Audi is finally ready to give its new second-generation R8 its public debut. Long-awaited official images and details have been released shortly ahead of the car’s premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.
Audi fans have been teased with several features of the second-generation R8 over the last year or so courtesy of the new TT coupe, which shares many of its design traits with the model, including the brand’s new-fangled front-end.
The German brand claims that the second-gen R8 has been “newly developed from the ground up” and it weighs just 1,454 kilograms – 50kg less than the previous model. This weight saving is thanks in large part to the space frame being made of carbon fibre and aluminium - both strong and lightweight materials. The chassis used for the new R8 is shared with the Lamborghini Huracan, but for the Audi it’s actually stretched by 3cm.
At the forefront of the model is its powertrain line-up, consisting of two 5.2-litre V10 FSI petrol units. The entry-level engine is a 533bhp version of the 5.2-litre, capable of completing the zero to 62mph sprint in just 3.5 seconds. The flagship option is a 602bhp variant, which can complete the benchmark sprint in a mere 3.2 seconds and go on to a top speed of 205mph.
Engines in the range come mated to a seven-speed S tronic transmission as well as a quattro all-wheel-drive system. Thanks to the quattro system, the R8 is capable of delivering 100 per cent torque to either the front or rear axles to aid control on the road. Aside to its power credentials, the R8 will also feature Audi’s newly established virtual cockpit, which interestingly comes with digital displays as opposed to conventional rev counters.
The new Audi R8 will be available to order in the UK from March onwards, with first deliveries expected in quarter four of this year. Pricing is expected to be confirmed closer to its Geneva premiere from 5-15 March.
