In the lead up to the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March, Ingolstadt has release more details of its next gen. Audi R8 supercar.
Engine
This second gen. Audi R8 will initially launch with the a range-topping V10 – it’s the same 5,2-litre engine found in the Lamborghini Huracan. VW/Audi do, of course, own the Lamborghini brand. The engine will have the same outputs in the R8 – 449 kW and 560 N.m – and the the only transmission is a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch unit.
Later, we can expect a V8 along with a full EV e-tron and plug-in hybrid variant.
Chassis
Along with an engine, the R8 will also share the Hurcan’s platform though is a tad smaller and therefore also lighter. There will be more use of carbon-fibre in this second gen. R8 says Heinz Hollerweger, the chief of Audi’s quattro performance division, which is responsible for Audi’s RS cars as well as the R8.
This time not its not used in some of the body panels but also integrated into the vehicle structure to add stiffness and remove weight. Audi claim a final curb mass of around 1 450 kg, making it some 65kg lighter than the outgoing model.
Thanks to a new electro-hydraulically operated multi-plate clutch, the standard all-wheel-drive quattro system will now also have a fully variable distribution of torque between the front and rear axles. There’s also a new electronic power steering system that replaces the previous hydraulic setup.
Inside
As debuted in the new Audi TT, the R8 get’s Audi’s new Virtual Concept that features a highly configurable 12.3-inch screen on the the centre consol that displays the vital vehicle. A host of lesser-used functions are asigned to the touch screens, controller clicks, or voice commands, with the more frequent functions move to steering-wheel toggles to make space in the dash for that big screen. dash.
The Geneva Motor Show starts on 3 March 2015.