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So we have seen pics of this roadster floating around as well as a concept of similar propotions from VW, it now seems that Audi, may just put this baby roadster into production.
Could this be the car that finally cements Audi’s reputation as the world’s greatest sports car manufacturer?
Not content with shaking up the automotive order among the likes of the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage with its stunning R8, the company is now planning a new mid-engined model to take on the Porsche Boxster and Mercedes SLK.
The high-performance two-seater cabriolet is codenamed R2, and is being developed with VW. Audi’s sister firm is also believed to be putting the finishing touches to a production version of the BlueSport concept car revealed at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show.
The mid-engined R2 gets an all-new chassis and suspension derived from the MkV VW Golf. A four-wheel-drive variant is also a possibility, using a development of the Golf R32’s Haldex system. Plus, there are rumours that a hybrid – with electric power driving the front wheels – is planned, to help Audi reduce the CO2 emissions of its range.
The engine line-up is certain to include a mix of 2.0-litre four cylinder and 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged petrol units. A diesel is under consideration, but it’s unlikely to be offered from launch. All models will offer a choice between six-speed manual and seven-ratio R tronic semi-automatic gearboxes.
Performance should be stunning, with power outputs ranging from 200bhp to a spectacular 380bhp. Top speed will be limited to 155mph, while the 0-60mph time is likely to drop below six seconds.
The R2 continues to develop Audi’s successful design theme as the tail-lamps of the new car will be sculpted to mimic the Q of its famous Quattro badge, just as they are on the R8.
A third rear brake light will sit above Audi’s badge, while the engine cover is to be kept free of aerodynamic extras. Instead, an underbody diffuser helps to improve the car’s stability at speed.
Inside, the high-quality cabin is likely to share much of its equipment with the BlueSport. That means an enormous touchscreen cabin control set-up, as well as lightweight sports seats.
In addition, a clever heating system inspired by the innovative ‘headscarf’ system offered in Mercedes’ SLK is integrated into the seatbacks.
The R2 also gets dramatic gaping side vents, designed to feed cold air to the powerplant, providing clues to the car’s mid-engine layout. Expect the baby R8 to be launched in 2012, with a starting price of around £30,000.
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340hp five-cylinder ‘under consideration’ for RS3.
Audi is considering putting the turbocharged five-cylinder unit from the TT-RS into the A3 hatchback, it has been reported. As yet there has been no RS3 but Audi seems keen to stretch the appeal of its top-line brand and this could include its smallest model.
Speaking with Dutch website Autovisie, Audi development boss Michael Dick said a new RS3 fitted with the five-cylinder turbocharged engine from the TT-RS was under serious consideration.
Output is expected to be the same 340hp and 332lb ft as the TT-RS, which could give the A3 sub-five second 0-60mph capability. However some reports suggest the engine would be de-tuned so as not to upset those who have shelled out £43,000 on the coupe.
Considering the S3 already costs almost £30K, though, the price of an RS3 would likely be in the region of £35K – making it one of the most expensive hatchbacks ever, bar a few homologation specials.
A five-cylinder for the car may be under consideration, according to Dick, but he gave no indication of whether an RS3 is confirmed.
More info from Worldcarfans:
According to a recent report, Michael Dick, a member of Audi’s board of management for technical development has stated that the company is considering building a new RS3.
Power would come from Audi’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine, with 340 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, which has launched on the recently unveiled TT-RS. Considering that the proposed RS3 would probably weight about as much as the TT-RS, a 0-62 mph time of around 4.6 seconds sounds reasonable as does the suggested 179 mph (288 km/h) top speed.
With the next generation A3 not scheduled to be unveiled until 2011, the possible launch of the RS3 is still several years away should the model be given the green light in the first place.
