And high tech side, the new Audi R8 V10 (official name: R8 5.2 FSI quatro) is rather well endowed, because this car except that the mind is directly derived from the expertise of Audi Competition is also a showcase all that is best in advanced technology in automotive design.
So with impatience mingled emotion of a child on Christmas morning that I accepted the invitation Audi [1] to spend a whole day on a road racing (and surrounding) [2 ] to test the latest model in the range: the Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro, a monster 525 hp reached 316 km / h peak (only circuit on some German autobahns and Playstation course).
Not part of the club of the privileged can afford cars to over 150,000 euros, I found myself a bit like an alien from a string of VIP owners of Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley (and often even the 4 both) that the only budget car must match the annual GDP of Burkina Faso. All in great simplicity and a friendly atmosphere, because on one hand the rich among them have much left to prove, and secondly everyone was there for the same reason: the passion for the beautiful Mechanical and thrills.
The Audi R8 V10 as if you were there.
The day was organized into 4 workshops: financial control of the beast on a portion excluding specific circuit with random obstacles to avoid slippery conditions (frost) almost always causes a spin if you were not totally focused (just double salto-driving such a monster is a privilege I will not soon forget), then a detailed presentation of the car in the conference room by an Audi driver consultant, with many a technical drawings, cutaways and 3D animations .
A brief passionate about technology and especially the dynamics of a car, mass transfer, the chassis balance and other considerations for automotive geek. Then, on the track for some laps in, with a pilot instructor who, after we have shown the markers trajectories allows us to push the beautiful into a corner ( “Go, gas, thoroughly, spitting made the 500 hp! To you, enjoy it … “).
Finally, after lunch (without wine or any alcoholic beverage, which is apparently not always the case in this kind of day), the highlight of the day, finally, for me at least: a walk of about twenty miles driving the R8 V10 freely on county region surrounding the circuit. Nothing like that end up in real terms in the movement to judge the qualities of self and ability to blend naturally into the traffic.
In this particular exercise, the Audi R8 is a disconcerting ease: docile, extremely comfortable for a super-sport category, it is led fingertips like any self-how, in a silence heavy sedan, just lulled by the gentle hum of the V10 that meets any of your requests without any latency. Add to that a driving position just perfect in the semi-bucket dressed like the interior, with fine Nappa leather hand-sewn, one sound Bang & Olufsen 12 HP for a strictly 2-seater cockpit, and get this unique sensation to levitate into something absolutely unique, a fascinating journey. Discover Europe’s roads at the wheel of this type of vessel must be an exceptional experience.
It was for the cushy side: the comfort of the Audi R8 would almost tend to make you forget that you have under your foot cavalry over 500 horsepower, which puts this car in the supercars of exception: series cars exceeding 500 horsepower and 300 km / h in peak are in fact not many in this world (besides, I do not know).
Accelerations and feel … bike!
And just when you press the accelerator pedal, you enter directly into another dimension: I had every opportunity to push the animal up red zone (over 8,000 rpm) and acceleration is simply breathtaking You literally sticky seat, with a bonus whiplash every gear change by using the box R Tronic paddle wheel, so Formula 1. The mounted system are hallucinating, you leave the cozy softness of driving alone to enter a world of absolute brutality.
The sensations obtained through this type of self are those that are generally known only to riding a motorcycle high cylinder with which the car category of the Audi R8 V10 are the only ones that can compete in performance, since they can go from 0 to 100 km / h in under 4 seconds and 0 to 200 km / h in under 13 seconds.
A question of safety and power to weight ratio (the chassis hull of the Audi R8 is a direct result of the competition and made all aluminum). All in optimal security conditions, as long as you still possess some experience in the taming of the wild type, because Audi has put all its knowledge at the service of this security: technology Quattro (four wheel drive) various driver aids (traction control, etc …) and especially braking perhaps even more impressive than the acceleration: when you press the pedal you are literally glued to the road (and your seat belt), all stability in unperturbed, provided you know how many still hold your wheel.
Acoustics chic.
A word about the sound of the engine, which is a symphony by itself, expressing both strength and quality design at Audi fashion: the growls the V10, which again reminds one more of a motorcycle that of a supercar when it goes into the towers, is completely captivating, and for good reason, since it was specifically working with a team of acousticians Audi, which also occur on each sound emitted by all models range. If the lights or closing the doors of an Audi produce these sounds is no accident but the result of extensive acoustic surveys, the result must necessarily raise the quality and serenity.
The Audi R8, a car special to ordinary usage.
With the R8, that is the V8 already available since a couple of years or the V10 just hit the market, Audi has managed a bet that Porsche was only so far with the 911: to offer a car whose exceptional comfort, reliability and ease of driving also make it usable on a daily basis. Moreover, as a Smart is a strict two-seater, but his chest is bigger than a Smart
I made several videos throughout the day with my Creative Vado and my compact camera, which I confided to my regularly brave passengers of the moment (other guests and instructors) so they can capture those extraordinary moments when I myself was driving. Here is a montage of the best moments, including the final laps at a rate high enough, when we had the machine under control.
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