After Nearly Two Decades, The Audi R8 is No More

Spanning multiple generations over almost 20 years, the production of Audi’s venerable and hallowed R8 supercar has officially come to an end.

Looking for your next new or used Audi? Find it here with CARmag. 

The first vestige of what we know as the Audi R8 debuted as a concept model way back in 2003, bearing the Audi Le Mans quattro moniker and envisioning a high-performance sports car that inherited the characteristics of the three-time winning Le Mans 24-Hours race car. The official first-generation model was unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, which was the Le Mans quattro concept’s physique powered by a 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 and, depending on configuration, mated to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

R8

Image: Audi

At the tail-end of 2008, Audi would birth the V10-powered derivative of the R8, which employed a 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 that was developed in collaboration with Lamborghini. It distinguished itself from its eight-cylinder counterpart by way of a slightly different front fascia, larger wheels, a four-exit exhaust system and a slightly revised cabin. The 386 kW/ 530 N.m V10, like its V8 sibling, had its power fed through with a six-speed auto or manual transmission to all four corners.

Related: Audi Q6 e-tron Unveiled With Possible Local Intro Later This Year

R8

Image: Audi

In 2012, Audi debuted the facelifted variant of its first-generation R8 for both the V8 and V10 derivatives. The updated model boasted a new exterior design characterised by sharper body lines, new headlights, and carbon fibre-reinforced side panels. The interior had also been updated and featured bucket seats and Alcantara upholstery.

R8

Image: Audi

Production of the second generation of the Audi R8 began in 2015, just three years after the facelifted first-gen model debuted. The second generation Audi R8 was founded on the Modular Sports System platform and sourced its power from a 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 that would output 402 kW in standard configuration and 455 kW in V10 Plus spec. The second generation had a physique that was noticeably more aggressive than those that came before and revised many design elements that characterised the first-gen model. The most notable change is the segmenting of the black side panel. In late 2018, the facelifted variant of the second-generation Audi R8 debuted. Aside from slight cosmetic alterations, the second-gen model featured improved suspension components and more power.

R8

Image: Audi

Related: Audi’s ‘The Last Lap’ Video is an Emotional Goodbye to the Iconic R8

Production of the final Audi R8 was planned for the end of 2023, but an influx in orders extended that deadline slightly. The curtain-closing R8 model left the Audi Böllinger Höfe site’s assembly line wearing Vegas Yellow in Performance Edition guise with the carbon fibre exterior package and 20-inch wheels.

Browse thousands of new and used cars here with CARmag. 

The post After Nearly Two Decades, The Audi R8 is No More appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage
Read more

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th
Read more