We've always believed that there’s an almost Olympian strength to the four interlocking rings on the Audi badge, and it’s in no way misleading. Whether you love the stoic Germanic styling of these cars or not, you can be in no doubt you’re buying a level of solidity that even the Japanese can’t beat.
We were able to generate the renders for the newer entry into the exotic car market which is the Audi R8 V10, released in 2009. But, make no mistake, Audi is no stranger to this segment. There are many supercar enthusiasts who follow this badge's every move. Truthfully, the R8 V8 was already considered a supercar, but, there is never enough power in any car, is there? With competitors like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and others, the R8 V10 was the icing on the cake, because it uses the Lamborghini Gallardo's 5.2-litre V10 engine, and will be cheaper than the competition. Needless to say, I wanted to add this model to my list, as it is not the same old version of the V8, but rather, a new model with its own distinctive features. To begin with, design styling was changed to meet the requirements of the new engine. Additionally, Audi wanted to be the first automotive manufacturer to use LED lights, including the low and high beam headlights, the daytime running lights, and the turn signal lights. Two key points were apparent when using this technology over halogen and xenon
LED headlights are much stronger, which is considerably safer for the driver, and LED is said to be energy efficient. Audi also states that the "sideblades" (air intakes) are larger, and this car uses nineteen inch ten-spoke alloy wheels with performance tires. Further changes were made in both the design and technical aspects of the R8 V10. According to various test drivers, the braking system is far superior to the V8.
The engine outputs a generous 528 horsepower, and with so many Le Mans 24 Hours wins behind them, Audi has been perfecting its technology, honing the power of its vehicles. The V10 pummels from 0-60 in 39 seconds, and reaches speeds of 196mph. With a six-speed transmission, it is offered in manual or what Audi calls "R tronic, an automatically controlled manual gearbox with an especially developed joystick". Having placed the engine at the rear in front the the axle, and used an aluminum space frame, power is delivered quickly because of the best possible weight distribution.
The interior is handsome with Silk Nappa leather seats, leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel, and plenty of gadgets including a real-time rear view camera for safe parking, a GPS system called MMI® Navigation plus with real time traffic, HomeLink® which actually has the ability to control the gates , the garage door, and the lights in your home, plus a massive sound system complete with twelve speakers and surround sound.
To add to the safety system, the Audi R8 V10 has passenger and driver knee airbags, head and thorax airbags, as well as advanced dual-stage airbags. The supercar provides crumple zones at the front and rear of the car, and is reinforced in areas where the driver and passenger sit. The outside mirrors are power operated, and are heated for maximum viewing in poorer weather conditions.
Since Audi and Lamborghini are both under the Volkswagen umbrella, I did wonder whether this latest model supercar would be a welcome addition or just another repeat of what was already done. Apparently, though, Audi is not complaining, and because of the differences in price point, there is not the rivalry one can expect between the others and the Audi R8 V10 .