Paris Motor Show LIVE: Audi’s redesigned R8 range

At this year’s Paris Motor Show Audi is showing its revised R8 range, consisting of the coupe and cabriolet versions.

The high-performance sports car is now more dynamic and powerful than ever before thanks to improvements including a newly developed seven-speed S tronic. The lineup comprises three different engine variants: the R8 V8, the R8 V10 and the R8 V10 plus.

As before, Audi uses the new R8 to showcase its capabilities in ultra-lightweight construction. The R8′s body consists of an aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) weighing just 210 kilograms. Thanks to weight-saving technology, the R8 V8 Coupé with the six-speed manual gearbox weighs just 1,560 kilograms, while the R8 V10 tips the scales at 1,570 kilograms, 50 kilograms less than the previous model.

The exterior design has received sharper touches such as the newly structured LED headlights that are now standard on all models, the hexagonal singleframe grille and the large, round tailpipe trims. The LED rear lights of all models include the innovative dynamic turn signal, which makes the light run from the inside out in the direction in which the driver wants to turn.

The new seven-speed S tronic significantly boosts the performance of the Audi R8. Models equipped with this transmission sprint from zero to 100 km/h 0.3 seconds faster than if equipped with the R tronic. Fuel consumption also decreases by up to 0.9 liters per 100 km (21 grams CO2 per km).

The V8 engine powering the Audi R8 V8 Coupé produces 430 hp and 430 Nm of torque. When mated to the seven-speed S tronic, it accelerates the R8 Coupé from zero to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 300 km/h. The Audi R8 V10 Coupé with the S tronic completes the standard sprint in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 314 km/h. The ten-cylinder engine generates 525 hp and delivers 530 Nm of torque. At the top of the range sits the new R8 V10 plus with 550 hp and 540 Nm of torque, which can reach a top speed of 317 km/h.