Back in 10 : Audi R8 V10

As a taster, just some quick and nasty sound-bytes of the R8 V10 under hard acceleration.

Sounds much better on the outside than it does on the inside... but it's all good nonetheless!







(another slow take-off video of the Blue R8 V10 cos i think it's an interesting colour)

We always felt the R8 V8 was a little 'under-engineered' for a car with the R8's looks; in fact, it would come as no small surprise to find out that the V8 variant was nothing more than a gap-filling, plug-filler to tease the masses ahead of the V10 debut (see 2 Audi V10s mixing it up HERE).

with the V10, the R8 finally feels 'right'. It has the necessary firepower to back up its flash, exoticar looks and could well herald Audi's entrance into the big league.

The R8 V10 is priced smack in used Lamborghini territory. For the Flash Brigade, one has to bear in mind that the fact that there's a smaller engined variant running around will always come as some rain on your parade.

typically, when someone sees a gallardo, straightaway it's 'supercar' or 'v10', so who cares even if you don't drive your car hard and just want pose? at the end of the day, the Lambo still garners more attention.



when someone sees a R8 now, rather than 'AWESOME!', the first question to come to his lips, "is it the V8 or V10?" (of course in the picture above they're both V10s!)

of course this is good if u own a V8, but if u've just plonked down 700 large for the V10, hmmm, i think u might want something more than the small badges, view of the engine through the rear glass, spider-web rims and road tax disc to help set your car apart from its smaller engined sibling.

Sure, some might consider the R8 V10 the thinking man's 'super'-car, where its performance should outweigh all the other petty concerns like recognition for instance, so it should be interesting to see how it will be received by the market.

Fast Facts : Audi R8 V10
Engine: 5204cc, 40-valves, V10
Maximum power: 525bhp at 8000rpm
Maximum torque: 530Nm at 6500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed 'R tronic'
0-100km/h: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed: 313km/h
LxBxH: 4435 x 1930 x 1252 mm
Wheelbase: 2650mm
Kerbweight: 1625kg
Agent: Premium Automobiles, tel.: 65-6566-1111
Price: approx. S$650k

Sleeper Cell : Audi RS 6 Avant

It's such a crying shame that too many people just don't get estates - sometimes, it's not about looking fast, but being fast, and it's no huge secret that wagons are often as fast as their sedan counterparts, with the added bonus of its proportions resulting in more progressive handling characteristics on the limit.



The RS 6 Avant (Avant is Audi-speak for estate/station-wagon) unleashes the full fury of its twin-turbocharged V10 on both road and track... with track in this case being the Sepang F1 Circuit in Malaysia, during the Audi Sportscar Experience.



The Audi Sportscar Experience certainly uproots the goal-posts and flings them far into the horizon. With many of Audi's rivals still content to offer basic exercises like 'brake-and-evade' and ABS tests in wet/dry conditions with maybe the possibility of a hot lap around the track with an instructor, Audi has raised the bar by giving media and prospective customers the opportunity to experience its 'S' models (S5, S3, TTS and of course the RS 6 Avant) in their natural environment - the race-track.



During the first half of the day (or before lunch, by my stomach's reckoning), the Sepang track is broken into 4 parts with the instructors leading (in 2 x R8s, 1 x RS4 Cabriolet, 1 x S8) 4 cars per group to assess skill levels and to point out cornering lines and braking points to the participants.


After lunch, the full track was open and the participants are allowed out in small groups of 4-5 cars. It was an eye-opening experience outside of an European event since the issue of the organisers 'warning' the participants to 'baby' the cars or to take it easy never arose. These performance cars were certainly flogged around the Sepang circuit as their makers intended them to!



At start-up, the RS 6 doesn't erupt to life as dramatically as its bigger S8 brother; instead very little clues you in to the swirling maelstrom of tarmac (and tyre) destruction that lurks a short flex of the gas pedal away. Immediately, the instructors recommend disabling the first stage of ESP (Sport) and the adjustable suspension is also set to the most 'hardcore' of its 3 settings (Comfort, Dynamic, Sport).



We take it easy on the first lap; even then it's remarkable how this 2000+kg kerbweight monster shifts its weight so easily. It may not feel fast, but a glance at the speedometer quickly apprises you to the rapidity at which the car is piling on the km/h.

(to be continued with more text and pix)








Fast Facts : Audi RS 6 Avant
Engine: 4991cc, 40-valves, V10, twin-turbocharged
Maximum power: 580bhp at 6250-6700rpm
Maximum torque: 650Nm at 1500-6250rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
0-100km/h: 4.6 seconds
Top speed: 250km/h (electronically limited)
LxBxH: 4928 x 1889 x 1460mm
Wheelbase: 2846mm
Kerbweight: 2025kg
Agent: Premium Automobiles, tel: +65-6566-1111

Out of the Closet : Audi TTS

Despite its tres chic styling that has won so many die-hard fans (especially with the earlier Bauhaus-inspired predecessor), you'd be hard-pressed to find a 'serious' automotive enthusiast to admit that he (or she) actually likes the TT and would be caught dead driving around in one.

