Audi R8 GT

Audi has unleashed its range-topping and highest performing R8 model yet in the form of the R8 GT coupe - a true supercar that brings a whole new level of performance to the already respected R8 lineup.
Marking the ultimate in R8 performance, the R8 GT uses Audi's 5.2-liter V10, producing 560 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. Although the R8 GT focuses on lightness, it retains Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. The quattro system delivers power to the wheels with a 15 percent front, 85 percent rear split by default. If needed, power distribution can be swapped to provide for 30 percent in the front and 70 in the rear.
Since AWD was retained, Audi had to find non-traditional ways to drop the weight of the R8 GT to a total of just 3,362 lbs.
How Audi managed to shave over 220 pounds from the R8
To achieve the drop in weight, the German automaker first turned to the glass on the supercar. The windshield now uses thinner glass, with the bulkhead between the passenger cell and engine compartment, as well as the window in the rear hatch being replaced with lightweight polycarbonate. The changes to the glass shaved just shy of 20 lbs from the total weight. The switch to the fixed rear wing saved 2.65 lbs, the thinner sheet metal and additional body cutouts dropped 5.73 more lbs.
Audi didn’t just cut the materials out, they also swapped them out. The rear hatch, rear bumper and slideblades are now made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, saving another 30 lbs. Other various vehicle technical components, such as brakes and suspension bits, were modified for an impressive 43 lbs of savings – before turning to the interior for changes.
Inside, Audi swapped in lighter carpet and bucket seats, along with various structural changes for another 87 lbs of weight savings.
Although not involved in weight savings, the R8 GT also features white dial gauges with unique badges, along with a newly designed gear selector lever made from CFRP and aluminum. The center tunnel and the door liners sport decorative inlays in the body color, while the door sills feature trims of matte aluminum decorated with the R8 GT logo.
R8 GT gets an exclusive look
Audi says that many of the changes made to reduce the weight of the R8 GT also reduce the weight and enhance the aerodynamics. The R8 GT produces even more downforce at high speeds than the standard production model – without any increase in the Cd value (0.36) or frontal area (21.42 sq ft).
The grille is painted matte black, surrounded by a single frame which is finished in matte titanium gray – along with the struts and slats in the air intakes. The lower front splitter is double lipped and is made from carbon fiber. On either side of the front fascia you will find curved flics to help increase downforce over the front axle – which are also formed from carbon fiber.
Down each side of the R8 GT are the characteristic slingblades – finished in matte carbon fiber – the same material found in the reduced-size side mirrors.
Under the R8 GT sit 19-inch, twin five-spoke wheels with a Y design that are finished in a titanium color. the wheels are wrapped in 235/35/R19 rubber in the front with an 8.5-inch wide wheel, while the rear wheels are 11 inches wide and are covered in 295/30/R19 rubber. Audi says that upon request it can also fit 305/30R19 tires for the rear.
Being as the R8 GT is a supercar, buyers are given flexibility for other wheel designs and tires as well, including Sport Cup tires.
Hiding behind whichever wheels the buyer decides to go with are internally ventilated and drilled carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs, shedding nine lbs from the standard brakes. Rotors measure 15 inches in the front and 14 inches in the rear - the same size as some wheels on economy cars.
Behind the R8 GT – a view which will be common for standard R8 owners – there are several obvious and unique changes. The motorized rear wing has been replaced with a large, fixed wing, also finished in matte carbon fiber. The ventilation louvers found on both sides of the rear hatch and the CFRP bumper, which now integrates the larger, round tailpipes and vents for the wheel wells, have also been redesigned.
Audi made R8 GT available in Samoa Orange metallic, Suzuka Gray metallic, Ice Silver metallic and Phantom Black pearl.
Lighter AND more powerful
Rather than stopping at just shedding weight to provide for performance enhancements, Audi decided to also increase the output of its 5.2-liter V10 to 560 horsepower. Torque is up to 398 lb-ft – an increase of 7.38 over the standard R8. Audi says the changes came from changes to the vehicle’s ECU, and allow the R8 GT to “sprint from a standing start to highway speed (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds,” and on to 124 mph in just 10.8 seconds. The R8 GT tops out at 198.84 mph.
Audi says that the ESP stabilization program has also received unique tuning for the R8 GT, including a Sport mode with the push of a button. Audi says that using Sport mode will provide for “spectacular, but safe, oversteer when accelerating out of a corner.”

