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THE
success of Iron Man at the tills prompted many a
viewer to recall images of the blindingly fast Audi R8
sports car driven by protagonist Tony Stark. Inspired by
this—and the rapid worldwide success of the car before
its film cameo—PGA Cars will soon bring the R8 to local
shores.
 Based
on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform, the Audi R8 totes
a 4.2L V8 found in the 2006 to present Audi RS4, but
sporting a curb weight 120 kg lighter than the 1,680 kg
RS4. Mated to the engine is a six-speed single-clutch
robotic gearbox that PGA Cars calls “R-Tronic” that
allows faster shifts than a conventional manual box.
Going forward requires either an upward (for upshifts)
or downward (for downshifts) motion of the stick, or
paddles behind the steering wheel. For those who want
the numbers crunch on the car, recent tests by the
US-based Motor Trend magazine claimed that the R8 has a
zero to 100-kph time of 3.9 seconds, a zero to160-kph
time of 10.1 seconds, and a quarter mile (roughly
400-plus meters) time of 12.5 seconds. Oh, and a 1.01-g
lateral acceleration measurement (the maximum cornering
force a car will generate), bettering that of the Aston
Martin Vantage V8 and rivaling that of the
aforementioned Gallardo and the Sweden-based Koenigsegg
CCX.
Speaking
of cornering, the R8 is also a monster on turns. Its
Quattro all-wheel drive, coupled with is Pirelli P Zero
235/35ZR19 91Y tires and ultra-low stance give it an
unparalleled cohesion of stability and razor-sharp
handling, making it arguably the one sports car that one
can label as having the ability to “corner on rails.”
But the Audi comfort factor is there, with its
magnetorheological dampers (also found on its TT Coupe
sibling) that have magnetorheological fluid, which is
controlled by a magnetic field via an electromagnet.
This allows the damping characteristics of the shock
absorber to be continuously controlled by varying the
power of the electromagnet, providing soft or firm ride
characteristics when needed.
Safety
is paramount with all sports cars, and the R8 is no
different. The Brembo calipers, coupled with the massive
drilled rotors on all four wheels, are sure to provide
great stopping power. There’s a hill hold assist feature
that keeps the R8 stationary on steep inclines, and the
parking system (with rear camera) is great for parallel
parking maneuvers. The LED (light-emitting diode)
display is brighter than most roadgoing production
vehicles, according to PGA Cars.
Race-ready
The interior is
similar to the TT Coupe, but conveys a more race-ready
ambiance.
Inside,
it’s all typical sports car—you sit low and you have to
bend your head on ingress and egress (due to the low
roofline), but merely an irritant compared with the
glory of the open road. Everything is within reach of
the driver, and the sport seats, coupled with the snug
Nappa leather, keep you planted on your bum constantly.
Starting the car requires you to throw the stick to the
rightmost side, depress the middle pedal (there’s no
left pedal, mind you), and twist the key. Once the
ignition sets off the V8’s throaty growl, it is music to
the ears.
The
interior features are given considering the price tag,
but the quality is topnotch. Black Alcantara leather
dashboard inserts complement the black interior colorway,
and the Bluetooth-ready Bang and Olufsen audio system
clarity rivals that of the Bose units on the outgoing
Audi A4s. The brushed aluminum pedals and inserts give
the interior a futuristic look, and the side mirrors
have power-assisted folding, too.
Audi has
always produced great cars, but if there was one car
that now greatly defines the Audi vorsprung durch
technik mantra, the R8 is definitely it. |
