2012 Audi R8 news, pictures, and information

2012 MY Audi R8 Coupe and Spyder

	Vital Stats
Engine : 4.2 L., 8-cylinder Power: 430 hp Torque: 316 ft-lbs Engine : 5.2 L., 10-cylinder Power: 525 hp Torque: 391 ft-lbs
6-speed Manual, 6-speed Automatic

Seats are constructed of either leather / Alcantara® for the 4.2 or Nappa leather in the 5.2. Thermal-resistant leather used for seats in the Spyder lowers the surface temperature by up to 68 degrees on hot, sunny days. Available leather options abound, allowing owners to customize the R8 to their personal tastes. Other personalization is available wîth the selection of carbon fiber Sigma interior inlays, door sills and available illuminated door sill inserts displaying the R8 model insignia.

The Audi R8, Audi R8 Spyder, Audi R8 GT and Audi R8 GT Spyder

• 4.2 FSI quattro wîth 316 kW (430 hp)

• 5.2 FSI quattro wîth 386 kW (525 hp)

The engines' power flows to either a six-speed manual transmission or the R tronic controlled in this case via either a joystick on the center console or paddles on the §teering wheel. The automatic transmission changes gears extremely fast, and the launch control program enables the Audi R8 to make stunningly fast starts wîth perfectly controlled slip.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive is tailored to the mid-engine concept wîth a rear-biased axle load distribution, sending roughly 85 percent of the power to the rear wheels in the standard distribution. The heart of the system is a viscous coupling at the front axle, which can transfer up to 30 percent of the torque to the front within milliseconds, if needed.

Chassis
The chassis of the Audi R8 is just as well suited for blasting through corners as it is for casual cruising. Aluminum double wishbones locate the wheels up front and at the back. The setup for the R8 wîth V10 engine is somewhat stiffer than for the R8 4.2 FSI. The top model comes standard wîth 19-inch wheels. All four floating brake discs are internally vented and perforated. A total of 24 pistons clamp down on them.

The optional carbon fiber-ceramic brakes are extremely lightweight, strong, and durable. The Audi magnetic ride adaptive shock absorber system is standard in the R8 5.2 FSI quattro and an option wîth the V8.

The Audi R8 Spyder
The open-top high-performance sports car is a favorite wîth the public and experts alike. Its most recent successes include category victories in the 'Auto Trophy' from Auto Zeitung and being voted among 'The Best Cars of 2011' by the readers of auto motor und sport magazine.

The Audi R8 Spyder has its own unique touches. It does not include the storage space behind the seats and sideblades on the flanks. The rear side panels and the large cover over the compartment for the top are made of a carbon-fiber composite. Two cowls extending to the spoiler lip give the long back of the car a powerful profile.

Typically Audi, the top is made of cloth, which keeps the total weight and the vehicle's center of gravity low. It requires little space when open and harmonizes ideally wîth the design line when closed. With the standard hydraulic motor, the soft top opens and closes within 19 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). It is perfectly suitable for high-speed driving on the highway and is very quiet.

The separate wind deflector can be installed in just two steps. The heated glass rear window is integrated into the bulkhead separately and can be raised and lowered via a switch. The bulkhead also includes integrated rollover protection. The Spyder's ASF body is reinforced in key areas, yet weighs just six kilograms (13.23 lb) more than that of the R8 Coupé.

The leather seats of the open two-seater are specially pigmented to reduce heating as a result of the sun's rays. Among the other options is the seatbelt microphone for the hands-free unit, which makes it possible to talk on the phone wîth the top down on the highway. Integrated into the belts are three small microphones; a fourth is mounted on the windshield frame. The seat belt microphone is also available for the R8 Coupé.

Engine lineup:

• 4.2 FSI quattro wîth 316 kW (430 hp)

• 5.2 FSI quattro wîth 386 kW (525 hp)

The Audi R8 GT and the R8 GT Spyder
Even lighter, more powerful and faster than ever – the Audi R8 GT and the recently introduced R8 GT Spyder are the exclusive top models of the R8 family. Hand-built in a limited production run of just 333 units each, the coupe was already sold out long ago.

The 5.2-liter V10 wîth direct injection has been boosted to an output of 412 kW (560 hp). Exhaustive fine-tuning has reduced the R8 GT Coupé's curb weight by 100 kilograms (220.46 lb) to 1,525 kilograms (3,362.05 lb), thus improving the power-to-weight ratio to 2.72 kilograms (6.00 lb) per hp. The soft-top R8 GT Spyder also demonstrates the Audi ultra-lightweight construction concept. Here the corresponding values are minus 85 kilograms (187.39 lb), 1,640 kilograms (3,615.58 lb) and 2.93 kilograms (6.46 lb) per hp.

The R8 GT accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 320 km/h (198.84 mph). The Spyder needs two-tenths of a second more for the standard sprint and tops out at 317 km/h (196.97 mph).

Engine lineup:

5.2 FSI quattro wîth 412 kW (560 hp)
The Audi R8 GT and R8 GT Spyder are driving machines wîth extreme lateral acceleration and lightning-fast, nearly instantaneous reactions. The 19-inch wheels keep the cars planted firmly on the asphalt, and the carbon fiber ceramic brakes easily keep the power under control.

A fixed rear spoiler of carbon fiber composite provides the necessary downforce on the rear axle. Many additional components, including the cover of the top compartment and the large side panels of the Spyder, are also made of carbon fiber composite. The chassis of the standard bucket seats is made of glass fiber-reinforced plastic. A chassis of carbon fiber composite is available as an option.