Body style: Coupé (two-door)
Segment: Exotic
Production years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Three years after introducing a facelift for the R8’s first generation, Audi surprised its customers with the launch of the second sequel of this nameplate, and in 2015, it came fully prepared to face the supercar arena.
After claiming the same number of victories on the notorious 24 Hours of Le Mans race as Ford and Ferrari combined, falling short just behind Porsche, Audi considered that it deserved a seat at the supercar manufacturers table. Furthermore, it demanded one closer to the one that sat on one end. After all, it had thirteen gold medals at the famous French endurance race. To celebrate this, it pushed its engineers to work on the second generation of the R8 and make it better than anyone could hope from the four-rings badged brand, which they did. But first, they had to retire the 4.2-liter V8 powerplant. As a result, the second generation of the R8 came as a V10-powered affair only.
The era of bio-design influence was gone when the German car manufacturer started to work on the R8’s second generation. As a result, the 2015 model came with sharp-looking lines for the headlights and distinct daytime running lights that emphasized the upper outer corners of them. In the middle of the bumper, the R8 featured an angular-shaped singleframe grille with distinct outer corners. It was flanked by rectangular scoops that featured vertical slats to cool the front rotors. To emphasize the new generation, the car sported two creases on the hood that visually connected the headlights to the windshield.
From its sides, the car’s profile revealed its mid-engined configuration. The short nose was followed by a low-slung greenhouse with a rounded roof and sloped down at the back. Unlike its predecessor, the second generation of the R8 sported shorter side panels with contrasting colors for the air intakes placed behind the doors. The sculptured doors had the handles concealed under the upper crease, so it wouldn’t spoil the car’s overall look. Finally, the back of the car sported the sharp-angled taillights, which were neatly integrated with the design of the exhaust vents placed below them. A fixed-wing adorned the rear deck, confirming the car’s sports-oriented profile if anyone doubts that. Finally, on the lower part of the bumper, the automaker installed a diffuser flanked by rectangular-shaped exhausts.
Inside, Audi installed a luxurious and comfortable cabin fitted with leather-covered sports seats. On the center console between them, the automaker placed the gear selector, the rotary controller for the MMI (infotainment system), and a tiny storage compartment with a lid on it under the armrest. Fronting the driver was a Virtual Cockpit that replaced the traditional analog dials. The tachometer took center stage and had the speed shown in digits inside it. Since it was a display, drivers could choose what to show on it, depending on their needs, whether if it was the navigation or the multimedia system.
Behind the cabin, the automaker installed the 5.2-liter naturally aspirated engine under a massive piece of glass. The revised powerplant was ready to meet the Euro 6 emission standards, which were mandatory in Europe but also provided more power than its predecessor. In the regular version, the V10 sent 540 PS (532 hp) in all corners via a seven-speed S-Tronic automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox. Audi also offered an upgraded version, named V10 Plus, that produced 610 PS (602 hp).
ENGINE SPECS - 5.2L V10 FSI 7AT AWD (540 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | V10 |
Displacement: | 5204 cm3 |
Power: | 397 KW @ 8250 RPM 540 HP @ 8250 RPM 532 BHP @ 8250 RPM |
Torque: | 398 lb-ft @ 6500 RPM 540 Nm @ 6500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Direct Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 31.7 gallons (120.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 199 mph (320 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 3.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 7-speed automatic (S TRONIC) |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 245/35 ZR 19 || 295/35 ZR 19 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 174 in (4420 mm) |
Width: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Height: | 48.8 in (1240 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 64.5/63 in (1,638/1,600 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 104.3 in (2649 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8 cuFT (227 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.28 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3682 lbs (1670 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4178 lbs (1895 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 14.1 mpg US (16.7 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 28 mpg US (8.4 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 20.6 mpg US (11.4 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 272 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 5.2L V10 FSI plus 7AT AWD (610 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | V10 |
Displacement: | 5204 cm3 |
Power: | 449 KW @ 8250 RPM 610 HP @ 8250 RPM 602 BHP @ 8250 RPM |
Torque: | 413 lb-ft @ 6500 RPM 560 Nm @ 6500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Direct Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 31.7 gallons (120.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 205 mph (330 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 3.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 7-speed automatic (S TRONIC) |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 245/35 ZR 19 || 295/35 ZR 19 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 174 in (4420 mm) |
Width: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Height: | 48.8 in (1240 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 64.5/63 in (1,638/1,600 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 104.3 in (2649 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8 cuFT (227 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.28 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3594 lbs (1630 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4178 lbs (1895 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 13.4 mpg US (17.6 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 25.3 mpg US (9.3 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 19.1 mpg US (12.3 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 287 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - e-tron AWD (462 HP) | |
---|---|
Power: | 340 KW @ - RPM 462 HP @ - RPM 456 BHP @ - RPM |
Torque: | 679 lb-ft @ - RPM 921 Nm @ - RPM |
Fuel: | Electric |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 3.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | single gear |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 245/35 ZR 19 || 295/35 ZR 19 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 174 in (4420 mm) |
Width: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Height: | 48.8 in (1240 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 64.5/63 in (1,638/1,600 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 104.3 in (2649 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8 cuFT (227 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.28 |
Notes |
---|
Range: >450 km (279 miles) |