speedy cars 2011 | New BMW Roadster Variant, 328 Hommage Model

The new BMW variant called as 328 Hommage is introduced at the Villa d’Este Concours. This new car variant is a result of design research of a speedster which takes inspiration from 328 variant. The exterior of this 328 Hommage variant is accentuated with asymmetrical widescreen element and car body made of carbon fiber. 328 Hommage is a roadster variant which is designed with two seating units with car engine attached on the front side. At the front detail there are kidney grilles, the absence of doors and round headlights. These design elements connects visually to the former model. The lightness feeling within interior car is influenced by CFRP materials.
Exterior Design

The strong wedge shape accelerates the vehicle even when it is at a standstill, the scoops behind the seats take up the lines coming from the bonnet, guiding them dynamically into the rear end.


Precise lines run across all of the car body’s taut surfaces. As a result, a subtle contrast between the tense surfaces and the sharp edges is created within the flat, dynamic silhouette.

The structure of the CFRP mats gives the vehicle an appearance of depth, the diagonal lines of the woven CFRP additionally underscoring the dynamic design vocabulary.

The BMW 328 Hommage has no doors. Then as now, deep recesses allow access to the inside of the car.

The extremely wide and flat front end is strongly three-dimensional, generous surfaces and concise lines give the front end a powerful appearance. Viewed from the front, the CFRP hood appears to en- compass the vehicle from above. It embraces the vehicle, framing the slightly set back front end in a very distinctive downward sweep.

Due to the almost vertical, low-reaching sidewalls, it simultaneously emphasizes the BMW 328 Hommage’s excellent stability on the road. As a result, the vehicle appears to be even flatter and more dynamic as a whole.

Under the hood, further surfaces rise to embed the top and bottom of the distinctive kidney grille, whilst folding themselves around it to shape the adjacent air intakes. Openings and large air intakes create visual lightness at the front, simultaneously demonstrating the high air requirement of the three-litre, six-cylinder engine.

Three-dimensionally designed lattices inside the front vents form a connection between the headlamps and the kidney grille, with the three-dimensional lattice structure acting as an accentuating feature.

The vertically positioned double kidney grille imitates the slim, vertical kidney design of the early BMW models. In those days, the BMW 328 was one of the first BMWs to feature it, after which it became further established with later BMW models.

On the BMW 328 Hommage, the vertically mounted kidney grille is dynamically incorporated into the flat silhouette. It slants back roughly in the middle, thus blending in with the bonnet and the dynamic silhouette when viewed from the side. On the other hand, from the front it appears to be standing upright.

The kidney grille bars are more prominently curved than the kidney grille surround itself. The vehicle displays the extremely round and appealing design of the original BMW 328 kidney grille when viewed from the side. The kidney grille surround is also distinctively three-dimensional, appearing to continue in- side the vehicle. Its front surface is finished in polished high-gloss, whilst the side surfaces have a matt finish.

This detail gives the kidney grille a very high-class and up-to-date appearance. Behind the kidney grille bars, black horizontal fins obstruct the view into the engine compartment – just like on the 328 of

The rear end takes on the design vocabulary featured on the front of the vehicle. Similar to the front end, sections of the sidewall form the framework for the design elements that appear to protrude from the rear end. Between them, located far to the outside, are two clearly and concisely designed taillights sporting the characteristic BMW L shape.

Two filigree luminous elements reflect a strongly curved interpretation of the typical BMW L shape, whilst a concisely constructed bar fitted to the outside of the lamp is directed vertically downward, separating the lamps towards the outside.

The modern functional design of the taillights underlines the technical appeal of the vehicle.

The powerful sculpturing of the rear end also visually conveys the BMW 328 Hommage’s lightness. Large vents and openings characterize the rear end, giving it a light appearance. The distinctively horizontal section below the taillights forms a counterpoint to the intense sculpturing, emphasizing the width of the vehicle. Below that, the rear of the car is strongly arched, a concise line partitions the surface, thereby providing an air of lightness.