Discussion forum: http://www.vagfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=140
Source and article: Pistonheads and WorldCarfans
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• The new 5.2-liter, ten-cylinder engine puts out 525 hp
• Sprint to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, top speed 316 km/h
• High-performance sports car with striking design
Audi is launching the next variant of its top-of-the-line model. With the R8, the brand has established itself at the forefront of high-end sports cars from the very start – and now comes the R8 V10. Its 5.2-liter, ten-cylinder engine churns out 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, which makes for breathtaking performance. With superior Audi technologies such as quattro all-wheel drive, the lightweight aluminum body, the innovative all-LED headlights, and its striking design, the R8 V10 takes pole position against the competition.
The R8 V10 is the result of cumulative know-how from Audi’s string of Le Mans victories. Its naturally aspirated engine combines racing technology such as dry sump lubrication with FSI gasoline direct injection. The ten-cylinder design is the perfect synthesis for impressive top performance, mighty pulling power, and low weight. Starting in 2009, this engine will also prove its potential on the world’s racetracks – in the new R8 racing car Audi is developing for customer teams in conformance with the GT3 rules.
The V10 engine in the production sports car will be almost identical in construction to the one in the racing version. Its displacement is 5,204 cc, at 6,500 rpm it delivers 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, at 8,000 rpm its power tops out at 386 kW (525 hp).
The specific power output is 100.9 hp per liter of displacement – and each hp has to propel only 3.09 kilograms (6.91 lb) of weight, because the Audi R8 V10 in the version with the six-speed manual gearshift weighs only 1,620 kilograms (3571 lb). The engine accounts for 258 of these kilograms (569 lb) – that’s only 31 kilos (68 lb) more than the V8.
he Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro rockets from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.9 seconds. In the version with the sequentially shifting R tronic it reaches 200 km/h (124.27 mph) in another 8.1 seconds. Even then its propulsive power hardly lessens: it’s sufficient to reach a top speed of 316 km/h (196.35 mph). The immense force, the spontaneity and the thrust of the acceleration, plus the sound of the engine – all these impressions coalesce into a breathtaking sports car experience. The V10 plays a concert with growling bass tones and powerful high notes, which grows into a grandiose fortissimo as the engine revs up. This sonorous acceleration doesn’t reach its limit until 8,700 rpm.
The 5.2-liter powerplant uses direct injection according to the FSI principle developed by Audi. A common rail system injects the fuel into the combustion chambers with up to 120 bar of pressure. Direct injection reduces the susceptibility to knocking and provides a certain amount of cooling through the evaporation of the fuel, which in turn supports a high compression ratio of 12.5:1. This in turn contributes to superior performance and improves fuel economy. The R8 V10 with R tronic gets by on an average of 13.7 liters per 100 km (17.17 US mpg).
For maximum dynamics: low center of gravity engine
The technical refinements of the long-stroke ten-cylinder engine include dry sump lubrication, which allows the engine to be mounted low within the chassis. The wide cylinder angle of 90 degrees also makes for a low center of gravity. The crankcase is a high-strength aluminum-alloy casting produced in a complex process. The connecting rods are made of forged steel, the pistons of aluminum. The four camshafts are chain-driven and each is adjustable through 42 degrees. This provides great latitude in controlling the valve timing. In combination with the straight, flow-optimized ducts of the intake manifold, this improves the charge throughout the entire speed range.
The R8 5.2 FSI quattro has a six-speed transmission. A precise and smooth-shifting manual transmission comes as standard equipment. The sequential R tronic is available as an option. The high-tech gearshift conveys an authentic racing feel – with the rocker switches at the steering wheel and the short shifting times of usually less than one-tenth of a second. When the driver actuates the Launch Control program by pressing a button, the R8 V10 takes off in a vehement quick-start with electronically controlled tire slip – both with the R tronic and with the manual transmission.
A contributing factor to the wide lead in traction and driving safety of the Audi R8 V10 over the competition is quattro all-wheel drive – it’s the superior technology especially for a high-performance sports car. Four powered wheels get more grip than two. They enable the driver to step on the gas sooner when coming out of a curve. It’s not only the traction that benefits, but also the transverse dynamics and the stability.
