AUDIR8 V8 2007 - 2012

　　Audi was known for many things, but not for creating supercars. However, it changed people’s perceptions when it unveiled the R8 V8 at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

　　Creating a competitive supercar from scratch was not a job for every automaker. Some others tried in the past and failed. But Audi didn’t want to fail. It wanted a seat at the same table with brands like Ferrari, McLaren, or its cousin Porsche. To do that, it needed a strong, well-known ally, and that was the newly acquired Italian brand Lamborghini. Thanks to shared technology and Audi’s deep pockets, the wizards from Sant’Agata Bolognese unveiled their secrets to its new owner, and the result was the R8’s first generation. The car was previously seen as a concept car in 2003, bearing the Audi Le Mans quattro at the Geneva Motor Show. Still, few believed that it was more than an exercise, and yet, three years later, Audi’s first true supercar was ready to meet its first customers.

　　The new model in the German carmaker’s lineup impressed with its LED bulbs, which were unique on the market. It was the first car to sport such a technical solution, and besides being more energy-efficient than the Xenon headlamps, they also looked better. The daytime running lights were also integrated into the same headlight units on the outer and lower sides. Between them, Audi installed a trapezoidal grille flanked by big functional scoops adorned by horizontal slats.

　　From its profile, the R8 sported a low-slung profile with a short nose and an arched roofline that sloped down towards the back of the car. Its side intakes behind the doors were neatly integrated behind vertical panels that sported contrasting colors. Unlike Lamborghini, with which it shared its platform, the R8 featured regular-opening, front-hinged doors. Finally, at the back, the R8 got a set of vents that flanked the outer sides of the rear fascia, sporting horizontal slats. Underneath them, the automaker installed four exhausts, two on each side.

　　The R8’s interior boasted a set of sports seats separated by a wide center console that housed the cup holders, the hand brake, and the gear stick. Fronting the driver was a binocular-styled instrument cluster where the big dials for the speedometer and tachometer flanked a TFT display for the car’s onboard computer. On the center stack, below the vents, Audi installed the infotainment display. Since the engine compartment was behind the cabin, there were no rear seats.

　　Under the hood, Audi installed a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated engine that could rev up to 8,000 RPM. It was paired with a six-speed manual that sent all the oomph in all corners. A six-speed automatic with manual override (Tiptronic) was also available.

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