Audi R8 2014 News

For the first time Audi Australia has launched a driver education programme open to the public that could have everybody from the P-plater to the would-be Le Mans Series legend smacking their lips. The Audi Drive Experience covers all standards of driving from beginning with the Basic Driving Experience aimed at sharpening skills behind the wheel, testing drivers’ and the cars’ limits. The Advanced Driving Experience takes place at higher speeds, where advanced exercises place emphasis on car control. The Performance Driving Experience takes knowledge and skills from the advanced course to a higher level. The Sportscar Experience uses one-on-one coaching to read track conditions and use techniques employed by professional race drivers in Audi’s RS 5 and R8 5.2 FSI quattro. The ultimate, of course, is the Race Experience – the only one held outside Germany - which takes place at Phillip Island with one-on-one coaching in the Audi R8 LMS, plus full performance analysis.         Topping off the list is the Ice Experience, a two-day slip and slide around New Zealand’s southern alps. Under the tutelage of a team of 11 hand-picked experts, led by TV presenter, race driver and engineer Steve Pizzati, clients are taken through a full day of training - a morning of theory and manoeuvres, and an afternoon on the track smoothing out driving technique. The motoring media were given a sampler at Phillip Island GP circuit, one of six tracks in each state and territory but the Northern Territory to be the venues for the five-tier course aimed at improving the standard of all levels of driving ability. Using a range of Audis from a $6.8 million line-up of vehicles totalling 9246 horsepower, including the A1 Sport, Q models, flagship A8, S4, RS5, TT RS and the R8 V10 supercar, the scribes were introduced to units from the course which included dealing with skidding in the wet, rapid lane changing and the most effective use of ABS when turning under heavy braking. The hardest part for the experienced steerers was being encouraged to ignore driving rules and do the wrong thing in an emergency, then using the vehicle’s hi-tech safety features to right matters. Afternoon track time was taken to the accompaniment of intermittent sun showers which kept everyone focused on proceedings.  While serious, it was a lot of fun. Audi has a history of driving education programmes, beginning with the quattro experience in 1980, closely followed by the ice experience a year later. Nineteen ninety-seven saw the invitation-only driving experience come online. Now there’s the Audi driving experience 2012 for anyone prepared to lay down the dollars. Prices range from $750 for the Advanced Experience to $5990 for the full-on LMS R8 race experience. Beginning in July, all can all be booked online through a dedicated Audi site. Not that the goodwill is all one way, Audi is using the drive experience as a branding exercise and a bid for sales of its high-tech, super-safe product. Smart move.  

The Toyota Prius is up against the Volkswagen Polo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class in final voting for the world's most prestigious car prize. The three finalists are named today at the Geneva Motor Show in the second-last stage of WCOTY voting.The winner will be announced in New York on April 1.The WCOTY contest is decided by 59 jurors from 25 countries through two secret ballots. Apart from the main prize, there are awards for performance cars, green cars, and automotive design.The three final contenders for the 2010 World Performance Car award are the Audi R8 V10, Ferrari California and Porsche 911 GT3.The three finalists for the World Green Car award are the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and the Volkswagen BlueMotion (Golf, Passat, Polo).

At the recent Frankfurt motor show, the German carmaker unveiled the drop-top Spyder, the electric e-Tron - and a chromed show car, just in case the stand needed any more bling. And now spy photographers Carparazzi have caught what is rumoured to be a version aimed at its lightweight Lamborghini stablemates. The stripped-out R8 snapped while testing at the Nurburgring is said to carry the same 5.2-litre V10 as the coupe, but with power boosted from the donor's 391kW. However there's no word of whether it will be given a toque lift as well. However with the lighter weight and even a little power, it promises blistering performance, with the 0-100km/h notch possibly being reached in the mid threes, while top speed could be around 340km/h. The pared-down pacer is tipped to be around 50kg lighter, and have only manual transmission delivering the outputs to the more dynamic rear-wheel drive. Exterior changes are said to be minimal, with likely some more spoiler kit and flaps on the front and sides, plus the huge wing shown in these images, which also reveal the rear diffuser has grown. Our contacts in Europe say the car will probably be unveiled at the Essen motor show next month and be on sale in the first quarter of 2010. For more spy shots of the Audi R8 Clubsport and more Carparazzi scoops, visit carsguide.com.au

