Audi R8

There are cars and there is Audi R8. The entire review can be summarized in this single sentence because there is nothing like R8 in the world at this very moment. Are there cars capable of competing with Audi R8? Probably yes. Does that mean they are better than Audi R8? Certainly no. There might be multiple winners but Audi R8 can never, at least for now, come even as a runner up. Audi R8 is as great it is due to a few reasons. Intelligent engineering, use of lightweight materials and stupendous aerodynamic design.
All of these collectively created a legend named R8. The fact that internationally several critics touted this to be the best handling road car to date speaks volumes. Designed as a two door coupe, the vehicle is created as a sports car using the Audi’s trademark Quattro with all wheel drive system, the car is considered the base to none other than the Lamborghini Gallardo. Using aluminium monocoque and designed by the coveted Quattro GmbH division of Audi, the car is destined to greatness in the history of automobiles. With two engine options defined by the number of cylinders, the high rev concept makes both the cylinders function outstandingly on the roads. The very fact that such a car can be on Indian roads, all be it on limited roads, is a matter of celebration.

In every way a car from the future, Audi R8 is the epitome of sports car designs. There was always an apprehension about creating cars that run quick at the same time look elegant because having one automatically pushed the other into an abyss at some level. Audi however found the perfect mix. The front grill of the Audi R8 too is innovative, slightly tweaked from its other cousins. With strong horizontal strokes extending through the front grill, the vents under the headlamps, the car is a true design gem.
The curves on the front bonnet extend so effortlessly like a butter sliding on a hot pan. It is this brilliant design aesthetic that gives Audi an edge over its aerodynamic skills. While the curves extend on the roof and the side profile too, never do the curves make the car look voluptuous. Rather they are like a perfectly made sculpture with the right about of muscle in the right places. The car’s side profile is predominantly dominated by the beauty of the ASF and we cannot complain for it just looks so wonderful with the entire design in general. The rear profile of the Audi R8 has the letters R8 etched with a red parallelogram behind R showing off its sporty appeal. The air vents are right under the tail lamps since the vehicle’s engine is mid moutned. The curves fit perfectly together without just enough gaps between plates to make a grown man kneel for more. As a whole, the exteriors of Audi R8 are splendid and the sheer pleasure of seeing it, let alone riding it is indescribable.

It can be the performance or the exteriors, but the one thing that certainly matters to the riders is the interiors. When Audi makes a car we do not expect it to have a traditional interiors, it is expected to be grand. And grand it is for the Audi R8. The sporty pedals in the rear and paddle shifters behind the steering make the vehicle a true charm. The controls on the steering wheel are kept to a minimum to avoid any distractions. The stick for the S tronic is mesmerizingly powerful with its metal finish.
The information and navigation screen is positioned right over the class defining CD player. The space in the vehicle is luxurious enough to make the travellers feel like kings and queens on thrones. The ergonomically designed seats and strategically positioned interiors make the vehicle spacious, luxurious and best of all grand. The seats are leather and best in class, AC, Radio, heater and other trivial aspects are undeniably best of the best. Audi did indeed put its best foot forward in designing the interiors of Audi R8 and we can not be more happy about it.

The Audi R8 comes with a choice of 4.2 litre V8 FSI engine and a 5.2 litre V10 FSI engine each coming with their own specifications. While two other variants exist in the international market, for the Indian roads, only these two are offered. To start off with the 4.2 litre V8 engine, it runs on petrol and offers a maximum output of 423.8 bhp at 7900 rpm while the torque reaches a peaks of 430 Nm at 4500 rpm to 6000 rpm The engine has four valves per cylinder and the innovative FSI technology manages to offer a better flow of engine revolutions and a more simpler form of fuel compression offering higher amounts of output. The same FSI technology is also implemented in the Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI.
This 10 cylinder beast is capable of offering maximum outputs as high as 517.6 bhp at 8000 rpm while the torque the engine can reach is 530 Nm at 6500 rpm. With four valves per cylinder and a fluidic performance, the engine hits high speeds in the blink of an eye. Both these engines follow the high rev concept which can be explained as a principle of increasing the number of combustion processes so as to create more power thereby offering an improved power yield. The V10 engine reaches rpm as high as 8700 rpm but the fun part is that even at low speeds the long stroke units drive forward with an increased power. The Audi R8 V10 can reach the 100 kmph mark in mere 3.6 seconds.

Offered in petrol, there is bound to be an unsaid compromise in terms of fuel economy. But thanks to the impressive FSI technology and the compression system of the Audi R8, the mileage does improve significantly considering the amount of power the vehicle is generating. The Audi R8 4.2 litre FSI Quattro for instance offers 7 kmpl mileage on city roads and the same reaches 8.5 kmpl on highways. With a fuel tank capacity of 75 litres, the vehicle ceases to fail the rider in the middle of no where. The Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro too offers an interesting mileage all be it slightly less than the V8 on city roads. On city roads the V10 engine runs the vehicle at 4.5 kmpl mileage and the same reaches 9 kmpl on highways. So it is essentially created for highways and long rides which does not include a lot of halting and braking involvement.

When a vehicle runs at speeds an Audi R8 runs at, it is bound to create a concern about the safety of the passengers. Audi R8, both the variants pack all the quintessential features such as Anti lock braking system, EBD, central locking, brake assist, engine immobiliser, airbags for the driver and the passengers, power door locks, engine check warning, adjustable seats, crash sensor and most importantly robust build. Though the exterior seem too intricate and well carved, they still possess a level of comfort and rigidness that protects the passengers from most of the collision impacts.

Audi R8 comes with its signature Audi Space Frame (ASF). This is an innovative system of handling the vehicle’s driving dynamics with low energy consumption. This frame essentially consists of enclosed aluminium profiles which are complemented by large multifunctional castings. The impact of this frame is only evident when one compares this to the traditional design elements which could have resulted in a whopping 120 extra kilos. Other than this the interesting S tronic transmission system offers the low fuel consumption capability of a manual transmission and effortless gear shifting prowess on an automatic. This creative masterpiece allows the rider to drive the car with no hassles thereby reaching speeds no man has ever seen.

If you can afford the car, just buy the car. It is an obvious move. There are very few cars which reach the perceivable limits of automobile engineering and Audi R8 is certainly one of them. There is no exaggeration in stating that it is the crown jewel of Audi and owning it means owning the very best by the very best. That itself should explain our take.

Though a unique vehicle in every way, Audi R8 can be seen competing with the Jaguar F Type , BMW M6 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.