2019 Audi R8 Decennium

HOMAGE TO TEN YEARS OF THE V10 ENGINE: THE AUDI R8 V10 DECENNIUM

Ten-year reign of much-loved V10 engine in the R8 is commemorated by special limited edition Decennium model
•Limited series of 222 cars, individually numbered, of which ten will be ÚK specification examples
•Coupé with exclusive design highlights
•Edition model coincides with sales launch of the new Audi R8
•Open for order from today priced from £171,700 OTR – first deliveries in March

Neckarsulm, February 28, 2019 – A 620PS V10 engine, matt paintwork, bronze-coloured highlights inside and out, and strictly limited: Audi is celebrating the enduring appeal of the V10 engine with the Audi R8 V10 Decennium, a special edition limited to just 222 units worldwide which will briefly form part of the new Audi R8 range. The name Decennium translates from the Latin as 'decade,' referencing the ten years in which the much loved naturally aspirated engine has captivated on the road and in motorsport.




The interior of the Audi R8 V10 Decennium is also finished entirely in black, with the inlays in gloss carbon fibre adding highlights. The quilted diamond pattern stitching on the sport seats is finished in gloss black; the contrasting stitching in a gloss copper tone. The selector lever and the steering wheel – with Alcantara rim and black 12 o'clock marking – feature copper-coloured stitching, as do the centre armrest, the door armrest and the door rail.

A 'Decennium' logo adorns the centre console, the doors, the inlays in the gloss carbon fibre door sill trims and the logo projector. The badge in the centre console stands out visually from the gloss carbon fibre around it. It comes with a partially matt finish – a process patented by Audi. The door light projects the 'Decennium' logo onto the ground, supplemented by the model's sequential limited-edition number. As with all R8 variants, the Audi virtual cockpit, MMI navigation plus and a reversing camera feature as standard. In addition, the ten Decennium editions arriving in the ÚK also feature Audi laser lights, Bang and Olufsen audio and Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping.



The launch of the special edition Decennium model will coincide with the arrival of the new Audi R8, which features an even sharper exterior design and further improvements to suspension and performance: The two naturally aspirated engines available for the series-production model now develop 570PS and 620PS. The R8 Coupé V10 quattro will be priced from £128,200 and the R8 Spyder V10 quattro from £136,890. The performance variants begin at £141,200 for the Coupé and £149,890 for the Spyder.

A decade of success: the V10 engine in the Audi R8

The V10 naturally aspirated engine found its way into the Audi R8 in two versions in early 2009 – with a displacement of 5.2 litres, direct injection and a maximum output of 525PS.

In the R8 GT edition model launched in 2010 the ten-cylinder unit produced 560PS, while the R8 V10 plus (from 2012 onward) produced 550PS.

Audi extensively overhauled the 5.2 FSI for the second-generation R8, which followed in 2015: The addition of intake manifold fuel injection improved the exhaust gas characteristics, a COD system (cylinder on demand) disabled five cylinders in partial-load operation, thus increasing efficiency. And the 5.2 FSI now responded even more directly and revved even more freely. The sales launch offered a choice of variants with 540PS and 610PS. The current upgrade further increases the power output to 570PS and 620PS.

The defining characteristics of the V10 unit come from motorsport, including the high-rev concept up to 8,700 rpm and the dry sump lubrication that permits a low installation position. The cylinder banks of the V10 engine face each other at 90 degree angles. The crankshaft is designed as a common-pin shaft and alternates the ignition intervals between 54 and 90 degrees. The cylinder firing sequence of 1 – 6 – 5 – 10 – 2 – 7 – 3 – 8 – 4 – 9 creates a unique pulse and an unmistakable sound. At a maximum speed of 8,700 rpm the pistons cover an average 26.9 metres every second – surpassing today's Formula One figures. At this speed, the piston experiences an acceleration equivalent to a load of around two tons at its reversal points.

The high-performance engine also achieved great success on the racetrack, making its debut in the GT3 Sport in the Audi R8 LMS in 2009. The R8 LMS ultra followed in 2012, along with the second-generation R8 LMS in 2015, which was upgraded in the autumn of 2018. In early 2018 the R8 LMS GT4 joined Audi Sport's customer sport programme. In both GT categories the 5.2 FSI has only minimal differences to the volume-production engine. It dispenses with dual injection, in the intake passage there is an air restrictor, the control unit map characteristics and the bearing shells have been modified. With a service interval of over 6,000 miles and mileage of over 12,000 miles to the first overhaul, the 5.2 FSI sets new standards in motorsport. Many teams are even using it for additional cycles.

By the end of 2018, the drivers of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 had won 62 overall driver rankings and 78 further titles in class rankings. The Audi drivers took overall victory in 24-hour races eleven times. Seven victories at 12-hour races and three wins at 25-hour races round off the ten year track record of the GT3 sports car.

Source - Audi