Tuesday 9th December 2008

Audi R8 LMS

New 517bhp R8 flagship

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A V10 powered road-going version of the R8 LMS will be available to UK customers next year, Audi has confirmed today.

Costing £99,575 on-the-road with a six speed manual gearbox and £104,665 with R tronic sequential shift transmission, the 525bhp R8 range-topper weighs only 31kg more than the V8 powered version at 1,620kg – giving a useful power to weight ratio of 324PS per ton.

The 5.2 litre FSI V10 is mounted longitudinally behind the cockpit, and is almost identical to the unit in the R8 LMS says Audi. Making its 525PS maximum at 8,000rpm with 530Nm of torque delivered at 6,500rpm, the V10 RS8 is good for 0-62mph in 3.9secs and a top speed of 196mph – making it the fastest production Audi ever. The 420PS V8 version knocks off 0-62mph in 4.6secs and tops out at a mere 187mph.

With the V10 engine mounted as close as possible to the centre of the car, Audi says its engineers have achieved near perfect weight distribution of 44 percent front / 56 percent rear. Dry sump lubrication has also been adopted for the engine in order to keep the installation – and therefore the centre of gravity – as close to the tarmac as possible.

Visually the R8 V10 is similar to the V8, but the new top model gets unique 19ins alloy wheels and a handful of subtle body mods. These include high-gloss front grille and front air intakes, more pronounced side sills, wider side cooling vents, high gloss rear air outlets, oval tailpipes and a new rear diffuser.

The V10 also boasts a ‘world first’, says Audi – all LED headlamps. For the first time high intensity diodes are used for low and high beam settings as well as for the indicators.

Inside, extra standard equipment included electric adjustment and heating for the Nappa leather seats, DVD satnav, and a 465 watt B&O sound system.

 

[powerhungry]

love it now it will go like a proper super car good job

[dele]

Oh god yes

[mc_blue]

The rims are ugly though aren't they!?

[Wilburo]

I think the alloys are quite cool, very futuristic.

So what is this thing called? R8 V10, RS8, R8 LMS!?

Sounds like a future contender for evo car of the year...

[AngryS3Owner]

Think it's called the RS8 but not 100%

That looks mental, want one!

[Nightshade]

AngryS3Owner said:

Think it's called the RS8 but not 100%

It just has a regular 'R8' badge on the back though?

[Mark-C]

AngryS3Owner said:

Think it's called the RS8 but not 100%

That looks mental, want one!

Badge in the picture just says R8.

It doesn't say in the article but I assume this is 4WD rather than the RWD of the GT3 car.

[funkyol]

Nom nom nom

[Wammer]

VAG has already got three supercars Murcielago, Gallardo and Bentley Continental but it just wants to make it harder for them to sell by bringing more competition in the same company. This is why car industry is in trouble by stupid marketing like the R8 V10. £60,000 cheaper than the Gallardo.

[darth_pies]

"All LED headlamps" - coming to all E36 BMW's in your local McDonalds car park on a Friday night very soon........

[V6]

Wammer said:

VAG has already got three supercars Murcielago, Gallardo and Bentley Continental

Bentley Continental is not in any way a supercar. It is a luxury fast barge but not a supercar.

[AngryS3Owner]

Wammer said:

VAG has already got three supercars Murcielago, Gallardo and Bentley Continental but it just wants to make it harder for them to sell by bringing more competition in the same company. This is why car industry is in trouble by stupid marketing like the R8 V10. £60,000 cheaper than the Gallardo.

Or maybe they can tell that by offering different products they can capture more of the market without massive development costs?

Most people buying these cars are buying them for more than just bhp / £ or whatever.

PS. You should really include porsche as well as there is shared interests.

[jon-]

With any luck prices of the V8 R8 will drop further bringing them closer to my reach!! Muhahahahahaha!

[Mikeyboy]

Wammer said:

VAG has already got three supercars Murcielago, Gallardo and Bentley Continental but it just wants to make it harder for them to sell by bringing more competition in the same company. This is why car industry is in trouble by stupid marketing like the R8 V10. £60,000 cheaper than the Gallardo.

you're missing one there Wammer. The Bugatti is one of theirs too. Now that Porsche own so much of the group too it all looks very strange to keep so many supercars on the model roster. I assume it's good for PR in the good times though

[corcoran]

... aaaaaaand i'm spent..

[White-Noise]

Now this is the R8 I have been wanting to see! Its great great great from me until you get to the wheels - what the hell were they thinking!!!?

[infradig]

Mikeyboy said:

Wammer said:

VAG has already got three supercars Murcielago, Gallardo and Bentley Continental but it just wants to make it harder for them to sell by bringing more competition in the same company. This is why car industry is in trouble by stupid marketing like the R8 V10. £60,000 cheaper than the Gallardo.

you're missing one there Wammer. The Bugatti is one of theirs too. Now that Porsche own so much of the group too it all looks very strange to keep so many supercars on the model roster. I assume it's good for PR in the good times though

I think it will be even better for PR in the lean times ahead,if one had just been given the new 'recession' company car list and the choice is Astra,Focus,Mini or A2 with led fairylights just like that hot R8 you'd be out of that 3 Series like a shot(assuming that one works in IT or recruitment of course!)
But seriously every time I see and here an R8,I'm almost willing to forgive Audi for the original TT.A V10 must sound awesome.

[Titan Simba]

darth_pies said:

"All LED headlamps" - coming to all E36 318i BMW's in your local McDonalds car park on a Friday night very soon........

EFA

[DCP 1]

love the classic rs audi exhausts :P

[Beefmeister]

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepost...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... R8 V10 revealed....