Audi unveils tweaked R8

Audi has ditched the frustrating R-tronic gearbox in its R8 supercar, adding a new seven-speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission across the range and introducing a new, more powerful top-of-the-line variant, the ‘R8 V10 plus’.

The changes, first reported by motoring.com.au back in May, are accompanied by a design ‘freshen up’ aimed at giving the aluminium-space-frame bodied supercar a new lease of life as it reaches the mid-life cycle of its model development.

Inherited from Lamborghini — the R8 is built on the Gallardo platform — the clunky and unintuitive six-speed R-tronic sequential manual has been an ongoing source of criticism since the R8’s launch, despite the accolades widely heaped on the car.

But the revised R8 now falls into line with others in the Audi range by adopting the smoother and more sophisticated seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch box, which brings performance and efficiency gains across the range.

The S-tronic is optional on the V8 and standard on the V10 models. It features a sport mode with shifting via the selector lever or via steering wheel paddles.

When matched to Audi’s hand-assembled, dry-sump V8 and V10 engines, the company claims the new 7-speed has reduced CO2 emissions by up to 22 grams/km and decreased the sprint from zero to 100 km/h by three-tenths of a second.

Available only as a coupe, the ‘R8 V10 plus’ develops 404kW and 540Nm, up 18kW and 10Nm on the ‘standard’ R8 V10. When fitted with the standard S-tronic transmission it catapults from zero to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, versus 3.6 seconds, and achieves a top speed of 317 km/h, versus 314km/h.

New styling details lend the Audi supercar an even sharper design. The single-frame grille with bevelled upper corners is now painted high-gloss black, with horizontal chrome inserts adorning the struts on the V10 variants. A new front bumper features air inlets bearing three crossbars each. In the 10-cylinder variants the blades extend outwards farther than on the V8 and have special edging.

LED headlights and new rear indicator lights with dynamic display are now standard equipment on all variants and static turning lights are integrated in the headlights.

Other changes include the vent louvres next to the rear window adopting an aluminium look on the R8 V10 Coupé, with matt black on the R8 V8 Coupé and R8 V10 plus.

At the rear above the high-gloss black area between the vent openings sits the new Audi Sport signature badge – the letter ‘R’ resting partly on a red diamond.

The new R8 V10 plus features a standard carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) front splitter, which is also available as an option on other models. It also boasts CFRP housings on the outside mirrors and the side blades, or the lateral air inlets on the Coupé.

For the R8 V10 plus a matte effect colour is available as an exclusive feature, while other features include LED illumination and partial CFRP lining in its engine compartment, a large CFRP rear diffuser and black-painted tailpipe trims.

Carbon-fibre ceramic brake discs are standard on the R8 V10 plus, while a new "wave" design for the ventilated steel brake discs on other models lowers weight overall by about two kilo-grams, compared with round discs of the same dimensions.

The updated Audi R8 range won’t arrive in Australia until the first quarter of 2013, with pricing and specification yet to be announced, but it’s a fair bet the new ‘R8 V10 plus’ variant will top the current R8 GT’s list price of $470,700.

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