The Lords of the Four Rings are expected to signal the start of an electric future with the unveiling of an electric R8 at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show. Confirmation of a high-end electric concept for the show, if not directly for an R8, came from Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the board of management for Audi AG, during his visit to Sydney for the opening of the $50 million Audi Terminal company headquarters. "If you go back to the past all major new technology was introduced top down," Schwarzenbauer says. "I have a hard time understanding that the only discussion about electric cars is about small cars, understanding what the business case would be. "If you look around, a current battery package costs roughly 12-15,000 Euros. So if you take a smaller car that is also 12-15,000 Euros then you are effectively doubling the price of the car just by putting the battery in. I don't know how environmental you have to be to be convinced to pay double to drive electric." Schwarzenbauer says Audi believes that by adding the cost of the electric technology to a car that is at the top of the range makes it easier to assimilate the cost of the batteries without buyer resistance and effectively takes away the need for heavy government subsidies. "I think the electric car technology has to be introduced like all other technologies in the world, top down," he says. "I am not confirming it will be R8 but it will be at the top end and something very sporty that we are going to show at the upcoming Frankfurt show." Schwarzenbauer also quickly dismissed suggestions that any work Audi did on electric models would flow to others in the conglomerate such as VW, Porsche or Seat. "What we are showing in Frankfurt is for the Audi brand ... I am sure also that Volkswagen has something based around electric in Frankfurt but it is not my business to say what." One area that Audi does not see as the end game is hybrid technology, according to Schwarzenbauer. "Hybrid is a technology you have to get engaged in, not because you think it is a solution but because it is a step towards fully electric driving," he says. "If you are looking at only fuel consumption then you see that in Australia some of our competitors have one model offering as a hybrid. We have 21 models in the Australian market with a fuel consumption below 7L/100km." Schwarzenbauer says that at times the value and potential of more mainstream and traditional engine technology is lost in the rush to discover and write about things that are new and considered exciting. "I think sometimes that it is more interesting to write about the new technology, about hybrids, but the facts are different. The facts are that not one hybrid can really achieve what we can today with a modern TDi (turbo diesel injection) engine. "But of course in public perception that is old technology and people do not perceive how modern today's diesel engine is." He says that there is potential for further savings in economy and emissions in both diesel and petrol internal combustion engines. "That is why we have committed ourselves to reduce fuel consumption by another 20 per cent by 2012."

That Audi R8 is an evil car, it turns out.

Funny Audi R8 commercial from december 2008.

 Audi Sport is for those who just want a car for the track or team owners who want to go racing in the GT3 series. The powerful 372kW plus GT3 version of the Audi R8 will be available next year. Audi Motorsport boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich said Audi had been “inundated” with inquiries about an R8 race version since the car was released. “With the Audi R8 we will offer customers a racing sportscar equipped with high-calibre technology and the typical Audi qualities, but which is nevertheless easy to handle,” he said. The Audi R8 conforms to the production-based GT3 regulations, allowing the car to be fielded in numerous national and international race series. Because the GT3 regulations prohibit the use of four-wheel-drive, the Audi R8 comes with the typical GT rear-wheel-drive. The power is transmitted via a newly developed six-speed sequential sports gearbox. The suspension is almost entirely built with components from the production line. The list of safety equipment guarantees the highest level of passive safety. A modified front end and a large rear wing generate the required downforce for the racetrack. The Audi R8, which bears the project name “R16”, was developed under the direction of Audi Sport. The first prototype has completed a roll-out in the hands of Audi factory driver Frank Biela. The first test races in various European racing series are scheduled for the 2009 season.  

The Audi R8 supercar could have a muscular 372kW six-litre V12 twin-turbo diesel under its glass bonnet.

With a car so meticulously designed and engineered for light weight; why would they expend extra poundage and materials in creating the cavity; making it larger than the 309kW/430Nm 4.2-litre V8 powerplant it carries? The obvious answer is that another engine is on the way, and we could start salivating about the possibility of it being a thumping V10; sourced from stablemate Lamborghini. However Audi is not about to confirm that. But the R8’s former head of technical development, and now head of vehicle dynamics, Dirk Isgen; who is understandably proud of the mid-engine beast can’t bring himself to deny a higher-powered version could be on the way. “I can’t say we’re not thinking bigger,” he grins. “There is some investigation going on, but nothing has been definitely decided.” However his estimation of the car’s potential suggests that the plan all along has been to introduce a bigger engine if the car is a success. “The car is capable and the engine bay is large enough,” Isgen says. “There would be no structural changes necessary. And any transmission changes (to cope with bigger wads of torque) would be easy. The gearbox has some potential.” While Isgen won’t confirm straight out whether a second engine would have more pots or simply more capacity and power, his hint of “not a couple more cylinders” suggests it’s the latter, which rules out the Lambo 10. And he is also ruling out the foreseeable future; developing a road version of the diesel engine that took the R8’s racing parent to glory in the Le-Mans 24 Hour. “At the moment this is not really a question for Audi,” Isgen says. “Diesel is very important for Audi in passenger cars. “But I think a lot of sports car drivers are not ready to accept a diesel engine. However this will change if customers’ minds change. We could think about it then, but it’s not on Audi’s agenda now.” Okay then. Let’s shelve that idea if we have to. And in the meantime we’ll be happy to just settle for the bigger petrol engine.

