GT Spyder was worth the extra $50K a potential customer would have to spend to buy it? Check out the video to get the answer to this question and make sure to let us know what you think about it! As a reminder, the R8 GT Spyder is powered by a 5.2 liter V10 engine that delivers a total of 560 HP and 398 lbs-ft of torque. This amount of power is enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and up to a top speed of 196.97 mph. 2012 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro by XXX-Performance
When it comes to tuning the Audi R8, it’s the V8 version that gets most of the attention. Generally, this is because tuners try to update it to the same power level as the V10 version. This time, however, German tuner XXX Performance took on the challenge of working on the R8 5.2 V10 FSI and provided a complete upgrade package. The exterior of the Audi R8 V10 by XXX is special in its own right because it’s not every day you have the chance to see a green R8. The tuner combined a real eye-catching bilious green with a carbon foil finish on the side blades and the exterior rear-view mirrors, while the front grille and the headlamps were painted in black. Next, the tuner added a new set of 20" Oxigin 14-Oxrock rims that are fitted with foils to match the bodywork. The new wheels also come with an H&R coilover kit that allows a massive lowering of the vehicle. The interior has been wrapped in fine Alcantara and real leather in a carbon fiber look with white seams. The best part of the upgrade is the power upgrade provided to the sports car. XXX Performance opted to optimize the engine software and added a BMC carbon air-box as well as a high-end sports exhaust system with Bluetooth flap control system. The result is an amazing 650 HP - up from the standard 525 HP.
Video: Audi R8 GT ParadeAudi only built 666 units (strange number, no?) for their Audi R8 GT Coupe and Spyder versions, so the chance of seeing one on the street is pretty rare. The chance of seeing a parade of them is even slimmer, if not impossible. Then again, if you went to the Nurburgring 24 Hours race where Audi pushed its way to incredible results, you would have seen this aforementioned parade before the race even took place. Talk about some positive energy fueling the racers! As a reminder, both versions are powered by the same 5.2 liter V10 engine that delivers a total of 560 HP and 398 lbs-ft of torque. The R8 GT Spyder will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, while the R8 GT Coupe makes the sprint in 3.6 seconds. Top speeds are 196.97 mph and 198.8 mph, respectively.
| Audi R8 tuning:Find us on Facebook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|