New rumours about the next Audi R8

On this occasion I have to rely on the latest rumours published by Car Magazine, a publication that usually doesn’t get things wrong very often, especially when it talks about Audi and its short/medium-term future. This time the rumours speak of a vehicle such as the Audi R8, a tasty prospect, right?

Specifically, the rumours speak of both the restyled version of the R8, a version we should be able to see in person at its presentation at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show and which will reach the market at the end of 2012, and the completely redesigned R8 that will do the same at the end of 2014.

As for the restyled version, we have to talk about a vehicle improved in terms of chassis and dynamics, with more power, specifically and apparently 540 horsepower for the V10 version, with a R-Tronic gearbox updated to seven speeds, which is expected to be based on the gearbox of the new Lamborghini Aventador. Aesthetically, we will find small new features in the form of updated headlights and bumpers. Not much more.

Now, if we move on to the new-generation Audi R8, we find a supercar built on an aluminium and carbon fibre chassis, the latter used to reinforce areas such as the transmission tunnel. Thanks to these improvements, we find a vehicle whose weight will be reduced by 100 kg while its rigidity increases by 13%.

Mechanically, we find a V10 boosted to 550 horsepower as well as a brand-new 450-horsepower V8. As a point of note, this is perhaps where we find the most uncertainty: Audi may opt to replace the original V10 Lamborghini with the 4.0-litre V8 that the Bentley Continental recently debuted, so the power could rise to 600 horsepower without any major problem.

Source | carmagazine