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Audi reveal R8 2012

Audi first unveiled the R8 -- its first ever mid-engine sports cars -- for the 2008 model year, and the model has continued largely unchanged in base trim since.
The base 4.2 R8 has a 420 horsepower high-revving V8 engine and all-wheel-drive. It uses the mid-engine Lamborghini Gallardo platform and starts at $114,200, positioning it squarely against the BMW M6, Porsche 911, and Aston Martin Vantage.
The car features a choice of LED or Xenon headlamps surrounded by LED running lights and indicators. LEDs are also used in the engine bay to make the impressive V8 visible even at night.
Both a standard manual and an automated manual transmission are offered. Claimed zero to 62 mph time is 4.6 seconds, though this number is likely conservative.
Interior
The interior has a driver-oriented cockpit architecture, integrating the driver between the dashboard and the high center console. The instrument panel above the console is angled slightly towards the driver. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is a typical feature of the sportiest Audi models, and also enables comfortable sports car entry and exit.
The sports seats are trimmed as standard in a Leather/Alcantara combination, or optionally in full leather. Alternatively, the R8 can also be fitted with bucket seats, specially developed by quattro GmbH. There is plenty of room for the two occupants, with comfort levels well beyond the norm of high-performance sports cars. There is space behind the seats to stow large bags, or even two golf bags. The luggage compartment at the front has a capacity of 100 litres.
With numerous trim variants and applications in Piano finish or Carbon sigma, there are few limits to the range of customization options for the interior.
The drivetrain
At 7,800 rpm the 4.2-liter engine delivers 309 kW (420 bhp) of power output. Peak torque is 430 Newton-meters from 4.500 to 6,000 rpm. And no less than 90 per cent of this maximum torque is maintained consistently throughout a wide engine speed range from 3,500 all the way to 7,600 rpm. As a result of these qualities, the eight-cylinder power unit provides ample thrust in most driving situation.
The engine is a high-revving unit. The maximum engine speed is 8,250 rpm. Two transmissions are available: a manual 6-speed gearbox or optionally the Audi R tronic sequential-shift gearbox, with a joystick gear-shift on the center console and, most especially, the paddles mounted on the steering wheel. 'Shift by wire' technology provides for very fast gear-shifting and an outstanding power-to-weight ratio, allied to compact gearbox dimensions. The Sport mode, with its fast shifting, guarantees the absolute maximum in terms of driving fun. An automatic mode can also be selected.
The car is fitted with permanent four-wheel drive, which distributes the power variably to the front and rear axles by way of a viscous clutch. On the Audi R8 the legendary quattro system is adapted to the axle load distribution typical of mid-engined cars.
The chassis
The chassis features forged aluminum double wishbones at the front and rear. At the front they are triangulated, while at the rear the top one is triangulated and the bottom one is a triangulated wishbone with a track rod. This provides for optimum wheel control, and is a geometry which has proved itself to be the ideal solution in delivering agility, maximum steering precision and precisely defined self-steering characteristics.
Direct, hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering provides optimum feedback to assist the driver.
The spring and damper set-up is stiff in order to deliver maximum driving dynamics, while still providing a quite astonishing level of ride comfort. This is particularly true when the 'Audi magnetic ride' adaptive damper system is chosen as an alternative to the standard gas-filled shock absorbers.
Instead of the conventional damper fluid, a magnetorheological fluid is used -- in other words, a fluid whose viscosity can be influenced by an electromagnetic field. This effect enables the damping characteristic to be influenced electronically at will and instantaneously, by applying a voltage to the electromagnets.
Audi magnetic ride uses this property to deliver the correct damping forces in every driving situation. A computer determines the prevailing driving situation in a matter of milliseconds. Drivers can choose from two driving programs depending on whether they want to drive in a highly sporty style -- with the magnetorheological fluid adjusted to a low viscosity -- or with the emphasis more on ride comfort.
The Audi R8 is fitted with 6-arm 18-inch wheels as standard, and can optionally be ordered with 19-inch wheels. The 235/40 size tires at the front and up to 285/35 at the rear provide the necessary road-holding. The mid-engined sports car's long wheelbase and extremely low center of gravity ensure that it always retains maximum stability.
Equipment and trim
Xenon plus lights, LED rear lights and daytime running lights, 18-inch aluminium wheels, an audio system with 7-inch monitor, an anti-theft alarm and Leather/Alcantara interior trim are just some of the items on the extensive list of standard features.
The range of optional extras includes a Bang & Olufsen sound system, featuring an output of 465 watts and 12 specially designed speakers. A microphone-based vehicle noise compensation system adjusts audio levels to changing road conditions and speeds.
The acoustic parking system and a rear-view camera help the driver to maneuver into even the tightest of spaces. The radio/navigation system plus, featuring a large-format color monitor and MMI keypad, combines extensive functionality with extreme user-friendliness.
A total of eight exterior colors are available, from Ibis White to Phantom Black, pearl effect.

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