2013 Audi R8 gets sharper

Audi has revealed the 2013 face-lifted flagship R8 with updated styling, carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts, a new 7-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automated transmission and the new range topping V10 Plus Coupe variant. 

Prominent design changes on the outside include new LED headlights and tail lamps, single frame grille with horizontal chrome inserts adorning the struts on the V10 variants, bumper, the diffuser which has been pulled upwards and two round glossy tailpipe trim sections.

LED headlamps are now standard across the R8 range, and the diodes for the high and low beams are placed above and below the daylight running lamps. The tail lamps feature a new design, the front and rear indicators  get dynamic displays; essentially they light up from the inside to the outside in the direction that the car is about to turn. LED engine compartment lights are available as an option on all models except the Plus which has them as standard.

The interiors have been spruced up too. The ‘monoposto’, a long arc curve running around the cockpit in the area of the driver, dominates the interior design. New R8 badges adorn the flattened rim of the optional multi-function sports steering wheel, the gearshift or selector lever, at the door sill trims, in the instrument cluster and on the start screen of the on-board monitor. Electrically adjustable sports seats are optional on the V8 variants and standard on the V10. The control and trim elements are either made of subdued chrome strips or painted black; the needles in the instrument cluster and the shift paddles have been slightly modified. The R8 V10 and the R8 V10 plus come with the navigation system plus and the Bang & Olufsen audio as standard on-board features. 

The R8 is offered in two solid colours and four metallic shades. A matte colour option is exclusively offered for the V10 Plus variant. The side blades on the coupé come in eight colours, while the convertible top of the R8 Spyder comes in black, red or brown.

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The R8’s powertrains, combined with its lightweight body give it some seriously good performance figures. The 4.2-litre V8 produces 430PS of power and 430 Nm of torque. Coupled with the S-tronic transmission, the unit propels the coupe from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds and to a top speed of 302km/h. The V8 Spyder has a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 300km/h.  The 5.2-litre V10 produces 525PS of power and 530Nm of torque, with a 0-100km/h time of 3.6 seconds in the coupe and 3.8 seconds in the Spyder.

It is mated to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual clutch S-tronic transmission. The V8 variants are shod with 18-inch rims, while the V10 variants come with 19-inchers. Double wishbone forged aluminium suspension units are used on all four wheels. Braking duties are done by steel brake discs, with eight-piston brake calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear. The R8 is offered with new Wave discs, which have wavy exterior contour, and are almost two kilogrammes lighter than conventional discs of the same size. 

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The top end R8 V10 Plus Coupe’s front splitter, OVRM housings, side blades, lateral air intakes and diffuser are made of CFRP. It also gets carbon ceramic brake discs as standard. It gets a more powerful version of the 5.2-litre V10 engine, which produces 549PS of power and 540Nm of torque. Combined with the S-tronic transmission (which is standard on the Plus) propels the car from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 317km/h. 

The new R8 will go on sale in Europe by end of the year. The base V8 Coupe will cost upward of Rs 77 lakh, while the Spyder will cost about Rs 85 lakh. The V10 variants will cost from Rs 1.05-1.2 crore for the range topping V10 Plus.

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