Tiff tests the new R8 on the road and track in Las Vegas. Brilliant! The 2008
R8 is Audi's first mid-engine sports cars, packing a high-revving V8 engine
that's good for 420 horsepower, in addition to all-wheel drive and the sexiest
styling we've seen in a very long time. Built on the Lamborghini Gallardo
platform, the R8 also features Xenon plus lights, LED rear lights, 18-inch
aluminum wheels, an audio system with 7-inch monitor, and Leather/Alcantara
seats inside a super modern cockpit. My favorite feature though is the LEDs used
in the engine bay to make the R8's beastly V8 visible even at night.
At 7,800 rpm the 4.2-litre engine delivers 309 kW (420 bhp) of power output.
Peak torque is 430 Newton-metres from 4.500 to 6,000 rpm. And no less than 90
per cent of this maximum torque is maintained consistently throughout a wide
engine speed range from 3,500 all the way to 7,600 rpm. As a result of these
qualities, the eight-cylinder power unit provides maximum thrust in virtually
any driving situation. The performance figures are equally impressive: the R8
accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and reaches a top speed
of 301 km/h!
