Audi has updated its flagship offering, the R8 Coupe and Spyder models for the 2019 model year. Besides styling updates, the new R8 gets power and torque upgrades, and suspension tweaks too.
Styling updates include a wider singleframe grille, thick bars dividing the air intakes, three slits at the edge of the hood which we also saw in the new A1, and a wider front splitter. At the rear, there is a more prominent diffuser and highlighted tailpipes with inserts, which all make the car appear more wider. The aforementioned splitter at the front can be optionally had in carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) & aluminium, which cuts the weight by around 2 kg.
The air filter is situated under a new, three-part cover, which is available in a choice of plastic or carbon fibre. The new R8 comes out of the factory with 19-inch wheels, while 20-inch wheels in five-V design with new summer and sport tires, are available as an option. The standard steel discs are offered with red-painted calipers as an option. The ceramic brakes come with a gray or red finish.
Customers can choose from three exterior packages depending on the engine variant; these packages add various highlights to the front splitter, side trims and the diffuser. As standard, they come in high-gloss black, while the top-of-the-line models get matte titanium look.
The high-gloss carbon package is available for both engine variants. As an option, the Audi rings and badges on the exterior are painted in high-gloss black. New metallic colors Kemora gray and Ascari blue are recent additions to the paint range.
Moving on to the interiors, the options here include the colors Pastel Silver with Rock Gray contrasting stitching, Palomino Brown with Steel Gray stitching, and Black with Utopia Blue stitching. The R8 Performance design package with leather/Alcantara upholstery, highlights in Mercato Blue and carbon fibre are available for the top-of-the-line engine variants.
New names
The base V10 Coupe and Spyder models will become the R8 Coupe/Spyder V10 quattro, while the V10 Plus models are now called R8 Coupe/Spyder V10 Performance quattro.
7-speed dual-clutch transmission
Which then brings us to the final bits of the story. The 5.2L FSI motor now produces 570 hp (+30) and 550 Nm of torque (+10). A 0 to 100 km/h acceleration happens in 3.4 seconds (Coupe) and 3.5 seconds (Spyder) before going on to a top speed of 324/322 km/h.
In the Performance quattro models, the engine generates 620 hp (+10) and 580 Nm of torque (+20). According to Audi, the increase here is primarily the result of an optimized valve train with components made of titanium. The Coupe sprints to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds, while the Spyder with the same tires takes 3.2 seconds. The top speed is 331/329 km/h.
According to Oliver Hoffmann, Technical Managing Director of Audi Sport, the R8 has around 50 percent shared parts with the R8 LMS GT3 and even 60 percent with the R8 LMS GT4.
Apparently, the suspension has been tweaked as well for even more stability and precision. Audi says that the steering response, transitions between individual drive modes and feedback from the road is even more precise across the entire speed range.
In the V10 Performance quattro models, the three additional programs dry, wet and snow form standard part of the Performance mode.
Goes on sale in Germany and other European countries in early 2019.
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