2011 Audi R8 GT - Car News
The Audi R8 solidified its supercar status when it received a version of the 5.2-liter V-10 from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. While the R8’s V-10 is nearly identical, it is slightly less powerful, and it seemed reasonable that corporate politics might prevent the R8 from ever matching the horsepower figure of the Lambo. Now that this limited-edition R8 GT is granted the same 552-hp output as the little Lambo, the raging bull might very well be huffing, snorting, and ping-ponging off its pen walls in a fit of rage. To add insult to injury, the LP560’s weight advantage over the V-10 R8—3507 pounds versus 3755, according to our scales—crumbles, as the R8 GT drops an estimated 220 pounds. Ruh-roh, we smell a family feud in the works.Diet and Exercise
Limited to just 333 units, the R8 GT receives a lengthy list of modifications over the standard V-10 car. The aforementioned power upgrade—27 additional hp and 7 bonus lb-ft of torque, for a total of 398—comes from revised engine electronics. (Considering that the R8’s previous tuning was a revision of the Gallardo’s electronics, this perhaps counts as a “de-revision.”) Complementing the powertrain enhancements is a specially tuned ESP system that Audi says allows for “spectacular, but safe” oversteer when in Sport mode. We like the sound of that. Red accents on the engine recall that other, non-Lambo Italian supercar maker. The only transmission is Audi’s single-clutch R tronic automated manual.
When it came to trimming those 220 pounds from the R8, Audi’s engineers, like Lamborghini’s Gallardo Superleggera crew, relied heavily on carbon fiber and polycarbonate. Most noticeable is the new carbon-fiber rear wing. The fixed, matte-finish wing attaches to a rear hatch also made from carbon fiber, instead of the regular R8’s aluminum. The lightweight weave also is used for the rear bumper, with its unique vertical vents aft of the wheels; a large rear diffuser; and a double-lipped front splitter. Further weight reduction comes from replacing the glass in the bulkhead window and engine-compartment cover with polycarbonate. The rest of the weight slips off thanks to a thinner windshield, less sound insulation, a lighter exhaust, lightweight carpet, and a set of fiberglass seat frames.
Audi says the performance upshot of all these mods is a 0-to-62-mph run of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 199 mph, but that sprint claim is predictably conservative. We’ve clocked a 5.2-liter R8 with R tronic to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, and that’s without the weight savings and additional power. As equipped with the GT package, expect this Audi to be more on pace with the LP560-4, at around 3.2 seconds to 60.
Additional Features
A limited-edition exotic wouldn’t be complete without a few somewhat boy-racerish add-ons. Beyond the new rear wing, it’s impossible to miss the red-anodized brake calipers, but other subtle changes set the GT farther apart. In the rear, check out the round, softball-size exhaust pipes that sit below a valance now finished in matte gray. The taillight settings are darkened and finished with clear lenses, yielding a classy look that’s one of our favorite changes. Along the sides, GT badges accompany the matte carbon sideblades and mirror caps, along with the beautiful 19-inch forged wheels covering carbon-ceramic brakes. Two different wheel styles are optional and can be paired with wider rear tires. Skins intended for hard-core street and track use are also available. Finally, the matte-black front grille is flanked by standard LED headlights and curved carbon-fiber winglets at the corners of the nose to increase downforce. Color choices are limited to Samoa Orange, Suzuka Gray, Ice Silver, and Phantom Black.
Sliding inside the black and gray cockpit, passengers are greeted with Alcantara covering the headliner, pillars, steering wheel, and parking-brake lever. A sharkskin-look material can be found pretty much everywhere Alcantara is not, including the door panels, instrument cowl, and dash. Drivers will stare at white-faced gauges with red GT logos, and toggle an R tronic shifter post that uses carbon fiber to form a pair of prongs, cradling the individually numbered shift knob like a precious gemstone. Navigation is standard and customers can opt for a 465-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system, more carbon-fiber bits including seatbacks and engine jewelry, Alcantara-lined “R8 GT” embroidered seats, colored seatbelts, and tacky GT floor mats that look like they belong on the pages of JC Whitney.
For those intending to really wring out their GT, Audi is offering to equip the cars with a race package that includes a bolt-in roll bar with red or black four-point belts, a fire extinguisher, and a battery kill switch. The bolt-in bar can also be upgraded to a full roll cage.
The R8 GT is set to go on sale in Germany for €193,000, or about $255,000 at the current exchange rate. So, will we see a few copies in the U.S.? It has yet to be confirmed, but our sources say it’s quite probable that some of the 333 cars will be rationed for our roads. We expect U.S. cars to come in around $200K, but don’t expect to see the lightweight seats or race packages offered. We’re okay with that, as long as we get a chance behind the wheel.
source by carsanddriver
0 comments to "2011 Audi R8 GT - Car News"
Blog Archive
-
▼
2010
(304)
-
▼
maio
(144)
- Mercedes-Benz to Style Helicopter Interiors, Yacht...
- 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Will Use More Carbon Fiber
- BMW, Mercedes-Benz Fight to Outsell Each Other in ...
- Fit for a King: Omar Bongo’s Mercedes-Benz 600 Lan...
- Lorinser Gives Revamped Mercedes-Benz S-Class More...
- Mercedes-Benz Electric Vito Endures Cold Weather T...
- Mercedes-Benz Considering Making S-class Hybrid-only?
