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VIDEO: The Smoking Tire tests supercharged Raptor Audi R8
Click the image above to view the video after the jump
With 420 horsepower, the "base" Audi R8 is a borderline supercar. But that wasn't good enough for some customers, so Audi began offering the R8 with the Lamborghini Gallardo-sourced 5.2-liter V10 powerplant with 520 ponies.
That's a lot of OEM horsepower even when considering the $150,000 price tag, but the aftermarket -- as always -- has another solution. Performance Outfitters Group in Connecticut has created the R8 Raptor by fitting the R8's 4.2-liter V8 with a supercharger that heaves five pounds of boost into the bent eight, giving the blown engine 550 lusty horsepower. The R8 Raptor was reportedly built for Bull Run duty, so this elite Audi has been fitted with all kinds of police-style lights, a bull horn, a stowable laptop and even an iPhone integrated into the sun visor.
Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire took the R8 Raptor out to the New Jersey Motorsports Park for a quick-and-dirty test and his crew distilled it into a six-minute review that you can check out after the jump. We have no idea if the R8 Raptor is faster on the track than Audi's V10 option, but looks like it would at least put up one Hell of a fight.
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Benfolio 5:05PM (9/09/2009)
Can't view YouTube vids at work, but is that a hugely fugly wing on the back??
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zamafir 5:56PM (9/09/2009)
nope, that would be the tiny stock spoiler that pops up at speed. this thing looks sick.
axlewood 5:43PM (11/21/2009)
its not a spoiler..its an air brake.
shanali05 5:10PM (9/09/2009)
no wing, just four antenna's on the roof for it's 4 GPS system on the car... I read about this from their magazine today, after the bullrun they will return the car back to it's stock form.
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Benfolio 5:27PM (9/09/2009)
....and sell it to some unknowing buyer?
Sean Flanagan 5:11PM (9/09/2009)
Just to point out: According to their website, Performance Outfitters Group is an MTM dealer. This "Raptor" matches the specs of the MTM supercharger for the R8, which Inside Line tested last year ( http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=131975 ). So I would take this special R8 with a grain of salt.
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N 5:14PM (9/09/2009)
that stupid soundtrack on the video was really, really annoying.
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Ligor 5:27PM (9/09/2009)
how many of us always complain of hte same thing, but no one ever listens.
now,
I wouldn't go calling this thing a Raptor - it's plain vanilla 'used bar of soap' looks have nothing to do with the looks of a Raptor
but the few post earlier "Canadian HTT Plèthore supercar gets previewed ahead of Frankfurt" does look like a mean Raptor like machine
rndmnme 6:12PM (9/09/2009)
The soundtrack was annoying but I would be happy if the presenter would have just shut the eff up.
DB 5:17PM (9/09/2009)
That is not an iPhone, it is an iPod touch.
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cool_ozzyfromkalush 10:15PM (9/09/2009)
Wow, a Telescope-Man!!!
JDM Life 10:38PM (9/09/2009)
o0o0o0oo big apple guy know its all huh?
DB 11:40PM (9/09/2009)
Haha. No I don't know it all.
However, I did notice that the top left corner of the 'device' says "iPod".
If it were an iPhone, it would say "iPhone".
:D
ropeburn 5:17PM (9/09/2009)
I thought this was the Car that Alex Roy was sitting in last year... the blackbird
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXIzsU3AtBs
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MattF G419 5:46PM (9/09/2009)
Different car, but this car's electronics and such are a blatant copy of that car. The only part that really interested us was the supercharger....
ropeburn 6:06PM (9/09/2009)
Hey Matt, cool that you hit these message boards and answer/clarify questions and comments. Nice to see you still hustlin' and bringin the goods. cheers.
that track looks awesome.... does it compare to the Monticello Motor Club?
... you lucky BASTID, turnin a few laps in that R8! SICK!
MattF G419 4:40AM (9/10/2009)
NJMP is a little different than Monticello. Monticello is a truly amazing place where, literally, at any given time of day, 365 days a year, you can show up and be taken care of, and most likely have the track to yourself. They rarely host public events and never pro races. And they are 100% service.
NJMP is about 20% of the cost of entry of Monticello, and for that you get 40 or so "members only days" and discounted rates at club events throughout the year. They also host pro races and other events.
Having said that, the tracks at both places are both incredible, with elevation changes, banked corners and very long straightaways. You should take any opportunity to drive either.
pmalik 5:19PM (9/09/2009)
Performance Outfitters? Raptor r8?
It's a regular R8 with the PES blower ($25K) kit) http://www.pes-tuning.com/
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MattF G419 5:47PM (9/09/2009)
The "raptor" thing refers to the extra 50 grand or so in electronics, and the blower is part of their whole package... make of that what you will
Chris 8:02PM (9/09/2009)
According to European Car (it's the cover story in the October issue) the "Raptor" name refers to the owner's reason for building the car: to evade cops. It's supposed to be like cop-stealth.