44 to 56 percent – the ideal axle load distribution
The Audi R8 chassis offers both dynamic performance and astonishing levels of comfort on long distances. This high-performance sports car from Audi eagerly responds to any steering action with instant ease, achieves lateral acceleration of up to 1.2 g, and handles any situation with superb driving safety. Its mid-engine design provides an ideal axle load distribution of 44 to 56 percent.
The wheel suspensions on dual aluminum wishbones front and rear – a classic racing technology – are optimized for neutral self-steering characteristics. Even more than in the eight-cylinder R8, this setup is designed for maximum performance. 19-inch wheels equipped with tire pressure monitoring display are standard equipment. Their 10-spoke Y design is exclusive to the R8 V10. Tire sizes are 235/35 front and 295/30 rear.
Typically Audi: Sharp lines and an elegantly curved roof
The wide, full shape of the R8 5.2 FSI quattro seems to hug the road. The brawny proportions and prominent wheel wells underscore its potential. The high-precision styling of the lines and the elegant curve of the roof are typical Audi features. A continuous contour optically connects the front, the wheel wells, the sides and the rear. Located well forward, the cab visually expresses the mid-engine design. The vertical air scoops (sideblades) on the sides are also indicative of the engine location. The massive aluminum gas cap is mounted flush within the right sideblade.
The design of the Audi R8 has already impressed experts, as evidenced by the double victory in the “World Car of the Year Awards 2008”. In the ten-cylinder model, the styling has been sharpened up even more.
The front air inlets, which feed air to the coolers, and the lip of the front apron are painted in high-gloss black. The number of cross-braces has been reduced from four to two. The vanes of the single-frame grille have a striking chrome finish.
A very distinctive highlight of the R8 V10 are the all-LED headlights as standard equipment. Audi is the world’s first automaker to use LEDs for the high beam, low beam, daytime running lights, and turn signals. Each headlight integrates 54 of these high-tech light sources. With a color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin the LED light closely resembles daylight, which is less tiring to the eyes in night driving. Further advantages of the LEDs include brilliant illumination, low energy consumption, and a virtually unlimited service life.
Special details also distinguish the body of the R8 V10. Its sideblades are more accentuated than in the eight-cylinder version. The side sills are more striking and wider; the exhaust grilles at the rear windows have a matt aluminum look. Through the large rear window, the ten-cylinder engine is clearly visible in its consummate technical beauty.
When in motion, this Audi high-performance sports car creates a downforce that keeps it in firm contact with the road – thanks to a rear spoiler which deploys automatically at 100 km/h and the fully enclosed underbody, which terminates in a sharply upward-curved diffuser. The dominant color at the rear end is high-gloss black, including the settings of the LED tail lights. The air outlets at the rear end also have only two cross-braces, and the exhaust system terminates in two large oval tailpipes.
The great everyday utility of the Audi R8 V10 is based in part on its spacious interior made possible by the long wheelbase of 2.65 meters (8.69 ft). Drivers and passengers of any size will always find a perfect sitting position. Visibility too is surprisingly good. Slender hinge pillars optimize the obliquely forward field of view. Another advantage for convenient everyday use is the luggage space: 100 liters (3.53 cu ft) fit under the front hood, another 90 liters (3.18 cu ft) can be stowed behind the seats. There is also room for two golf bags.
The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro combines its colossal performance with a generous complement of standard equipment. Highlights include heatable seat covers made of Fine Nappa leather, a driver information system, the navigation system plus and the Bang & Olufsen sound system along with deluxe automatic air conditioning and an alarm system. The instruments and the gearshift knob are decorated with red rings; the footrests and the rocker switches of the R tronic have an aluminum finish.
The list of options includes other highly attractive features – such as the Audi parking system advanced with its integrated rearview camera or numerous Audi exclusive customization options. Various leather packages provide a luxurious touch, while the bucket seats from the Audi exclusive program bring a highly concentrated racing atmosphere into the R8 V10.
