If it sounds like a daft idea to you, that’s because it probably is. What’s the point of an Audi R8 limousine anyway, especially as it’s like a minibus inside. But the fact that it’s the world’s first Audi R8 stretched limo is enough reason for Limo Broker to built this thing. It is going to be based on a 528-hp V10-powered R8, and that means it’ll probably be the fastest limo in the world as well. Not sure about the handling though.

The video after the jump will give you a better view of the car.

via: WCF

Audi is hard at work developing the second generation R8. And this time they’re not beating around the bush. The new R8 is a full-on supercar.

They are probably convinced the current R8 has slayed the Porsche 911 fair and square, so with the new one they’re hunting down the Ferrari 458.

This artist’s impression here, designed based on solid intell from Ingolstadt, shows a much sleeker body with more exquisite details than the current model. It is still recognizable as an R8, but the whole car is more pointy and hunkered down. It is as if the R8 has been on a fitness program and has emerged much leaner and sexier.

It won’t be all show and no go either. The car will be lighter, and the engine lineup of V8 and V10 will be getting a boost. It might even get the new turbocharged V8 designed for the Bentley Continental V8.

Check out the source for more details: carmagazine.co.uk

After enjoying an enormous success in Europe with the R8 GT3 Audi Sport customer racing program launches in America with the R8 Grand-Am.

The car just finished all its testings and evaluation at the Daytona race track and got the greenlight to go on sale. Customers wishing to compete in the Grand Touring class of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series may now place their orders for this handsome race car. The car will be delivered to the first customers by January.

Although based on the R8 GT3, the Grand-Am is substantially different over its European sister. It features new body components to cope with the rules and regulations of the series and that means it has much lower downforce than the GT3. It makes it trickier to handle.

Grand-Am aerodynamic rules has really messed up the R8′s balance really, as the front splitter cannot be more than 38mm from the front of the car, and the rear wing is only 152 centimetres wide. That means 70 to 80 percent of the aerodynamic grip is lost.

Testing the car at Daytona was all very useful, as two R8 Grand-Ams are scheduled to take on the grueling event on January 28th and 29th. On the two test days, Frank Stippler completed about 1000 kilometres (600 miles) in the visually conspicuous test car from quattro GmbH that sports a stars-and-stripes design.

Mansory has been suspiciously quite this last few months. But they’ve come with a shouty car to make up for it.

The Spyder Audi R8 has been given a classic Mansory treatment which includes exposed carbon fiber elements no the outside and an unbelievably ostentatious interior. The V10 engine has also been lightly tweaked.

The gorgeous R8 Spyder gets front spoiler lip, a cool new bonnet, side skirts, newly designed carbon fiber side vents, a rear wing and a revised rear bumper with air vents and rear diffuser.

The recommended wheel/tyre combination has the size 8.5Jx20 inches with tyre dimensions 245/30ZR20 at the front. At the rear, 11.0Jx20 sized rims with tyre size 305/25ZR20 are used. These wheels in combination with the sport springs give the car a killer side look.

The interior is a sea of red leather garnished with exposed carbon fiber accents. The seats have a new design and unique upholstery. Illuminated door entry strips and pedals and footrests made of aluminium are also in the extensive list of possible interior refinement.

As for the engine, the V10 TFSI engine gets a slight bump to 552 hp and 550 Nm of torque thank to sport exhausts and sport air filters.

Next year the successful Audi R8 LMS GT3 will be replaced with this, the R8 LMS Ultra, providing customers with a thoroughly upgraded car.

The Ultra will feature an updated transmission, new exhaust system equipped with race catalytic converters, optimised cooling system with a larger engine oil cooler and transmission fluid cooler, better weight distribution, tweaked chassis with Bilstein weight-reduced compression and rebound-adjustable gas dampers, optimised brake cooling at the front wheels, and revised aerodynamics for more downforce and better airflow.

As part of aerodynamic changes for 2012, the wider front hood has been optionally provided with louvres, subject to permission by the homologation rules for the various racing series. The new rear wing has been widened and now features larger end plates.

The 5.2-litre unit delivers a power output of up to 419 kW (570 HP), depending on restrictor regulations. It is still based on the production engine produced at Audi’s plant in Györ, Hungary. Mileages of up to 20,000 kilometres were certainly typical in customer operations before and continue to be easily achieved.