This large sculptural element adopts the form language of the front-end design surrounding the kidney grille. The wing-shaped element tapers both upward and downward, thus revealing two large latticed air outlets. The circular tailpipes are located inside these two openings.

They protrude prominently out of the lattice and, combined with the distinctively designed wing shape of the lower air intake edges, underscore the power of the straight six-cylinder engine.

The large, prominently designed individual round headlights of the BMW 328 Hommage are reminiscent of the headlamps featured on the BMW 328, which were integrated into the wings for the first time.

The three- dimensional interpretation of these round headlights is divided into four trans- parent, cylindrical elements, these being back-lit by LEDs. Between them, set- back black concave surfaces symbolize the typical tape cross used on headlights in motor racing. Around the four reflectors an illuminated ring emphasizes the circular design of each individual headlamp.

The two-part light alloy wheels are a modern interpretation of the characteristic hole pattern of the original rims. The extremely concave high-gloss black aluminum rim boasts a contrasting silver- grey cover made of glass fibre. The insides of the angular milled holes have a high-gloss finish and are distinctively accentuated by a matt overlay. A black chrome butterfly nut bearing the BMW emblem completes the contemporary version of the wheel.

Interior Design

The interior design of the BMW 328 Hommage comprises a number of details that are reminiscent of the successful motor racing history of the BMW 328.

For example, the slightly asymmetrically designed windscreen has a recess in the middle, similar to the windscreen design of earlier racing cars.

Simultaneously, it marks the areas in which the driver and co-driver sit.

Moreover, four wide leather straps run across the bonnet, which appear to dive under the side shoulder surfaces to be continued on the side. This detail, which used to be considered an extremely sporty attribute, is also featured on the BMW 328 Hommage.

Combined with the high-gloss aluminium safety buckles, the leather straps provide a touch of class in contrast to the very technical-looking carbon fibre.

The modern quick-release fasteners for securing the bonnet bring racing of the past into the present. On the driver’s scoop a large silver “75” as well as a small logo below it signify the reason for the BMW 328 Hommage.

Next to it, the integrated tank filler neck protruding from the right-hand side is a striking detail. Whilst it pr trudes prominently from the body of the BMW 328, the BMW 328 Hommage features a version that is integrated slightly more into the bodywork.

Through the use of CFRP inside the BMW 328, the “layering” design principle, with which shapes take on clear functions, adopts a completely new form of expression.

Due to its exceptional characteristics, CFRP is in itself robust and can be shaped into self-supporting structures. Hence, only two large surface areas – so-called layers – define the interior of the BMW 328 Hommage.

Both of them start at the hood and protrude into the interior. One of the layers extends to- wards the driver, reveals the entire driver’s workplace comprising steering wheel, control elements and scoop, thereby separating the driver and co-driver areas from each other.

This spatial separation is indicated by a further material: the elegant, brown leather interior extends from the entrance across the driver’s area, over the seats to the scoop, thus becoming an integral part of the design vocabulary of the first layer.

At the same time, the surrounding graphics comprising material and geometry create a link with the co-driver. On the driver’s scoop, a silver-colored logo bearing the number 75 also gives indication inside the car of the festive occasion in honor of the BMW 328 Hommage.

The second layer begins next to the scoop, making a sweep towards the co- driver, then to float freely in front of him. This gesture creates a sporty but light sense of spaciousness, opening out a functional area in front of the co-driver.

Between the driver and co-driver a multitude of recesses in the instrument panel and centre console create an airy and harmonious spatial experience, bringing the driver and the co-driver slightly closer to each other again in a sweeping gesture. The lines of the woven carbon fibers complement the interior design vocabulary perfectly.