Accomplished as the car may be, the modern day TT seems to have supplanted the (NB) MX-5 as the previous limp-wristed hair-dresser's chariot of choice, especially since the current MX-5 is a rather butch affair with the appropriate bulges in all the right places.



The TTS bares its fangs and really comes out of the closet... and we're not talking about getting in touch with its feminine side either; this hard-core TT leaps out of the closet like a deranged jack-in-the-box with fists a-flaying in dramatic turbocharged fashion.



The body-kit is subtle rather than in-your-face yet nevertheless quietly powerful: front and rear aprons with refreshed front light-clusters that feature bi-xenon headlights and integrated day-time running LED strips (like the S5 and R8), 18-inch rims wrapped in Potenza RE050A rubber and quad exhaust pipes.

Of course, we haven't forgotten the ubquitous S/RS trademark silver finish wing mirror housings, although it's unfortunate that some of their edge has been blunted by the car's matching body colour.

Previously, the TT was available in turbocharged 2L and V6 guises here in Singapore, but that's changed: only one turbo'd 2L engine is available, albeit in 2 stages of tune - ho-hum (200bhp) and YOW-ZA (TTS)!





Apart from the usual 'TT' trappings, there's the inclusion of the coveted 'S' tag on the front grille, rump and side scuff plates, which add much coveted street cred to the car's appeal. Unfortunately, judging by the reactions of many people, the TTS is just another TT, which goes to show that there's still room for a lot more education for these mendicants.

Overheard during my shoot from a passing band of used car salesmen, "Why is that guy so proud of his car and taking pictures? It's just another TT." LOL Oh well, the delightful ignorance of mendicants...it takes all sorts!



In spite of the almost nondescript exterior colour, the cabin is a funky fusion of orange and black and Audi's attention to detail really shines through from the orange stitching of the steering wheel to the S Tronic shift boot.

Where its lesser Volkswagen sibling is perfectly content to uphold its long-standing tradition for 'solid', 'functional' and 'reliable' cabins, Audi displays its cheeky persona with a vibrant orange splash amidst the TTS' gorgeously designed cabin.





Audi's dual-clutch transmission is dubbed 'S Tronic', although it's effectively a variation of the well-worn DSG theme. Despite the many DSG fanatics around in SIngapore, not many are aware that the first car here to boast the DSG was in fact, an Audi. The first DSG application available in Singapore's RHD market was in the previous generation 3.2L V6 TT.



Gear-shifts can be executed with the sturdily constructed steering-wheel mounted '+' and '-' paddles or via the gear-shifter. Mated to the new and improved turbo'd 2L, the results are explosive!

This is everything the GTI could have been... but isn't. The TTS is capable of putting on an indecent turn of speed, while the wet Sunday gave us the opportunity to exploit the legendary quattro sure-footedness.



Floor the gas pedal and the engine goes banzai bananas! There's so much torque from low-down the rev-band that you can happily mosey to and from your appointments, but when you're in a rush, the TTS transforms into a charging silver bullet that will blitz everything in its path... not just the werewolves.

Best of all, the tremendous belches that accompany each gear-shift as you're passing are sublimely obnoxious! They know they're being passed.

AMR (Audi Magnetic Ride) is a standard feature and lets the driver toggle between 'Normal' and 'Sport' modes for more dynamic handling (likewise, there're 2 stages of traction control to be disabled); the ride is surprisingly civilised in spite of the 18inch low profile rubber.

The boot-lid spoiler too, can be manually deployed with a button on the centre console... All the better for passing you, my dear!

The steering could be more meaty, but there's no denying there's a nimble adroitness about the TTS that surpasses the regular TT and even its VW counterparts. Otherwise, brake pedal feel offers ample confidence and prove more than capable of hauling the car to a standstill.

It hustles with such a deceptive alacrity that your passengers will likely find themselves white-knuckle gripping the grab-handles when the TTS is on its roll. Don't forget, with S tronic, the TTS dispatches the century sprint in just over 5 seconds.



The TTS has certainly come out... but it's in the mood for 'giving' rather than 'taking', so if you think it's going to be a pushover, get ready for a painful awakening.

Fast Facts : Audi TTS
Engine: 1984cc, 16-valves, turbocharged
Maximum power: 272bhp at 6000rpm
Maximum torque: 350Nm at 2500-5000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed S tronic double-clutch transmission
0-100km/h: 5.4 seconds
Top speed: 248km/h
LxBxH: 4198 x 1842 x 1345 mm
Wheelbase: 2468mm
Kerbweight: 1395kg
Agent: Premium Automobile
Price: S$225,000

R8ted 'R' : Audi R8 Part 2

This clean revving V8 grumbles initially, but the woofle transforms into a rising scream as you approach the red-line! musical!


