The power plant for the car is the 5.2l naturally aspired engine that puts out 525 horsepower (100.9 horsepower/ liter output) and has an impressive power to weight ratio of 3.1 kilograms/hp. This makes the R8 rocket from zero to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
The accelerating power does not stop until the speedometer reaches 316 km/h. The 5.2-liter is a direct injection engine, compliant to FSI principle, and allows for a 12.5: 1 liter compression rate. All this power and speed comes at a cost, as the fuel consumption rate for the model is 13.7 liters/100 km (17.17 mpg). The 8,700 top rpm can be managed through either a 6 speed manual or a R tronic sequential transmissions.
The latter can be actuated through paddles, gear lever or can be set to change automatically. The 19 inch wheels in 10-spoke Y-design, shoed with 235/35 tires at the front and 295/30 tires at the rear, are being fed power by the Quattro AWD system.
Interior comfort is ensured by Nappa leather seats, which comes in various colors, while aluminum is the metal of choice for the shift knob, pedals, footrests and the R tronic shift paddles.
If you like racing down Autobahn with the pedal to the metal and the volume at its max, Bang & Olufsen sound system is exactly what you need. The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro will become available in the second quarter of 2009, in Germany. The starting price for the new R8 is 142,400 euros.
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