Viewed from above, a slightly asymmetrical design of the bonnet and windscreen underscores the driver-orientated construction. The windscreen is larger within the driver’s area, so the lines of the powerdome are of different length. Behind the windscreen they continue in the inside of the car, so that at this point both the interior and the exterior appear to be intertwined.



speedy cars 2011 | The Incredible Performance of Ferrari P4 / 5 Competitions

The Ferrari P4 / 5 Competition which is owned by collector James Glickenhaus was exhibited at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The car is inspired by the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and was created to bring a prototype Ferrari racing in this case in the German VLN category. The car, like the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Zagato compete together in the park of Villa d’Este, in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in June with the crew Fabrizio Giovanardi, Luca Cappellari, Nicola Larini and Mika Salo.

The exterior of the car is painted in totally black combined with black glass element. This Ferrari race car is powered by a 4 liter engine V8Ferrari, a same engine which is implemented on the F430 Scuderia version. This engine produces 500 horses (it’s not found on Pininfarina variant that is powered by the 6-liter V12 and 660 horses). For more detail, take a look at the images below.






Pontiac GTO Judge Resurrected

The makers of the fire-breathing Phoenix T/A that we saw at the 2009 SEMA show in Las Vegas are back with yet another proposal for a Pontiac model based on the latest iteration of Chevy’s Camaro pony car. This time the people over at Trans Am Depot will give birth to a modern day interpretation of Pontiac’s famed 1969 GTO Judge. The tuner named its creation “The GT9 Goat”.
The teaser renderings and photos of the faux-Pontiac reveal a bespoke front end with a split grille and a revised hood with air scoops, while at the back we find new tail lamp and bumper designs as well as a restyled trunk sporting a prominent wing. The characteristic profile side stripes, quad tail pipes and the newly styled alloy wheel options round off the exterior changes. There’s no word yet if there will be any kind of upgrades to the interior and the mechanical hardware of the Camaro.
Trans Am Depot said that the GT9 Goat will be available for order this fall. “The 6T9 Goat concept was created by designer Kevin Morgan to capture the look and feel of the classic '69 GTO Judge,” the company said in a statement. “The 1969 GTO is considered by many to be one of the top ten muscle cars of all time. Available this fall, this modern day version incorporates the look of yesteryear with the modern convenience and technology of today.”


Source: Trans Am Depot via Jalopnik

New Aussie Supercar Buyers Paying More than Anyone Else


In today’s economy, AU$1.0 will get you US$1.06, but it seems Australia’s overseas automakers have yet to acknowledge this. A Lamborghini Aventador, for example, costs a hefty AU$754,600 – or more than twice the price you would pay for one in the U.S. of A. And its 51% pricier than a V12 powered Lamborghini Diablo was ten years ago. This was tolerable when the Aussie dollar was worth 64 U.S. cents a few years ago, but those days are over.
While TV’s, computers and mobile phones have all become more affordable, supercars have not. It’s so bad that one prospective Lamborghini buyer, businessman Ra Hazouri, has flat out refused to pay.

“I was considering buying a Lamborghini Aventador but I’ve given up because I’ve discovered the dealers are blaming Italy [for the pricing] and the people in Italy are saying they have the right to rip us off because everyone else does it," Hazoori told the Brisbanetimes. "They are doing it because they can – and they told me in an email that the price is ‘locally positioned relative to competitors, product features and brand values’.”

In other words, Australia is a supercar backwater, and if you want one of these fine Italian thoroughbreds, you will need to wear an AU$380,000 suit. Lamborghini’s South East Asia and Oceania sales manager Andrea Baldi argues that supercar prices cannot move along with exchange rates:

“We have to ensure the price is fair compared with Porsche, Maserati, Aston Martin, Ferrari and other competitors. It’s always a difficult balance. There are markets where you can be fairly profitable … Australia and the UK are opposite [in profitability] at this moment. It’s difficult to finds a solution so that everybody’s happy. We cannot simply play with the price [depending on currency changes] each year.”

And it’s not just Lamborghini: the Ferrari 458 Italia was 14% - or a wallet-scrunching AU$70,000 - pricier than the outgoing F430. Meanwhile the luxury car tax is up, import tariffs are down and inflation has reduced the price of more mainstream models by as much as AU$4,000. Scroll down for a breakdown of the price fluctuations over the past ten years.