The new R8 Ultra race cars will be delivered to private teams from March 2012 for EUR 329,900.00 plus VAT.

Our customer teams provided us with valuable suggestions and stated their wishes for the various fields in which the car is used,” says Werner Frowein, Managing Director of quattro GmbH. “We have close ties to our customers and analysed their suggestions and wishes worldwide, and subjected the R8 LMS to further development in many details. In the R8 LMS ultra we consistently implemented all the performance measures which ensure that we’ll be able to continue to offer an intercontinentally competitive and attractive race car in the future.”

TC Concepts has come up with an extreme body kit for the Audi R8, turning it into something strange.

The kit is apparently designed to make the car look like an Audi TT RS, which is a cheaper, slower, smaller car. Now why would you want that?! This aggressive front fascia is of course the signature look of Audi’s RS line, but then again, it doesn’t fit somehow on the R8.

The back-end conversion has been more successful, especially in this sort of titanium gray paint job. It makes a nice contrast with the exposed carbon fiber bits like the rear wing and the racing diffuser. The choice of wheels is also perfect and suits the kit very well.

Come to think of it, this car, called the Toxique, could have been one of the coolest modified R8s if it weren’t for that ridiculous front-end!

The next generation Audi R8 is due in 2014, and it’s apparently gone on a diet to shed a couple of pounds.

The new R8 has to be lighter to gain not only performance advantages, but also helps Audi, and its parent VW, achieve their fuel efficiency goals.

Now the easy solution would be to make th car entirely out of carbon fiber. That will increase the production costs, and therefore the price of the car, dramatically. A carbon Audi R8 would cost as much as a Lamborghini, so why would anybody buy the Audi?!

The way Audi is going round this problem is by using a hybrid structure. They uses a cocktails of aluminum and carbon fiber, which will reduce the weight by a good 45lbs. Further weight reduction plans will affect the drivetrain, suspension and other bits and pieces.

via: Motorauthority

Another version of the Audi R8 e-Tron concept will be present at IAA. This one is said to be the real deal.

Audi has already confirmed they will launch this electric supercar in 2012, so this version must be the production car, save a few minor details. If it weren’t for the vented bonnet and the new grilles, you couldn’t tell the e-Tron apart from the petrol-powered R8.

If the production e-Tron stays loyal to the concept, just like its design, then it will feature four electric motors each powering one of the wheel. Like that you have a four-wheel-drive car with total output of 308 hp, and theoretical torque of 4500 Nm, zero emission, with a range of about 250 km, and 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of nearly 5 seconds.

The R8 e-Tron is the most advanced electric car to be launched next year, but even it fails to address the main problem with EVs: charging time. Even with a rapid charger it still takes 2 and a half hours to recharge an e-Tron.

In 2012 Audi will also introduce a facelifted version of the normal R8.

Audi R8 LMS has been a great success in Europe. And now they hope to experience the same in America by entering it in Grand-Am series.

The R8 LMS customer sport model will be homologated for the the Grand-Am Endurance Series in the USA and will make its debut at the Daytona 24 Hours January next year.

The American R8 LMS is based on the GT3 car but comes with modified chassis, body, engine and suspension. The chassis is stiffened by a roll cage with wall thicknesses being increased to two millimetres according to the regulations.

A new front splitter, a modified rear diffuser and a standard Grand-Am rear wing change the aerodynamics of the sports car. The rated output of the engine has to be reduced to a lower level of about 331 to 346 kW (450 to 470 HP) by an air restrictor and the engine electronics. At the same time, the capacity of the fuel tank, which can now be filled on both sides of the vehicle, is limited to 83.3 litres. In the area of the wheels and suspension three-part rims are used. The standard anti-lock system and traction control of the R8 LMS are prohibited as driving aids in the USA.

Audi Sport customer racing will accompany the entire 2012 season in the USA with a technical crew and provide consultancy to the race teams. They have not revealed the price of the car though.

Here’s a new promo video of the magnificent Audi R8 Spyder, showcasing details of this limited edition drop-top supercar. They will only make 333 units of this hard-core open-top R8 and each of them costs a whopping 207,800 Euro. The car is faster than the normal R8, not only because of the 560 hp output of its V10, but also because it’s 85 kg lighter. It also rides lower and comes with a racing-inspired body kit. Check it out after the jump.