There were a handful of hybrids, and a few fuel cell techno treats, but all the real action was just what you would expect in the style-conscious French capital: fast and flashy.Diesel was very big, and there is a lot more to come for Australia, but the headliners at the show were cars that proved there is life in the automobile for many years yet.Audi finally had its R8 supercar ready for the road and then announced it would be coming out to Sydney for the Australian International Motor Show this month.The Mini was bigger, Volkswagen previewed its born-again Scirocco coupe, and Australia tipped in with the outrageous Chevrolet WTCC Ultra, which points directly to the next Holden Viva hatch.Toyota had a thinly disguised and underwhelming new Corolla that looked like a fluffed-up Yaris, Renault finally got into four-wheel drives with its Koleos and previewed the next baby Twingo. Suzuki showed the car it will make in India.Ferrari pulled crowds with the Pininfarina P4/5 custom supercar, as did Alfa Romeo with its 8c Competizione, which will quickly become a hero car for Italy."Europe is still into premium cars," says Michael Simcoe, the Australian design guru who is now based in Detroit with General Motors."All the brands are looking to move up because that's where you get your profit. People are all about being noticed here, so the fuel price doesn't matter."Simcoe had a solid take on Paris, the last serious overseas international show of 2006."This show is growing. GM's presence here is much better than ever before, with a real effort to understand Europe. And it, like all shows around the world, is seeing a lot more non-European stuff. It says a lot about the way the international market is developing."So, too, is the growing emphasis on diesel hero cars, which are driving the economy end of the business in Europe and will soon be making much more of an impact at the top end.But the Audi R8 and the Alfa 8c, which both looked great and are seen as threats to Ferrari and Porsche, were up in lights with old-fashioned petrol power. The Alfa boasts 313kW and a 0-100km/h time that should be in the sub-five second range. The Audi R8 is much more than just another concept car.It, like the Alfa, is a genuine road runner.It is a full-on two-seater with a 309kW, 4.2-litre engine that also punches out 430Nm of torque. The performance numbers are simple and brutal: top speed of 301km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.6 seconds.There is no news yet on price or delivery dates for Australia, but the R8 should be coming and will stick out in a crowd with its radical body — and the latest use of Audi's confronting frontal treatment.The other production heroes included, surprisingly, the chunky Dodge Nitro and Jeep Commando, which drew plenty of interest to the Americans, the vital new Volvo C30 compact and even the sporty Honda Civic Type R, still only a maybe for Australia.Nissan had the X-Trail based Qashqai that is likely Down Under, but there was no sign of the all-new Smart fortwo, even though Paris is packed with the funky little city runabouts.And then there were the concepts.Ford previewed the adventurous new Mondeo, which should be top of the shopping list for Ford Australia thanks to some of the best design work yet from the blue oval brand. What it does do is point to design elements in the new Falcon, due in 2008.Ford Australia's Sinead McAlary says: "Kinetic design is, if you like, the new global DNA of Ford and elements of it will be evident in the Falcon. That is not to say you are going to see a grille like that on a Falcon but there will be recognisable design language."Citroen was outrageous with its C-Metisse, while Renault tested the water for a rear-drive flagship with its Nepta, while pushing towards showrooms with the Koleos and Twingo, and Peugeot went racy with its 980RC.The Volkswagen Iroc is the template for the return of the Scirocco coupe, and looked brilliant with Kermit-green bodywork. Australians will also see production versions of the Hyundai Arnejs concept, which will be the next Accent, and Kia Cee'd twins — hatch and wagon — before long.Paris also featured lots of Chinese cars. Most looked like early South Korean work, or straight rip-offs of existing models, but demonstrated that the world's fastest growing car brands are looking for international expansion. At least one local importer — Ateco, run by Neville Crichton — took a very close look.