Source: Brisbanetimes

new CSR Automotive Adds Some Aggression to VW Scirocco Coupe

If the Volkswagen Scirocco coupe doesn’t look wild enough for your taste, you may want to take a look at CSR Automotive’s aesthetic treatment. The exterior mods include a new honeycomb lower grille in a matte black finish, a front apron, headlamp trims, side skirts and a rear apron with a diffuser that houses the new exhaust outlets. There’s also a rear spoiler and a matte black foil wrap in a carbon fiber look that partially covers the hood and the roof, as well as the exterior mirrors.
To complete the package, CSR Automotive adds a new set of funky-looking 20-inch alloy wheels with carbon-look parts shod in Toyo tires size 235/30 ZR20 up front and 285/25 ZR20 at the back.


Opel Officially Reveals 2012 Astra GTC, High-Po OPC Coming Next Year

This is General Motors’ brand new Opel Astra GTC revealed more than two months ahead of its world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, in mid-September. The newest member of Opel’s ever-growing Astra family will go on sale across Europe including the United Kingdom where it will be available as a Vauxhall later this year. Recent reports also suggest it may come to the States under the Buick brand.
GM’s European subsidiary is confident about its new Astra GTC with Vauxhall going as far as to claim that it will “lay down the gauntlet to VW’s Scirocco and Renault’s Megane Coupe with a heady mix of dynamic excellence, dramatic design features and competitive pricing".
The production version of last year’s Paris Motor Show concept GTC sports a far more athletic appearance than the rest of the Astra range thanks to the uniquely designed body that includes a more rakish roofline. According to Opel, the only elements the GTC shares with its five-door and estate siblings are the door handles and roof aerial as even the wheelbase and tracks are different.

Compared to the five-door Astra, the ride height of the GTC is lowered by 15 mm while the wheelbase grows by 10 mm, from 2,685 to 2,695 mm and both tracks are wider, at 1,584 mm (+ 40 mm) in front and 1,588 mm (+ 30 mm) in the rear.

Opel and its sister brand Vauxhall say the Astra GTC is a more driver’s car than the five-door model as the company’s engineers having made several changes to the chassis including the adoption of the HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) setup used on the 325HP Insignia OPC / VXR instead of the standard McPherson suspension.

At the rear, the GTC continues to use a Watt’s link axle, while as an option, Opel offers the fully-adaptive FlexRide chassis control system with a choice of three settings - Standard, Tour or Sport.

Moving on to the available lineup at launch, the Astra GTC can be ordered now with a choice of four engines. However, Opel said more powertrains will be offered around its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show adding that the sportiest versions including the future high-performance OPC model will follow in 2012.

For now, diesel options are limited to a 2.0-liter CDTI common-rail turbo unit delivering 165HP and 380 Nm of torque in overboost function. It is fitted with a diesel particulate filter and a six-speed manual transmission, plus a new Start/Stop system. With this engine, the GTC can reach 100 km/h (62mph) in 8.9 seconds en route to a top speed of 210 km/h (131 mph), while returning a combined fuel consumption of 4.9 lt/ 100 km (48 mpg US or 57.7 mpg UK) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 129 g/km.

The most powerful engine is a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline unit with 180-horses linked to a six-speed manual gearbox offering the GTC a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph). A 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine available with 120HP and 140HP completes the petrol lineup. In Britain, buyers can place their order now for the Astra GTC with prices ranging from £18,495 for the 120HP Sport 1.4 Turbo to £22,430 for the 165PS SRi 2.0 CDTi. For more details on UK pricing, check out the list below.