Shout out to Germancarscene.com

The current R8 has been around for a few years now, and Audi is prepping a facelift for it. Now this picture revealed by Fourtitue.com is said to be the face of the 2013 R8. It is still recognizable as an R8, but what’s with those long LED headlights. It also features a grille similar to the rest of the Audi range, and bigger air intakes. They probably aren’t a sign of bigger engines.

There is also a slight possibility this car here is a new e-tron concept. We shall soon find that out about that at IAA.

]]> http://www.motorward.com/2011/08/this-is-the-audi-r8-facelift-probably/feed/ 2 http://www.motorward.com/2011/08/audi-r8-gt-in-depth-tour-videos/ http://www.motorward.com/2011/08/audi-r8-gt-in-depth-tour-videos/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:08:07 +0000 Arman Barari http://www.motorward.com/?p=24922

The R8 GT is, to all intents and purposes, the ultimate version of one of the world’s most fabulous supercars. It is limited to only 333 units, and so is its roadster version, and it comes kinda ready-made for race and competition. The V10 engine is tweaked to offer 560 hp and top speed of near as makes no differences 200mph top speed. Here in these videos Audi factory driver and Le Mans Champion, Emanuele Pirro gives you a thorough tour of the R8 GT. Watching these you can’t help but adore the car’s excellence. Still, I’d rather save 50 grand and get a normal R8 V10!

One of the latest projects German tuner WheelsAndMore has done is this Audi R8 GT, they call the Supersport.

The R8 GT is a pretty special car as it is. Still, WAM adds a bit more flavor to the mix, making that a little bit more tasty.

And the first thing to be added is power, a healthy does of it. The power of the car’s V10 engine has gone up from 560 to 611 hp thanks to some ECU modification and new exhaust that also sounds much cooler because of the butterfly valves inside them.

The R8 GT Supersport has also been fitted with 9,0 x 20 inch size for at front and 11,0 x 20 inch wrapped in Continental Sport Contact 5P tires. They are finished in black, just as the grille and tailpipes.

O.CT Tuning GmbH’s tuning kit for the Audi R8 V8 increases the power beyond the output of the R8 V10.

If you are interested in technicalities, the car features a „Black Compressor“ with CNC mastered aluminum holding system, tension pulley made by Good Year, custom made suction system, inner overflow-overpressure-system, crank case with vent system and a modified set of toothed belts.

How it works is quite boring, but the result of that work is 565 hp and 560 Nm of torque. That is a significant improvement over the 420 hp of the standard engine.

That makes the car 0.7 seconds faster to 100 km/h. O.CT also removes the Vmax limiter and installs a stainless steel exhaust system upon request. The tuner also offers complete vehicle film fitting, a sample of which is the black and white R8 in the pictures below.

MotorTrend grabbed the keys to the new $196,8000 Audi R8 GT Coupe and took it to the track to see how big a difference all that extra track-focused stuff Audi charges you tens of thousands of dollar for, really make. Regardless of the performance, we’re not sure the GT body kit, especially that rear wing, improve the car’s styling. Actually, quite the opposite. It kinda ruins it!

Audi is using its success at 2011 Le Mans 24 hours to sell you an R8 with a few extras for a whole lot more money!

The new R8 V8 Limited Edition is only available  in coupe form and is offered in 10 units for UK customers. It will become available to order next month priced from £93,935. That’s about 10 grand higher than the standard car. But it comes with titanium-effect paintwork option and enhanced standard equipments.

The main features on the outside include titanium finish 19-inch ‘5-arm double-spoke Y design’ alloy wheels inspired by the R8 GT Coupe, and embellished by red brake callipers. All the optional metallic and pearl effect paint options will also be included in the Limited Edition price, but amazingly Audi asks you to pay more for the exclusive Titanium Metallic paint finish.

Inside the cabin this special model benefits from crimson red accents to the sides of its Black Fine Nappa Leather-upholstered seats and headrests with contrasting stitching, and leather-covered multi-function steering wheel. You also get stainless steel pedals and illuminated door sills with bright aluminium inserts carrying the R8 logo., leather on door panels, and special floor mats.

