The 2008 Audi R8
Why It's Special:
So what exactly does a car company do when they have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 7 times in the last 8 years? Well according to Audi the answer is to build a supercar, a masterpiece to showcase the technical prowess that has served them so well in professional racing. Enter the 2008 Audi R8 Road Car, a car containing the racing knowledge gathered over the last decade, all wrapped up in a $120,000 package. Small teams of highly trained specialists construct the R8, working in a new addition to Audi’s Neckersulm factory, and can crank out a maximum of 15 cars per day.
Under the Hood:
The foundation for the car’s outstanding performance is an aluminum and magnesium space frame. This not only ensures incredible rigidity, but keeps weight at a minimum for enhanced performance. The body features a very progressive design; each piece is constructed with form and function in mind. A perfect example is the twin side blades, not only do they provide striking styling but they also provide a steady stream of cool air for the engine, crucial to any performance car.
Speaking of the engine, power comes from a 4.2 liter DOHC V8 cranking out 420 horsepower and 317 ft-lbs of torque. Power is transmitted to the wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox or Audi’s 6-speed R-tronic automated manual transmission.
Sublime handling is provided by the latest version of Audi’s sport-biased Quattro all-wheel drive and magnetic ride suspension. Under optimal conditions the engine’s torque is split 44% / 56% front to rear, and when required the system can send an additional 35% to the front wheels.
The Verdict:
All these features combine to form a supercar that is quite faithful to its motorsport counterpart, 0-60mph is accomplished in 4.6 seconds and top speed is a very quick 187mph. While most supercar manufacturers rely on gaudy horsepower and UFO inspired styling, the Audi R8 simply extracts the maximum level of performance out of every single nut and bolt, a classic over-achiever in every sense of the word and perhaps its defining feature.
// Continue to the 1991 BMW Motorsport M3 E30 //