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The Benefits of the 2011 Volkswagen GTI

First Impression

The 2010 Volkswagen GTI competes with BMW 3 series, Infiniti G convertible or Audi A4 because it brings a good feel and enough sensations at the seat of the driver's pants to create a great bond with the vehicle. It can be called another sport car on the road but it's more elaborate than that. It still has the old roof panel like the old designs

2010 Volkswagen is considered to be one of the best cars out there because of its refinements. The new, angular front-end forgoes the 2009's curvilinear front design for something stronger and more masculine. Neatly bent creases replace softer lines along the body. 2010 Volkswagen now has larger taillights, angular headlights and tighter profile. The dual exhaust bookend the lower bumper - this is a sublime design addition that adds strength. Sit a 2010 Volkswagen GTI next to a 2009 and the changes are more apparent.Interior Features
The interior design of the 2010 Volkswagen is unique:

  • Touch the interior materials, for they are solid
  • Luxuriate in the driver seat, for it is one of the most comfortable in this bracket
  • Grip the steering wheel and marvel at its sporty feel and racing-car design

Not only is the steering wheel the best in this bracket, it is one of the best feeling steering wheels on the market.Pricing, Trims and Options
I list the starting value of a 2-door and 4-door Volkswagen GTI.

The Volkswagen GTI 2-door with the standard 6-speed manual is priced at starting cost of $23,489. But for a 4-door, 6-speed manual 2010 Volkswagen GTI its base price is $24,089.

Some of its options are as follows:

·Sunroof goes for $1,000.
·Rear side airbags on the 4-door only cost $350.
·Bi-Xenon headlights is valued at $700.
·Dynaudio 300W sound system is priced at $476.
·DVD satellite navigation cost $1,750.Safety, Quality and Reliability
It's standard safety equipment includes:

  • stability control
  • antilock disc brakes with brake assist
  • front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbagsEngine and Transmission
  • It has a turbocharged 200 horsepower, 2.0 liter 4-cylinder that puts out 207 pound feet of torque engine.
  • It has A 6-speed manual transmission comes standard with a 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual

BMW M3 Carbon Edition 2011 for China only

A new special BMW for the Chinese market emerges once again. The BMW M3 Carbon Edition is limited to 111 cars and was built to satisfy the new ever growing premium market in China.

Priced at 1.23 million yuan or $189,000, the BMW M3 Carbon Edition goes on sale this July and as you might have guessed, it’s all about carbon fiber parts and inserts. The roof is made of carbon fiber which saves about 8 lbs, along with new carbon fiber made front and rear bumpers, lip splitters, trunk spoiler, side skirts, hood inlets and interior parts.

The car is dressed up in the Mineral White color along with paint scheme and Carbon Edition logos. Inside, the car features black leather seats with a carbon pattern
Engine is standard M3 with 420 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The M3 Carbon Edition sits on black 19″ Style 220 wheels.

Source:http://www.bmwblog.com

speedy cars | Show Your Style With High End Racing Apparel

Combine quality fashion with the thrill of racing and you get an incredible range of racing merchandise and apparel from top motorsports companies including Porsche! Deck yourself out in the height of style and show your appreciation for the finer things in life with an incredible array of racing clothes and accessories that will make you the envy of everyone at the track and on the high street. The Porsche brand has always been synonymous with looks and performance and with hundreds of garments and accessories to choose from, you're sure to find something that suits your own personal style. You can also pick up clothes and merchandise associated with the most prestigious names in auto racing, including the world famous Le Mans race and many others.
What sort of car racing apparel can I choose from?

There is a truly enormous range of high quality racing clothes and apparel to choose from. Everything from shirts to socks comes in tasteful designs that let you proclaim your love of motorsports and fashion in an elegant manner. Most garments are available in a wide range of sizes, and there are separate ranges for men, women, youths and even infants so the whole family can back their favourite auto racing team on a visit to the track. Your kid can be the best dressed on the playground with a shirt or top that combines his favourite sport with cutting edge style. You can even get adorable car racing design sleepsuits for your toddler and get them started early on the path to the Le Mans championship! Complete the look with an array of high quality accessories including hats, shades, watches and bags designed by some of the biggest names in fashion. With an extensive line of high-end tops, tees, hoodies and jackets from Porsche, Le Mans and other car racing giants, there's something for everyone to wear in the paddock, at the park and even at the pool.

