The Audi Space Frame body, made from aluminum, provides the ideal basis for this. Audi has more expertise than any other manufacturer worldwide in the designing and production of cars based on aluminum technology, and has channelled its accumulated know-how into Audi R8.

The entire bodyshell of Audi R8 weighs just 462 pounds (European spec), the pinnacle of achievement among sports cars in terms of lightweight design quality. It comprises extruded sections, aluminum panels and highly complex cast nodes, joined together by 325 feet of weld seams, 782 punch rivets and 382 self-tapping screws.


Superlative precision in the production shop

This structure is created largely by hand at the R8 production shop in Neckarsulm, but with precision measuring and machining methods keeping a watchful eye over the whole business: a laser measuring system checks 220 points on each body to within one-tenth of a millimeter, and a special computer tomograph can investigate the quality of every join with micron precision. A central processing plant cuts and drills all 52 connecting points on the running gear and steering in a single pass. This assures maximum precision in the axle geometry.

The aerodynamics experts at Audi have done their work so thoroughly on Audi R8 that, as an added benefit of its elegant shape, the body actually produces a downforce - unlike many other sports cars. This promotes directional stability at high speeds. It is achieved by means of the extending rear spoiler, but above all thanks to the fully clad diffuser underbody.


Enormous propulsive power across wide speed range

The heart of the sports car is of course the engine. As well as being exceptionally compact, the eight-cylinder power unit of Audi R8 runs lustily and effortlessly up to very high engine speeds, peaking at 8,250 rpm. The reward is 420 hp and an even buildup of torque that produces enormous propulsion across a wide range of engine speeds. The engine's dry sump lubrication, typical of a race engine, permits a particularly low installed location and assures a constant oil supply in even the toughest of driving conditions - for instance on a racetrack. The FSI direct injection underpins the very good full-load performance with a highly efficient combustion process.

The road performance is correspondingly impressive: Audi R8 dashes from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.6 seconds, whether with manual gearbox or with R tronic sequential gearshifting. The needle hits 125 mph after only 14.9 seconds, and the engine's propulsion is only finally held in check by rolling resistance and drag at 188 mph.

However, the captivating character of the V8 stems not just from its effortless propulsion, but equally from its ample, versatile sound characteristics. Thanks to ingenious fine-tuning measures, Audi's engineers isolated disagreeable frequencies and then orchestrated an impressive opus from the intake and exhaust sound.


Lightning start thanks to Launch Control

Audi R8's transmission comes with six well-spaced ratios that can be operated either manually, in conjunction with the clutch, or automatically via the R tronic. The R tronic is an entirely new development that operates faster than even the most adept of drivers and offers racing-style thrills with the shift paddles on the steering wheel. The R tronic accomplishes lightning-fast starts worthy of the racetrack thanks to Launch Control.

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