Life & Style | Motoring
For pure pleasure
The Audi R8 has a beautiful exterior and exquisite interiors too. The car also sets a precedent: it is the first Audi not to have the Audi rings on the front grille. Philip Shane examines its über-modern design.
- By Philip Shane, Dubai-based motorhead
- Published: 23:37 January 8, 2009
- The car also sets a precedent: it is the first Audi not to have the Audi rings on the front grille.
- Image Credit: Philip Shane
Paul Orfalea, the well-known American entrepreneur and philanthropist, in one of his recent blogs stated that people today are brainwashed into believing that what we own determines who we are. I think it's very true. Many people like to believe that they are judged on the basis of the stuff they own or the cars they drive. With the global economic situation, people may finally start focusing on bare necessities and simple things and somehow get stronger financially. I know many great people who own and drive really modest and low-profile cars. The greatest of people rarely owned anything more than great minds and great followings.
On the other hand, enthusiasm is a whole different thing if you ask me. Enthusiasts rarely do anything to convince other people. They do it for themselves. They know what's important and they realise the need for balance in life. A sensible car enthusiast does whatever he can within his means. And if you are a real motoring enthusiast with deep pockets and supercars are well within your reach, the Audi R8 would fit in pretty nicely in your budget and lifestyle.
An 'everyday supercar' is what motorheads who love this car call it. Sporting Audi's latest über-modern designs, this beast looks like it means business. And driving it only reaffirms whatever you imagined it would be when you first looked at it. It's no wonder that it was Tony Stark's choice of urban transport as well. (Tony Stark is the son of industrialist and inventor Howard Stark, who showed his mechanical aptitude and extraordinary inventive genius at a very early age.)
Tuned to perfection
I had the pleasure of test-driving this car at the 4.2 km circuit at the Dubai Autodrome. Audi charges a training
fee for enthusiasts who want to try out this car for an entire day complete with an accompanying pace car with an instructor who guides you into familiarising the track as well as responsibly pushing the R8 to its limits.
This car is tuned to perfection and its 4.2-litre V8 mid-engine design mated with the R-Tronic sequential auto gearbox does everything possible to thrust you into insane levels of acceleration and performance.
The R8 is also available with a 6-speed manual gear box. The ESP (Electronic Stability Program) intervention is a life-saver, especially for those who are just getting to terms with the curves at the circuit and the power of the vehicle. Driving without the ESP is really fun. Audi, however, does not let you completely switch off the ESP; it still maintains a certain level of control of the vehicle.
The R8 had recorded a lap time of 8.04 minutes around the Nürburgring 20.8 km track in Germany in 2007. This track, also known as 'The Ring' by enthusiasts, is often used by automotive companies for testing purposes and by media companies for comparative purposes. The R8 has also had five wins in the Le Mans 24-hour race making it the most successful sport prototype ever to compete there. Rumours are that a new V10 version of the R8 is scheduled for release soon.
The R8 sports Audi's 'Quattro' all-wheel-drive system, which on this car is a more refined version than the ones fitted in the Audi sedans. It has an axle load distribution of 44 to 56 per cent, and supplies between 10 and 35 per cent of the power from the engine to the front wheels according to actual needs. At the track, the handling and finesse of this car are outstanding. In addition to rocketing from 0 – 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, the engine's fine tuning has resulted in an exhaust sound that is aggressive at all times.
Saying that this car has a lot of road grip would be a real understatement considering the size of the tyres and its sophisticated drive systems and low centre of gravity. The car's handling and acceleration grow on you as you complete more and more laps around the circuit. Finally, after you've done many laps you realise that this car has actually begun to feel like it's a part of you. It fits you like a soft leather glove!
Appealing to the eye
The R8's dynamic sports suspension handles both racing and slow speed cross-country driving with ease. Hitting the brakes on this car was a great experience altogether. Stopping from a speed of 230 km/h on the race track was achieved in a few seconds with no less than 24 pistons gripping the ventilated disc brakes. The optional Ceramic Discs show no sign of fading even after repeated braking at high speeds.
The exteriors are eye-catchingly beautiful, perfectly designed and embody the Audi signature look. This is the first Audi that does not have the Audi rings on the front grille; instead, they are placed on the front end of the hood. Audi has adopted the 'Space Frame' design for the aluminium body making it light and rigid.
The body shell weighs only 210 kg! Largely hand-built at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm, Germany, this structure is worked on by precise measuring and processing tools. A characteristic feature of the side view of the R8 is the "sideblade", which acts as an air spoiler and also visually emphasises the
engine position.
The Audi R8 body is worked on very precisely and always generates the necessary down-thrust. The rear spoiler and fully-clad rear diffuser further help achieve dynamic stability at high speeds. The 12 LED daytime running lights and the standard Xenon headlamps give the Audi an unmistakable look. 'All-LED' headlights are an option on the R8, the first time on a production car, which produces much closer colours to daylight than Xenon or Halogen and the end result is better visibility and lesser fatigue for the driver's eyes.
The insides are well crafted too. The 'Monoposto' design dashboard on the R8 is based on a large arc encompassing the steering wheel and instruments; it provides the driver with a direct, visceral connection to the car.
Bang and Olufsen, like all their other fancy designer audio-visual products, are responsible for the sound system in the R8. It seems that every top audio-visual company has teamed up with a great car company and formed dynamic duos in the Motoring Sound segment.
There are no seats at the rear since the engine takes up all the space immediately after the front seats. The passenger cabin is a forward design giving the R8 its stunning looks. The only thing you see when you turn back from the driver's seat is a 6-disc CD changer. The R8 is a two-seater with comfortable leg room and comfy sports seats. Not too hard and grippy like rally car seats.
The rear of the car with the glass cover over the engine makes it look like a Supercar in addition to performing like one.
With a package
such as this, Audi has catered to real everyday motoring enthusiasts who need the feel and ride superiority of a Supercar in addition to the ease, luxury and drive-ability of a high-end daily car. Complemented by Audi's strong brand image and racing heritage, the R8 has brought out the best in both segments and is sure to attract a huge following.
Philip Shane is a Dubai-based motorhead
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