Audi R8 V10 debuting in Detroit, cabrio coming in 2010
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi R8
While other automakers are dropping out of the Detroit Auto Show left and right, Audi is heading to Motor City with guns blazing, beginning with the 2010 Audi R8 V10.
Car and Driver decided to put the rumors to rest that the updated super coupe is officially coming to Detroit, packing a 5.2-liter V10 putting out 520 hp and 398 lb.-ft. of torque. Aside from the obvious aural and performance differences, the V10-powered R8 will make use of a pair of larger dual exhaust tips rather than the V8 model's quad outlets. Expect new wheels, upgraded brakes and a few changes to the interior as well.
The oft-rumored Audi R8 Spyder will hit the European market in late 2009, with sales beginning in the U.S. sometime in 2011. According to C&D, the reason for the delayed Stateside launch is due to dealers that "have their hands full allocating coupes." Whatever that means. The R8's stylistic party pieces – it's side blades – will be shrunken down to accommodate a power-operated soft top, and the interior will carry over unchanged.
We've got more Audi goodness for you at 6 PM EST tonight, so check back in a few hours for a sneak peak of the four-ringer's plans for the Geneva Motor Show.
Gallery: Audi R8 V10 spied at quattro GmbH
Gallery: 2008 Audi R8
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mobius_1 3:15PM (12/02/2008)
"hands full allocating coupes"...
Their hands will probably be full of markups in they get roadsters :)
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Trent 3:22PM (12/02/2008)
so is this replacing the 4.2 outright? It seems strange though, isn't this contrary to a discussion we had a few days ago about Audi dropping Normally Aspirated engines completely?
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nagmashot 4:13PM (12/02/2008)
no the 4.2l is the basic version they increase the model range of the R8...
Sypder
V10
LMS
possible V12 TDI
aaron 3:26PM (12/02/2008)
520 hp and 398 lb.-ft?
Off the top of my head, it sounds alot like the numbers from the M5's V-10.
I hope I didn't p*** off zamafir by comparing a BMW to an Audi....
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zamafir 4:16PM (12/02/2008)
Same displacement and power figures? yeah... though it also sounds a lot like... ohhh... the V10 in the S6.
My gripe with BMW is that the M3 didn't need to be a 4.2L, that it seemed lazy they just copied audi on displacement and power for the m3 "damn the Rs4's doing it". It has nothing to do with the audi/bmw and everything to do with an afinity for lighter straight six powered better handling m3s of yore.
zamafir 5:17PM (12/02/2008)
plus it'll be great when the M1 finally comes out and it's about as light due to aluminum construction, and sports a 4.2L 414ish hp engine placed amidship, continuing BMW's daring aping :P.
aaron 5:43PM (12/02/2008)
"Same displacement and power figures? yeah... though it also sounds a lot like... ohhh... the V10 in the S6."
Ooops. I keep forgetting the numbers on the S6 engine. Thank You.
"My gripe with BMW is that the M3 didn't need to be a 4.2L, that it seemed lazy they just copied audi on displacement and power for the m3 "damn the Rs4's doing it". It has nothing to do with the audi/bmw and everything to do with an afinity for lighter straight six powered better handling m3s of yore."
I'm all for lighter everything that has to do with the 3-Series, but Audi's S and RS-cars (throw in the Mercedes AMG overload) did sell well enough to maybe force BMW's hand into the V-8 category. Was that a mistake now that BMW are planning to go force-induction? Yep. But all german companies roll with the times. The S4 from the early 2000's was forced induction (correct?), then focused on displacement more, and now back to supercharging/turbocharging. Mercedes AMG did the same thing but all over the place. They were all about supercharging, then focused more on that all-engine AMG V8 for use in several cars, and now it's just a wait and see approach (economy, gas prices, competition).
The problem with BMW is that they kept out of the power race between Merc/Audi. There are many arguments for and against it. But I really don't think they copied Audi for three reasons:
1) BMW wanted the classic feel of the I-6 from the E46 M3 and have two extra cylinders for (possibly) added "refinement". Ridiculous as it sounds, but BMW wanted record sales for the M3s and was after people that wouldn't normaly look at an M3...as in those that didn't consider the E46 at all.