*cabin shot courtesy of Audi media
no race buckets inside the R8, but the seats are snug and comfy; it's certainly much easier to taller (and fatter) drivers to get in and out of the car than true exotics. some of the plasticky bits aren't so happening though.

there's quite a decent amount of space, especially on the 'parcel shelf' behind the seats (2 full-sized golfbags can be squeezed in!). The cabin exudes a polished air, with lots of billeted metal bits cladding surfaces that will see the most human operation, like gear-knob and climate controls. the suede roof lining feels great too! we found ourselves stroking it while waiting in traffic!


important controls here, including the (all-important) button to deploy the boot-lid spoiler! the R8 also features the brand's AMR (Audi Magnetic Ride, like on the higher-specc'd TTs), which adapt to the driver's style and road condition within milliseconds. the ride was firm and very well-controlled. despite its girth, the R8 was also surprisingly easy to manoeuvre around.

'Sport' sharpens up the transmission (and throttle?) response to deliver even more brutally quick gear-shifts for maximum acceleration. Occasionally in traffic, the gearbox had a tendency to drop into 'N', but a chime lets you know when this happens.



It will take you from standstill to a license-losing 200km/h in 14.9 seconds. The century sprint is dispatched in 4.6 seconds and the R tronic's launch control certainly makes hitting that time and time again a cinch!

the brakes are stupendously strong and are perfect for really hardcore driving. unfortunately, this comes at a price; it's infuriatingly difficult to modulate smoothly in the thick of start-stop town traffic, as is the trigger-happy gas pedal (particularly in Sport). Make no mistake, this is a 'manual', which means the car can roll back on a slope!

the gear-shifts too, so explosively quick during fast and furious driving, can take some getting used to in town. there's a fully automatic mode but the key to swift and smooth progress seems to be easing-off a tad from the gas pedal during gear-changes.


The R8's quattro experience isnt merely an 'understeer affair' either. tuned to achieve optimum balance for a mid-engine layout, the R8 is remarkably agile and can be driven hard confidently.

R8ted 'R' : Audi R8 Part 1

sigh, it's been another beeeeezeeeeee month... little time to update, tokyo motor show pix from november 2007 never even made it up!

posting one image, text to follow with a few short clips:

This stubby gearknob used to engage the 6-speed sequential R tronic transmission (a derivative of Lamborghini's E-gear automated manual transmission). Flat-bottomed steering wheel boasts paddles for faster shifts.


There's certainly no mistaking the sleek, predatory curves of the R8 for anything else on the road, although there's no ignoring the subtle hints of the TT, a fact that some owners of this 500k Audi may not appreciate.


The white car is nicely complemented by the slabs of carbon-fibre cladding on the flanks, while the contrasting black fins and grilles create a stunning visual impact.


At the back, quad exhaust pipes bristle out to bellow out their challenge. there's even a little boot spoiler that can be even be deployed by hitting a purpose-built button in the car; black fins below the tail-lights 'iffy' and fussy looking.


The clear 'hatch' shows off the v8 powerplant, reminiscent of the sight of an in-house movement viewed through the see-through case-back of a timepiece.


The five spoke rims are rather old-school (which we like) BUT they seem totally at odds with the futuristic, avant-garde aesthetics of the R8.


12-LED daytime running lights are HAWT and get two thumbs-up; the S5 (march/april 08 in Singapore) will have this feature too!

in a nutshell, this isn't the full-blown hardcore experience that many may have been expecting, especially following on the backs of the scintillating RS4 and S5 coupe. So, rather than a no-holds-barred Triple X (xxx) grading, the R8 is, as the title says, comfortably in R-rated territory.

The R8 has made a big splash in the performance (sports) car segment but falls just short of breaching the walls of the rarefied super-car territory.

Super-cars aren't just about impressive paper statistics and outrageous styling. In true German fashion, the R8 comes across as rather clinical and lacks the flamboyant emotive quotient of the Italian counterparts. Even the more outre styling touches seem exaggerated and contrived rather than the results of true inspiration.

However, the few people (including one from an Italian super-car distributor) we spoke to felt that it would give the many variants of the Porsche 911 a real run for their money. "It looks unique and is an excellent daily driver; it's much easier to drive than a 911," he said.



Fast Facts: Audi R8
Engine: 4163cc, V8, 32-valves, FSI
Maximum power: 420bhp at 7800rpm
Maximum torque: 430Nm at 4500-6000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed R Tronic sequential
0-100km/h: 4.6 seconds
Top speed: 301km/h
LxBxH: 4431 x 1904 x 1252 mm
Wheelbase: 2650mm
Kerbweight: 1565kg
Agent: Premium Automobiles