Can I find other car racing merchandise?

Take your love of the high octane world of motorsports to the next level with an incredible range of memorabilia, collectibles and merchandise from some of the biggest names in auto racing. You can find everything from toy cars to scale models, race posters to fine art and everything in between in this collection of everything that is awesome about car racing. Get photos of your favourite cars signed by official Porsche team photographer Bob Chapman, hand painted art prints that really capture the thrill of the race, authentic die cast replicas in a range of scales and much, much more. You can find authentic racing clothes and even car parts from previous seasons, mark race days in the dedicated Porsche motorsports calendar, fit your own car out with team accessories and pick out a toy car and colouring book to keep Junior occupied on the way to and from the racetrack. The incredible range of racing clothes, merchandise, apparel and accessories is an absolute must see for any true petrolhead.



2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlj324L64nw/Tejbm7YTCXI/AAAAAAAEfXc/Gj1MheZHBjw/s1600/Audi-R8-GT-Spyder-110010.JPG

Audi has unveiled the R8 GT Spyder.

Sprinting from 0-62mph in a Lambo-beating 3.8sec before hitting a 197mph top speed, the R8 GT Spyder has had 85kg stripped from the R8 Spyder’s aluminium frame thanks to carbon-fibre skin and seats. The mid-engined supercar weighs 1640kg, thumps out 552bhp and 398lb ft from its 5.2-litre, direct-injection V10 engine and is based around an aluminium space-frame chassis weighing just 214kg.

Setting the car apart from its standard sibling is an updated aerodynamics package aimed at increasing high-speed downforce. Included is a dual-lip front splitter, a redesigned diffuser element, round chrome exhaust pipes and darkened taillight lenses.

An electrically operated fabric roof opens in 20 seconds and at speeds up to 30 mph, stowing behind the cabin underneath a carbon-fiber cover. A deep well beneath the hood at the front provides space for luggage.

Just 333 units will be made with European pricing set at 207,800 Euro. No U.S. pricing has been released, but with the coupe set at $198,000 look for a number just shy of $210,000.


Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder Audi R8 GT Spyder



Press Release

Aggressive power and Audi ultra - the Audi R8 GT Spyder


  • Open limited-production, top-of-the-line version of the high-performance sports car
  • 85 kilograms lighter, body parts in carbon
  • V10 FSI with 412 kW (560 hp), 0 - 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds

Even lighter, even more powerful, even more captivating: The Audi R8 GT Spyder delivers breathtaking performance. The open-top flagship version of the high-performance sports car develops 412 kW (560 hp) and - thanks to Audi ultra - has trimmed a full 85 kilograms (187.39 lb) from an already low weight. The R8 GT Spyder accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h (196.97 mph).

One year ago, Audi unveiled the R8 GT in coupe form as the new flagship model of the R8 model line. It wasn't long before all 333 units in the limited series were sold out. Now the open-top version of the high-performance sports car is being launched, with production again capped at 333 units. Each car sports a tag with its individual number on the gear lever knob.

The Audi ultra lightweight technology is the key to the R8 GT Spyder's weight of just 1,640 kilograms (3,615.58 lb). That's 85 kilograms (187.39 lb) less than its technical basis, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. The Audi Space Frame (ASF) body, consisting of cast nodes, extruded sections and aluminum panels, accounts for just 214 kilograms (471.79 lb) of the total weight. The body is assembled predominantly by hand in the R8 workshop at the Neckarsulm plant. Final assembly of the car takes place in the same way.

The engine frame is made of ultra-light magnesium; the long cover over the soft-top compartment and the large side panels at the rear are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). CFRP is also used for the modified front spoiler, the fixed rear spoiler and the new rear bumper. Together, these components provide a weight saving of 5.5 kilograms (12.13 lb).

