Thursday 27th September 2012
Paris 2012: Audi R8 updates
New transmission and a new 550hp flagship for Audi's R8
Remember when Audi's R8 was THE car? It's been shaded a bit over the last couple of years by a rush of high-profile, high-horsepower megacars, but it's still a fine machine that provides a brilliantly focused combination of performance and real-world usability.
A typically low-key 'facelift' from Audi
Nevertheless, it's a fast-moving market, so it's good to hear that Audi is giving the R8 some more ammunition to help it keep pace.
There's new design detailing (honest - Ed.) and all-LED lighting across the board, equipment upgrades for most models and a new, more powerful version of the V10 Coupé - the 550hp, 398lb ft V10 Plus.
The most significant range improvement is a new S tronic twin-clutch transmission delivering 'ultra rapid' shifts. This new seven-speed 'box, which also has a launch control function, replaces the R tronic automated manual option. It knocks 0.3 seconds off the 0-62 time for all three R8s (V8, V10 Coupe and V10 Spyder). The six-speed manual remains available on all UK versions.
The new V10 Plus, probably not pictured in Paris
The new V10 Plus is 25hp up on the standard V10. It's good for 0-62 in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 197mph in S tronic form. Braking is by ceramic discs. The other R8s in the range get new (and lighter) wave-design ventilated steel discs. UK V8s have 19-inch five-arm double-spoke wheels with 235/35 tyres at the front and 295/30 tyres at the rear. 'Standard' V10 models will have 19-inch ten-spoke 'Y' design wheel, while the R8 V10 Plus gets an exclusive 19-inch five-arm double-spoke wheel. High gloss or titanium look options are on offer, with an exclusive black gloss finish for the V10 Plus.
External changes include a new single-frame grille and bumper, which in the new V10 Plus coupe incorporates a CFRP front splitter. CFRP also appears in the V10 plus's outside mirror housings, diffuser, lateral air inlet 'side blades', and engine trims - the latter being LED-illuminated as standard in the V10 Plus.
Nifty 'sweeping' LED indicators across the range
All-LED headlights become standard on all R8s, complemented by strip-shaped daytime running lights up front and LED lights at the rear with nifty 'sweep' movement indicators. The cabin gets a comprehensive refresh too, with higher standard equipment levels, new R8 badges, gearshift paddles and instrument cluster, and greater use of Nappa leather.
First deliveries of the new R8s are expected in early 2013, at prices ranging from £91,575 to £127,575.
|
prg123
Original Poster
434 posts
33 months
|
Great looking car hasn't changed much which is a good thing as it shouldn't effect the depreciation of my car too much.
Good to see they are going to get twin clutch gearboxes.....
I'll get a V10 S-Tronic in blue when they come down to sensible ish second hand prices.
- Pete
|
|
|
rtz62
384 posts
25 months
|
To me this is like Honda fiddled with the original NSX - why mess with something that is so 'right'.
Ok, other manufacturers will launch or update their cars, that's the nature of motoring evolution, but the R8 didn't really need an update. Did it?
|
|
|
goron59
287 posts
41 months
|
It needed an update, if nothing else, to keep things fresh.
But I like that they haven't messed around with it too much either, as I feel no great urge to replace my current manual R8 V8.
I just hope that the software on the S-Tronic isn't as anaemic as the one they put in the TT-RS. I actually liked R-Tronic - it reminded you that you are still driving the car. Great they're keeping the manual option for UK peeps!
|
|
|
Ex Boy Racer
452 posts
62 months
|
Find this one a bit strange. If it needed to be updated, do the job properly. If it didn't, just leave it completely alone.
All a bit half-hearted to me.
|
|
|
stuckmojo
957 posts
58 months
|
Small changes which make it look slightly worse. For me.
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
VonSenger
1,065 posts
59 months
|
Ex Boy Racer said: Find this one a bit strange. If it needed to be updated, do the job properly. If it didn't, just leave it completely alone.
All a bit half-hearted to me. Profit maximisation. They are a business after all. I like my r-tronic, and as someone above said, it does give you the manual feeling but not enough to become monotonous.
|
|
|
toasty
3,289 posts
90 months
|
This obviously makes all early R8s completely redundant and so prices should drop below £30k.
Please.
|
|
|
SpeckledJim
6,426 posts
123 months
|
rtz62 said: To me this is like Honda fiddled with the original NSX - why mess with something that is so 'right'.
Ok, other manufacturers will launch or update their cars, that's the nature of motoring evolution, but the R8 didn't really need an update. Did it? It needed doing to get people with the original to change it. These changes have made the car better, but probably not enough to spur a great deal of fresh conquests from other marques. What it will do is encourage poseurs and the early adopters of the first cars to 'need' to get the latest version.
|
|
|
HorneyMX5
906 posts
20 months
|
6 years since launch and this car still looks fresh and up to date. I think that this bodes well for the R8 becoming one of THE classic supercars in coming decades.I think the only downside to the car is the image that Audi has these days, or rather the image the pwners of it's cars have projected on it.
|
|
|
MogulBoy
1,685 posts
93 months
|
This is the only current producion Audi that floats my boat and the facelift works for me.
The new LED lights have reached the zenith of what's possible interms of aesthetics in my opinion - I only wonder if they perform as well.
|
|
|
LaurasOtherHalf
6,458 posts
66 months
|
Iirc the led lights were one of the few things that didn't make it through from the concept car.
Lovely cars
|
|
|
PHMatt
92 posts
18 months
|
WTF is a sweeping inidicator?
|
|
|
kambites
33,160 posts
91 months
|
PHMatt said: WTF is a sweeping inidicator? I'm guessing they light up like the front of knight-rider (although hopefully faster).
|
|
|
ReaperCushions
1,736 posts
54 months
|
toasty said: This obviously makes all early R8s completely redundant and so prices should drop below £30k.
Please. +1 I'm still waitng for the V8 bubble to burst and them come crashign down........ still waiting..
|
|
|
MitchyRS
131 posts
27 months
|
goron59 said: It needed an update, if nothing else, to keep things fresh.
But I like that they haven't messed around with it too much either, as I feel no great urge to replace my current manual R8 V8.
I just hope that the software on the S-Tronic isn't as anaemic as the one they put in the TT-RS. I actually liked R-Tronic - it reminded you that you are still driving the car. Great they're keeping the manual option for UK peeps! S-tronic in the TT-RS is a gem, you should hope that the R8 is identical to that. The V10 R8 is going to be a complete animal with this twin clutch transmission, should be replicating if not bettering the performance of the Lambo LP560. Just what Audi needs.
|
|
|
WMP
121 posts
69 months
|
Is this different to this story back in July? http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...Apologies if there are further revelations but less than three months between facelifts/updates would smack of desperation from Audi to keep the R8 "fresh". Still a great car though.
|
|
|
Waugh-terfall
18,047 posts
70 months
|
|
|
BBS-LM
3,509 posts
94 months
|
Them R8 are still loverly cars, and they have aged well over the years.
|
|
|
garypotter
560 posts
20 months
|
On paper a great car but the Audi R8 has never flicked my switch, it is personal taste but there is something missing for me,
Updates or evolution version just add led day lights the same as all the other manufacturers even FORD are doing it.
ruddy hate the daylight led's
|
|
|
AV12
3,673 posts
78 months
|
R8 is a fantastic looking car. I think that theres a danger of making it fussy with these updates.
|
|
