Audi R8 in Kemora Grey Driving on the track

Instant response, lightning-fast high-revving and a unique sound - the heart of the Audi R8 is its V10 naturally aspirated engine. It is available to customers in two output ratings. The almost identical drive technology of the V10 engine in the R8 LMS GT3 and R8 LMS GT4 is put to good use on the racetrack. The V10, which is produced at the engine plant in Gyor, Hungary, is very compact. A separate radiator controls the temperature of the engine oil, which comes from a dry sump. This principle was adopted from motor racing and allows for an extremely low installation position of the engine, producing a low center of gravity. The pump module operates with multiple suction stages and assures proper lubrication under all conditions - including during lateral acceleration of around 1.5 G, which is possible in the R8. Both engines have a gasoline particulate filter.

Modifications to the suspension provide even more stability and precision. The assistance has been retuned both with the optional dynamic steering and the electromechanical power steering: Steering response and the feedback from the road come across as even more precise across the entire range of speeds.

Depending on the selected engine, the three additional programs dry, wet and snow are added to the well-known Audi drive select modes with the performance mode. They adapt the key dynamic parameters to the friction coefficient of the road. Thanks to the enhanced Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC), the top-of-the-line model brakes from 100 km/h (62.1 mph) to a standstill up to 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) earlier; the stopping distance from 200 km/h (124.3 mph) is up to five meters (16.4 ft) shorter - in each case depending on the exterior conditions.