The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro will be rolled out in Germany in the second quarter of 2009 at a basic price of EUR 142,400.
]]>Audi is making possible limited advertising on ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts during Obama’s inauguration next Tuesday. They’re also doing an 8-page (!) “Progress is Beautiful” newspaper insert in the USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Boston Globe. They’re doing Web promotions such as bringing the inauguration speech live online as the exclusive sponsor of streaming broadcasts on ABCNews.com, CBSNews.com, Msnbc.com, and WashingtonPost.com. Finally, they will be buying full-day sponsorships of Slate.com and sole sponsorship of TheAtlantic.com on January 20th. All told, their web efforts should bring inaugural coverage to over 30 million individuals in real time.
So why is the decidedly Germanic Audi bending over backwards to paint itself red, white, and blue? Well, Audi had its best sales year to date in 2008, delivering over one million units worldwide in 2008. So they’ve got the money, and it would seem wise to do all they can to maintain momentum in a tough market. Second, it is Audi’s 100th Anniversary of automobile production. And third, it seems some savvy advertising and marketing folks at Audi saw quite a bit of synergy between Obama’s mantra of change and their own focus on progress. After all, their tagline is Vorsprung Durch Technik, or advancement/progress through technology.
If you’re a Wagoner, a Mulally, or a Nardelli, watching Audi spend big must be tough. Not only are they making a big media splash with the inauguration of Obama, but they are continuing the assault all year long, spending big on Super Bowl advertising and sponsorships, and featuring one Audi advancement per month to mark their 100th anniversary of building automobiles.
Said Johan de Nysschen, President of Audi America: “Throughout this year, Audi will explore what progress means to the American public and demonstrate how we define that concept. Regardless of political preferences, the inauguration represents a unique moment of progress. That’s why we wanted to share this experience and begin a conversation about innovation, technology and the path ahead.”
Nysschen proves himself an adept public speaker, delivering an address that is pointed and patriotic. “Later this year,” he continues, “Audi will officially mark its 100 years of innovation and progress in our field. As we begin this new year, never has public interesting in progress, in the environment, in innovation, and in the American Culture been as apt.” The address does a good job of painting Audi as a technological leader and quite pointedly states that Audi is “THE luxury automotive brand for these times.”
The address concludes with this assertion: “America is the land where anything is possible, even if it once was thought unattainable.” Audi is seeking what would seem unattainable, namely the re-emergence of the diesel engine as a viable mass-market powertrain that will bring high-efficiency and driving pleasure to the masses. They’re unleashing the Q7 3.0 TDI, the Q5 3.0 TDI, A4 3.0 TDI, and eventually the A3 2.0 TDI to the U.S., but at this juncture with both public opinion and emissions hurdles to overcome, it looks as though diesel passenger car engines face a climb about as steep as the face of K2. Then again, who would ever have thought that a junior Senator from Illinois would quickly rise to the highest office in the land?
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Audi improves on the iconic R8 models with their newly launched R8 V10 FSi. Showcased at this years Detroit Motorshow, this R8 is powered by a V10 motor derived from the Gallardo LP560-4. The R8 V10 pumps out 525hp and 391lb-ft-torque. They have gone and given the standard makeover with LED headlights, bigger wheels, wider arches. More aggressive but still keeping the R8 monicer.
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The Vario Plus Control Modules for the Audi A3 are luxury tuning parts that add support for different engine configurations and versions. They can add a lot of functionality to your dashboard display with features that allow you to view your battery voltage and oil temperature, see the time it takes to go from zero to sixty in real time and up to fifty other improvements and enhancements to existing functions and features. Sometimes the little things in life are those making a huge difference, such as allowing you to choose between two and six comfort blinks when making a turn for example. These little adjustments help to personalize your A3 driving experience and luxury car parts make the difference.
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