Visual modifications accentuate the styling of the R8 GT Spyder. These include add-on parts in contrasting titanium gray, a front splitter with a dual lip, flics at the sides of the front bumper, red GT badges, round exhaust tailpipes, an enlarged diffuser and dark LED tail lights in a clear-glass design. Audi offers an optional windshield frame in matt CFRP.

Audi engineers also trimmed weight from the technical components in the area of the transmission, wheels and brakes. In the interior, the bucket seats alone, with their chassis of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), saved 31.5 kilograms (69.45 lb) of weight.

In classic Audi fashion, the R8 GT Spyder features a lightweight fabric soft top that is extremely quiet and fully suitable for highway cruising. Its electrohydraulic drive brings it up or down in 19 seconds, even at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The extendible glass rear window is nestled in the bulkhead, separate from the soft top. Integrated in the bulkhead is a rollover protection system comprising two pretensioned plates.

Prodigious power: the drivetrain
The performance offered by the new top-of-the-line model in the R8 family is formidable. The 5.2-liter V10 with an aluminum crankcase draws its fuel from an FSI direct injection system. Dry-sump lubrication ensures a reliable supply of oil even under maximum lateral or straight-line acceleration.

With its modified electronic management, the long-stroke engine produces 540 Nm (398.28 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm, and its peak output is 412 kW (560 hp). Each unit of horsepower has only 2.93 kilograms (6.46 lb) to move.

The R8 GT Spyder catapults from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h (196.97 mph). In every situation, the engine impresses with its thrust and bite - and that unmistakable sound of an Audi ten-cylinder.

The R8 GT Spyder comes standard with an automated six-speed R tronic transmission with two fully automatic modes. In the additional manual mode, the driver can shift gears using the paddles on the steering wheel or by flicking the joystick. At high load and revs, gear changes take only one-tenth of a second. The launch control program manages the starting sprint with high engine speed and precision-control of the tire slip.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive has a strong rear-wheel bias, granted by the axle load distribution. If the situation calls for it, the system sends additional torque to the front axle. In tandem with the limited slip differential at the rear, it provides an added measure of traction, stability and cornering speed, giving it a strong lead over the rear-wheel-drive competition.

The suspension, too, is unrivaled in its performance. Aluminum double wishbones locate the wheels, and the rack-and-pinion power steering provides intimate contact with the road. Taut tuning lowers the body by approximately 10 millimeters (0.39 in). The open high-performance sports car has 19-inch wheels, with 235/35 tires up front and 295/30 tires at the rear. The large, lightweight carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs decelerate the car with supreme ease. The ESP stabilization program has a sport mode and can also be deactivated entirely.

Pure comfort: the interior and equipment
Great attention to detail is evident in the materials and workmanship inside the car. The salient aspect of the controls is their logically structured design. The open two-seater offers a roomy interior, and its front end can accommodate up to 100 liters (3.53 cu. ft) of cargo. The rear bulkhead houses three storage compartments.

The interior is black and can be adorned with stitching in a choice of titanium gray or crimson for added refinement. Alcantara upholstery comes standard - on the sport steering wheel and windshield frame, too.

Audi also offers leather in Fine Nappa quality. Numerous details - including white dials and R8 GT logos - provide classy accents. The distinctive R8 "monoposto," a large arch encircling the driver's cockpit, is made of matt CFRP.

Audi ultra requires no sacrifice on the part of R8 GT Spyder owners. The standard equipment includes LED headlights, LED tail lights, an automatic air conditioning system, the navigation system plus, an alarm system and the driver information system with a built-in laptimer.

Audi also offers a sophisticated sound system from Bang & Olufsen and a Bluetooth interface including a seatbelt microphone for carrying on a phone conversation conveniently. Options specific to the R8 GT include bucket seats with a carbon-fiber composite chassis, matt CFRP applications and embroidered logos on the seat upholstery.

The R8 GT Spyder will have a base price in Germany of 207,800 euros.


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