2) BMW created a problem with the success of the twin-turbo I-6. They must have thought a bumped up version of it wouldn't be different enough for the M3 compared to a 335i. They're thinking different now...thankfully.
3) Tell people that the V8 in the M3 is essentially the M5 V-10 with less cylinders, which it was. Cost saving? Check. Association with another family product which helps with marketing? Check. OMG it's similiar to the RS4 V8. Smart-ass check. Like No. 1 above, "V10" gets stuck in people's heads and they start thinking words like "sophistication" and "grown-up". It's sad but yeah. Number 3 was just like 1 but I forgot what else to say.
Look, much of the industry, the good and the bad, follow BMW. As a fan of the propeller badge I take that as a good thing because BMW can and has screwed up alot recently (X1, X3, most of the X6) and need Infinity or someone else nipping at their heals. Now did I say copy? No. But isn't that a form of flattery anyway? That's one of the reasons why I love the G37/M35. Why I love the G8 GXP (an E39 M5).
Audi still has the superior all-wheel drive. Don't worry about that. No, actually, don't even worry or get mad about anything. Trust me.
Zamafir, I know you've had a tough history with, what, one Bimmer? That sucks. Please give them another chance. My dad did it 4 times with Land Rover of all people (didn't end well). I don't think BMW is LR.
But how does it give you the right (besides freedom of speech) to blast BMW anytime you feel like it and make sweet love to every positive Audi post that comes on autoblog. Seriously. BMW has to be the most polarizing brand on AB. Audi/VW is very much loved here AND NEVER IN THE WRONG and when questioned fairly, bam, thumbs down, we're idiots, and the GTI is the greatest car of all time. God help me.
If you just simply prefer Audi, then godspeed. There is no right or wrong choice between Audi, Benz, and BMW. Just cut down on the fanboy b.s., okay? Your numbers and arguements are always solid and educated on AB but when BMW comes up you just freeze up and throw around the words like "copied"? You can do better than that.
captain underpants and the bringdown gang 3:39PM (12/02/2008)
why not just call it a R10 instead of a V-10 R8?
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416Hammy 3:54PM (12/02/2008)
"R8" refers to the model not the engine configuration, just like how the A4 comes with 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder engine options.
I'll bet they call it the "R8-RS"... yes, you heard it here first, folks.
Gomi 3:42PM (12/02/2008)
The black V10 is such a beauty. Looks great with the new panel behind the door.
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BigMcLargeHuge 3:53PM (12/02/2008)
I wonder if this means Lambo will have something special for us in the next year or so?
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zamafir 4:19PM (12/02/2008)
They already do - it's called the LP560-4, EVO's PCOTY. I'm not sure how much farther they need to go, really, as it's as fast around the track as an atom.
BigMcLargeHuge 5:13PM (12/02/2008)
But the 420hp R8 was almost as fast as the original Gallardo. This 520hp R8 might be nipping right at the LP560's heels.
why not the LS2LS7? 4:22PM (12/02/2008)
Although I don't think V10s make sense, in this case I have to give at least grudging respect. The R8 has a lot of good qualities, but it doesn't compete well on all-out performance with its peers, mostly because it was outclassed on power.
It's not that I think a car like this really needs 530HP, but eventually sales will suffer from not having it, because that's something the buyers are looking for and their competitors do provide it.
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416Hammy 4:36PM (12/02/2008)
They'll need somewhere to put all those V10 engines when they drop the RS6 from a V10 to a V8-TSFI.
Icehawk 4:42PM (12/02/2008)
They should have twin turbo'd the 4.2 litre V8 instead. Not only could they have easily made the same horsepower as the V10 but also a crapload more torque, and on an AWD drive platform like this, the more torque the better.
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why not the LS2LS7? 4:51PM (12/02/2008)
Probably no space in there. Locating the intercooler in a mid/rear-engine car can be a difficult proposition.
zamafir 5:21PM (12/02/2008)
Audi tried a bi-turbo, which burnt down to the frame in very public view on the ring... did you miss it?
MikeW 11:58PM (12/02/2008)
What is 'awd'? (besides marketing speak)
The R8 is rear drive with a clutch coupled front axle (be it viscous coupling clutch, or electromagnetic like the 911)
Paul P. 5:00PM (12/02/2008)
Any idea on MSRP yet?
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