- Is Mercedes-Benz Planning a BMW Mega City Rival?
- Mercedes Announces New C-Class Coupe is Coming in ...
- New York 2010: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon, R...
- New York 2010: Mercedes SLS GT3 Race Car Debuts, S...
- Upcoming Baby AMG May Get Supercharged V-6, Not Tu...
- Mercedes-Benz Crafts GT3 Racing Car Out of SLS AMG
- Mercedes-Benz to Build Subcompact B-Class AMG, Des...
- Mercedes-Benz Anticipates No U.S. CAFE Penalty in ...
- Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz B-class Could Spawn SUV, Se...
- Next-Generation Mercedes-Benz SLK Spied
- Audi's Stronghold in China Threatened by BMW, Merc...
- Audi and Xbox to Host Forza 3 Tournament in New Yo...
- Hybrid Haulers: Ford Announces C-Max Hybrids for E...
- Chrysler Sales Drop Eight Percent in January 2010
- Marchionne: A Chrysler-Lancia Merger Could Happen ...
- Chrysler May Abandon Sebring Nameplate
- Chrysler to Emerge Victoriously according to LaHood
- 2010 Detroit: Let the Chrysler Badging Begin
- Chrysler 300, PT Cruiser, Town & Country Updated ...
- 2011 Volvo S60 to Debut at Geneva Motor Show in March
- Despite Facelift, 2011 Volvo C70 Pricing Still Sta...
- Why The Toyota - Tesla Deal Works
- 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Equinox Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Impala Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Traverse Overview
- 2010 Cadillac Escalade Overview
- 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Overview
- 2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT Overview
- 2010 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Overview
- 2010 Cadillac SRX Overview
- 2010 Cadillac STS Overview
- 2010 Acura MDX Overview
- 2010 Acura RDX Overview
- 2010 Acura RL Overview
- 2010 Acura TL Overview
- 2010 Acura TSX Overview
- 2010 Acura ZDX Overview
- Driven: 2011 Ford Fiesta
- 2010 mazda cx7
- 2010 Audi Q7 Overview
- Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept
- 2010 Honda Civic Overview
- 2010 Honda Accord Overview
- Hodan RA-X
- Car model
- 2010 Audi A1 e-Tron Car
- 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
- Best Lexus IS F Car Wallpapers
- 2011 Lexus CT 200h
- BMW Inline Six Motorcycle Concept
- Paul Yaffe-Built 2006 Yellow Road Glide
- The 2011 CTS-V Coupe begins production in the summ...
- 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe – Rival For 3 Series Coupe...
- 2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept At Detroit 2010...
- Obama denied the hybrid presidential limo he wanted!
- Audi RS6 Avant By Reifen Koch: 700 HP And 205 MPH,...
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera The Ligh...
- Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP 570-4 Present...
- Lamborghini Gallardo Twin Turbo “Race Version,” An...
- Lamborghini Conquisto Concept by David Cardoso – O...
- First Pictures Of The Extreme Lamborghini Gallardo...
- Hamann Ferrari California
- Lamborghini Estoque
- 2011 Triumph Sprint GT 1050 First Look
- New Audi A2, The Audi Between A1 And A3
- Frankfurt Auto Show ladies – must see gallery of g...
- What can a VIDEO be about that includes a BMW S 10...
- Sexy Girls At 2010 King Of Europe Drift
- Harley-Davidson and Marisa Miller, what mix could ...
- Exige bursts into flames at N-ring 24h race, what ...
- 2011 Ford Explorer Caught Undisguised!
- 2011 BMW X6 to Get Single-Turbo N55 Inline-6, 8-Sp...
- 2011 Audi A8L / A8L W12
- 2012 Audi S8 - Spied
- 2011 Ford Mustang GT SMS 302 / SMS 302SC - Car News
- 2013 BMW 3-series Rendered - Car News
- First Details Of The 2012 Audi A6
- The Next Generation Audi A4 To “Loose” 330 Punds
- All Ferrari 599 GTO Copies Sold Before World Premiere
- Pink Lamborghini
- TOP 10: The Most Expensive Cars In The World
- Lamborghini Reventon Roadster For Sale, Copy #01 –...
- 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S - First Drive Review
- BMW Concept Gran Coupé - Auto Shows
- 2011 Audi R8 GT - Car News
- 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS - Official Photos and Info
-
▼
maio
(144)
Etiquetas
- Acura
- Audi
- Bentley
- BMW
- Bugatti
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Dodge
- Ferrari
- Ford
- Gallery
- GM
- History
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Indy
- Infiniti
- Lamborghini
- Lexus
- Machimoto
- Mazda
- Mercedes
- Mercedes-Benz
- Morgan
- Motorcycle
- Motorsports
- News
- Nissan
- Panoz
- Porsche
- Reviews
- Rolls-Royce
- Saab
- Saturn
- Scion
- Spyker
- Subaru
- Suzuki
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
Etiquetas
Acura
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bugatti
Cadillac
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Ford
Gallery
GM
Happy new Year 2011
History
Honda
Hyundai
Indy
Infiniti
Lamborghini
Lexus
Machimoto
Mazda
Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz
Morgan
Motorcycle
Motorsports
News
Nissan
Panoz
Porsche
Reviews
Rolls-Royce
Saab
Saturn
Scion
Spyker
Subaru
Suzuki
Tesla
Toyota
Volkswagen
Volvo
Enviar um comentário