As for the equipments, the Limited Edition model includes satellite navigation, the Audi Music Interface (AMI), an interior light package and a  premium Bang and Olufsen sound system, as well as mobile phone preparation via a Bluetooth interface with integrated seat-belt microphones. The car is powered by the 4.2 liter 430PS V8 FSI and can be had with either manual or R-tronic transmission.

For even greater visual distinction, the R8 V8 Limited Edition is also available with an optional Carbon Package, which adds carbon sigma sideblades, door mirrors, monoposto, inlays and door sill trims. Perhaps most impressively, the racing-inspired material also frames the illuminated engine bay, giving even greater prominence to the potent V8 that is clearly visible through the rear window.

Audi has prepared a chromed-out R8 Spyder, to be auctioned off at Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball charity event.

According to Audi, this 194mph open-top sports car has been finished in a dazzling and unique mirror-like chromed finish to attract the highest possible bids in the auction that raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for the Elton John Aids Foundation (EJAF).

The standard R8 Spyder is priced at £117,710 in the UK. It does 0 to 62mph in just 4.1 seconds, and features a fully-automatic lightweight fabric hood that adds wind-in-hair intensity to the already extreme driving experience delivered by the lightweight aluminium quattro-equipped super car.

“Sir Elton John’s fundraising ball really is a golden ticket event that is as glamorous as it is hugely effective in fundraising terms,” commented Jeremy Hicks, Director of Audi UK.  “We are delighted, and enormously proud, to support it for a ninth year with the donation of what is arguably our most fittingly glamorous model,” he added.

Chromed-out cars are ghastly and very uncool, because they are flash and vulgar. This one though serves a noble purpose.

The fact that Audi gave this to Elton John makes you think though, does it mean chromed-out cars are gay?!

Here’s the first promo footage for the latest iteration of Audi R8 which is the GT Spyder. The beefed up Spyder has the same 5.2 liter V10 engine of the standard R8, but it’s tricked-out to give 560 hp which gives it a top speed of 317 km/h and it makes 100 km/h in just 3.8. It also looks the part with its carbon body kit, and unique colors. It’s pricey though, and limited, to 333 units.

German tuner Wheelsandmore takes on the Audi R8 once again, this time the Spyder V10 and, as always, gives it wheels and more!

But first let’s check out the wheels. These are 20-inch three-piece 6Sport wheels wrapped in Continental tires size 245/30 for the front axle and 295/35 for the rear. The wheels are complemented by adjustable suspension.

The car also gets valve controlled stainless steel exhaust systems with black-finished tailpipes that in conjunction with ECU remap enhances the performance and also make the car sound a lot nicer. The active exhausts sound civilized and dignified at low rpm, but bark savagely when you open the taps. Wheelsandmore Audi R8 Spyder V10 also gets a subtle body kit with stuff like blacked-out grilles and spoiler lip. Other features include high end brake systems, and several carbon parts

North American Volkswagen and Audi tuner who also offers its products in UK through APS of Brackley is now presenting the ultimate Audi R8 V8 in form of the Challenge Extreme Edition.

The STaSIS Engineering Audi R8 V8 Challenge Extreme Edition uses a supercharged V8 engine which offers 540 hp which is more than the V10 engine, while the car is lighter than the V10 model. That results in sensational performance.It does 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, compared to the 4.4 seconds of the standard car.

STaSIS Audi R8 V8 features:

• Engine – Eaton / Magnusson TVS 1900 supercharger running 7.5 psi of boost, independent charge cooler system to ensure consistent high power output, CNC billet alloy machined intake plenum for durability and strength, high performance STaSIS ECU remap – performance increases to 540 bhp and 435 lb.ft of torque
• Exhaust – 3.0 inch TIG welded and individually numbered stainless steel, cross-flow exhaust system with reduced back pressure for improved power and efficiency
• Brakes – Alcon 390mm front / 355mm rear with two piece floating discs
• Suspension – Lowering springs to improve handling and give a more aggressive appearance while retaining ride quality, matched bump stops, factory ‘drive select’ feature retained
• Wheels – 9.5 x 20 inch ultra-lightweight forged aluminium front, 12 x 20 inch forged aluminium rear with high performance low profile tyres