Automobile : The surprising Audi R8
Audi’s first sports car with a central engine proves itself as a worthy heir to models bearing the same name which shone in the 24 Hours event in Le Mans from 2000 to 2004.
Audi’s first sports car with a central engine proves itself as a worthy heir to models bearing the same name which shone in the 24 Hours event in Le Mans from 2000 to 2004.
When you first see it, compact is the first word that springs to mind. This lovely sports car gives the immediate impression that it is ready to roar off. It has the perfect proportions of a high-flying sports car. Its passenger compartment advances to the fore and its longitudinal engine is located just behind the driver’s seat. The R8 offers a wonderful design alternating concave and convex lines for inimitable allure. Just take a look at its LED headlight rims at the front, grouped together beneath a clear glass cover and arranged as a prolongation of the upper air intakes. Furthermore, one can’t help admiring its transparent engine hood. The indirect lighting of the engine compartment comes as an option, making it look like a jeweller’s showcase. The passenger compartment has retained the spirit of a competition car.
The steering wheel with its straight design at the bottom is typically Audi, very sporty : the instrument panel is harmoniously incorporated above the central console, which veers slightly towards the driver. Also available as options, the bucket seats have been designed for this model by Quattro GmbH (the standard version is Alcantara leather). Beneath the bonnet, the Audi R8 demonstrates power worthy of a racing car. Its 8-cylinder 420hp engine provides maximum traction in all driving situations. It has no electronic limiter, but sprints up to over 300 km per hour. It is fast and nervous, though it can also be supple and pleasant to drive, especially with the Audi Magnetic Ride (also fitted as an option). Thanks to this system, each driving situation is met with just the right level of vibration damping, guaranteeing maximum comfort for the driver and constant dynamism for the car itself. By means of sensors, a computer determines the driving situation in a few thousandths of a second, transferring its data into the system.
The driver can choose from two programmes, very racy or very comfortable driving. In its standard version, the R8 is fitted with stylish 18-inch wheels with six spokes (19-inch as an option). Add 235/40 tyres at the front, 285/35 tyres at the rear, and you’ll understand why the car’s road-holding is close on exceptional and why it responds so perfectly to the slightest request from its driver. Finally, the distribution of torque between the two axles varies from 0 to 100 % which momentarily allows for total propulsion. Qualities for race-track professionals which should not be misused on the open road.
BMW X5 in figures :
Length : 4,43 m
Width : 1,90 m
Height : 1,25 m
Weight : 1560 kg
Wheelbase : 2,65 m
Case : 100 l
From 0 to 100 km/h : 4,6 s
Top speed : 301 km/h
Average fuel consumption : 11,4 l/100 km
Co2 : 326 g/km
Price : from 106.900 €
