RE: Audi R8 V10 Plus: Review
Discussion
j_s14a said:
The original R8 had a very distinctive look.
I think you are right there, in that then the R8 originally came out it looked like a spaceship. I remember being about 15 and seeing it have a full front cover on the old Telegraph Motoring sections, they launched it in Las Vegas IIRC, and it just looked like nothing else about at the time.I also think Audi had this problem with the original TT, they just did not know how to 'improve' the design without ruining it.
Despite the relatively minor negative points that V10 soundtracks has to be an overwhelming positive.
Coupled with probably the best interior of any supercar currently available and it should sell well.
Hopefully this affects the previous R8 model residuals
, would love to own one in a few years.
Coupled with probably the best interior of any supercar currently available and it should sell well.
Hopefully this affects the previous R8 model residuals
, would love to own one in a few years. patch5674 said:
j_s14a said:
The original R8 had a very distinctive look.
I think you are right there, in that then the R8 originally came out it looked like a spaceship. I remember being about 15 and seeing it have a full front cover on the old Telegraph Motoring sections, they launched it in Las Vegas IIRC, and it just looked like nothing else about at the time.I also think Audi had this problem with the original TT, they just did not know how to 'improve' the design without ruining it.
Can anyone comment on how usable they are as a daily in reality? Could you use one as you would a TT / Z4 etc.?
mikearwas said:
I don't mean to be rude but the peddling in that video was very poor. It made it difficult to understand the prevailing balance. It looked quite understeery to me but that could well have been the frankly rubbish throttle control mid corner. Anyone else feel the same?
Racing is about smoothness . . . and I did not notice any smoothness there.dinkel said:
mikearwas said:
I don't mean to be rude but the peddling in that video was very poor. It made it difficult to understand the prevailing balance. It looked quite understeery to me but that could well have been the frankly rubbish throttle control mid corner. Anyone else feel the same?
Racing is about smoothness . . . and I did not notice any smoothness there.Digging a little deeper into aforementioned bag of excuses the rather unpleasant power understeer in some of the corners was my attempt to provoke the power to transfer to the rear axle and rotate the car that way like the old one did. Sometimes it did this beautifully, others all you got was understeer and you just needed patience and/or a lift to help it on its way. I was still learning this on the day lap you've seen but I was able to explore it more on the later night laps. None of this is made easier by the fact you can't feel a whole lot about what the front tyres are up to, even on the 'locked out' Performance mode on the dynamic steering. Also that Audi locked the ESP on so you were always battling the conservative stability control and its influence on drive torque, steering, gearing and everything else geared towards NOT looking good on camera!
So bear with and all that; time and track access is often pretty limited on these press launches and there's not a whole lot of time to explore the car and its behaviour. Hopefully there was at least a taste from that though.
Cheers,
Dan
Edited by Dan Trent on Monday 13th July 10:46
dinkel said:
Popping in the 360 brake 2.5 5-pot would be a good entry level idea. Weight anyone?
They might need to tune / upgrade it it to deliver over 400 BHP for that lump to make sense in the R8 chassis but it's an interesting idea for sure.Dan Trent said:
I'll reach into my bag of excuses and beg a bit of mitigation on the basis we only had three laps and my other two were taken up with trying to do pieces to camera so this was my only chance for a 'flyer'. Hand on heart it's probably a little over-driven and the lines and gear choices weren't all spot on but the later night lap is probably a little more like it. bb]See here.[/b]
Digging a little deeper into aforementioned bag of excuses the rather unpleasant power understeer in some of the corners was my attempt to provoke the power to transfer to the rear axle and rotate the car that way like the old one did. Sometimes it did this beautifully, others all you got was understeer and you just needed patience and/or a lift to help it on its way. I was still learning this on the day lap you've seen but I was able to explore it more on the later night laps. None of this is made easier by the fact you can't feel a whole lot about what the front tyres are up to, even on the 'locked out' Performance mode on the dynamic steering. Also that Audi locked the ESP on so you were always battling the conservative stability control and its influence on drive torque, steering, gearing and everything else geared towards NOT looking good on camera!
So bear with and all that; time and track access is often pretty limited on these press launches and there's not a whole lot of time to explore the car and its behaviour. Hopefully there was at least a taste from that though.
Cheers,
Dan
It sounds like what you're saying is that your initial impressions were that the steering's duff and it doesn't handle as well as the old car, with less adjustability and more understeer. If that's the case, I hope speccing standard steering and turning some of the nannying off changes things.Digging a little deeper into aforementioned bag of excuses the rather unpleasant power understeer in some of the corners was my attempt to provoke the power to transfer to the rear axle and rotate the car that way like the old one did. Sometimes it did this beautifully, others all you got was understeer and you just needed patience and/or a lift to help it on its way. I was still learning this on the day lap you've seen but I was able to explore it more on the later night laps. None of this is made easier by the fact you can't feel a whole lot about what the front tyres are up to, even on the 'locked out' Performance mode on the dynamic steering. Also that Audi locked the ESP on so you were always battling the conservative stability control and its influence on drive torque, steering, gearing and everything else geared towards NOT looking good on camera!
So bear with and all that; time and track access is often pretty limited on these press launches and there's not a whole lot of time to explore the car and its behaviour. Hopefully there was at least a taste from that though.
Cheers,
Dan
First of all, let us remember that Audi was not always the admirable challenger to the duopoly of German luxury-performance brands. From distinctly middle-class roots, Audi achieved what almost no other brand has done: they designed and engineered their way upward.
And we are grateful.
Also, let us remember that Audi make some of the most handsome and ergonomic interiors the world over. Many people believe that Audi are number-one at this.
Further, let us give thanks that Audi make a mid-engined performance car that is not priced too far into the stratosphere. Sure, it could be more affordable. But it also could be far more costly.
However... The elimination of the distinctive and somewhat menacing sideblade... and the homogenization of design language a la Audi TT will be remembered as moments of weakness.
Glad the R8 has not gone turbo (yet). I think the V10 suits the nature of the looks and the whole appeal of the car. If i was in the market for a new supercar i honestly think this would be what i'd go for all things considered.
The styling's quite nice i think. Not changed a a whole lot but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Does look alot more mean and aggressive. Both the V10 and V10 Plus look nice enough inside and out. Can't beat that noise either.
The only gripe I've got with the interior is the gear lever for the S-Tronic gearbox. It looks like the huge handle from the Audi A8. Doesn't suit the rest of the interior at all. But i'm nitpicking really. I love it.
The styling's quite nice i think. Not changed a a whole lot but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Does look alot more mean and aggressive. Both the V10 and V10 Plus look nice enough inside and out. Can't beat that noise either.
The only gripe I've got with the interior is the gear lever for the S-Tronic gearbox. It looks like the huge handle from the Audi A8. Doesn't suit the rest of the interior at all. But i'm nitpicking really. I love it.
Clivey said:
dinkel said:
Popping in the 360 brake 2.5 5-pot would be a good entry level idea. Weight anyone?
They might need to tune / upgrade it it to deliver over 400 BHP for that lump to make sense in the R8 chassis but it's an interesting idea for sure.They're heavy things though, iron block and something like 185kg minus ancillaries. The older 5.2 V10 is only 220 without ancillaries!
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