2008 Audi R8 Technical Info

From Audi comes the all-new Audi R8. Race inspired and derived from the Le Mans dominating Audi R8 machine. With it’s mid-engine design and high-revving 4.2 liter V8 with FSI® Direct Injection technology, the new Audi R8 is the ultimate execution of Audi engineering. Sport-biased quattro all-wheel drive with 44% front, 56% rear torque distribution delivers outstanding traction and high-performance driving dynamics.


Engine
The mid-mounted V8 engine with 4.2 litre displacement and four-valve FSI® technology produces 420hp and accelerates the Audi R8 to 62mph in 4.6 seconds. The maximum torque of 317 lb-ft delivers breathtaking thrust. The top speed is 187 mph. Anyone who shares our enthusiasm for sports cars will understand all these figures. But ultimately they merely prepare the ground for something that is impossible to express in numbers: the supreme driving experience

Instead of generating its power exclusively from displacement, the compact mid-engine in the Audi R8 utilises an innovative high-rev concept. As a result, the engine develops huge thrust over a broad speed band up to 8250 rpm. Even at low speeds, the long-stroke powerplant offers high torque, extreme agility and spontaneous throttle response.

So much thrust in combination with the outstanding suspension of the Audi R8 results in correspondingly high transverse acceleration. For this reason, the oil supply to the engine is handled by a dry sump lubrication system typical of race cars. In this, the deep oil pan of a conventional engine is replaced by a shallow oil pan, scavenger pump and separate oil tank. The oil tank ensures that the delivery pump is supplied with lubricant at all times, guaranteeing a constant uniform oil supply.

Horsepower: 420 hp @ 7800 rpm*
Maximum torque: 317 lb-ft @ 4500-6000 rpm*
0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h): 4.6 seconds*
Top speed: 187 mph (301 km/h)*


Transmission
2 options available: an optimized six-speed manual transmission is standard. The Audi R8 comes with an optional R tronic transmission. Like the R8 itself, this sequential six-speed manual gearbox is racing-bred, with the emphasis clearly on performance. Shifting can be carried out either via a joystick or by paddles on the steering wheel.

In addition, an automatic mode is available. Shift-by-wire technology allows very short shift times and a total engagement with the vehicle.


Retractable rear spoiler
The electrically extending rear spoiler is a unique combination of design and function. The spoiler may be manually activated by a separate switch on the centre console