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Why save when you can buy this supercar?
publication date: May 16, 2009
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author/source: David Miles
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For
new car sales in the UK in the first third of 2009, Audi has secured the number
one sales slot against the other German premium brands, a position
traditionally held by BMW.
This number one position Audi feels they
are likely to retain as the company continues introducing new and revised
models and additional model ranges into sectors they have not previously
competed in. Audi will go from the current 31 model ranges to 40 by 2015. The
company also announced this week they plan to improve fuel economy and lower
CO2 emissions of their models by 20pc using new engine and drivetrain
technologies.
During the first four months of this year
Audi recorded 32,174 UK sales with an increased market share moving from 4.62
to 5.24pc. BMW sales dropped to 27,104
units and Mercedes-Benz to 21,832.
However like most brands the German ‘big three's' actual sales volumes
were down on the same period last year, BMW showing the largest fall at 34.68pc
against the overall market which was down 28.54pc.
The latest additions to the Audi range are
the R8 5.2 FSI quattro V10 mid-engined, 196mph supercar priced at £99,575 with
a 6-speed manual gearbox or £104,665 with the R tronic sequential shift
transmission. And for sun lovers the replacement for the A4 soft top, the
larger two-door, four-seat A5 Cabriolet makes its UK debut with prices from
£29,795 to £40,385. Deliveries for both
model ranges start in May.
Jeremy Hicks, Director of Audi in the UK
said at the press launch of the two new model ranges, "Nobody knows when the
current recession will end but we are performing better in the market and have
increased our share of sales. We will continue to invest in the brand even
though Audi is making less money. The
company is investing two billion Euros this year in new model development and
bringing to market new models in new sectors. Nothing has been cancelled, it's
business as usual"
"In the UK we are continuing to invest in
people and facilities to ensure our future success as we emerge out of this
difficult time."
Jon Zammett, Head of PR for Audi in the UK
added, "The R8 V8 187mph supercar launched in July 2007 changed the public's perception
of the Audi brand and over 1,300 R8s have been delivered to UK customers so
far.
"For the new 196mph R8 V10 we
already have 1,000 names of potential customers who have paid deposits for the
V10 525PS version. With only 150 units
available to the UK market this year inevitably some customers will be on a
long waiting list and some would-be owners will transfer their order to the
existing V8 versions which has a lower starting price of £79,820.
However we expect 60pc of customers in the
longer term to prefer to own the V10 variant and we know 60pc have ordered the
new car with the R tronic sequential auto transmission."
He added, "All the advance orders are from
men, mostly aged 48 to 50. Around 90pc of them have at least two cars and they
recognise the handbuilt qualities the R8 offers and this ‘supercar' is actually
a great car for everyday use."
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FIRST
IMPRESSIONS | Apart from lots of disposable income one
thing a potential Audi R8 V10 supercar owner must have is patience.
With only 150 of the £99,575 to £104,665 two-door
V10 coupes available this year and 1,000 deposits paid by potential UK owners,
there is going to be a long wait for the 196mph mid-engined car. But it will be worth it because whether it is
V8 or V10, the Audi R8 is currently one of the world's greatest two-seater
sports cars.
Greatness in design, the R8's all aluminium
space frame construction allows for the highest power to weight ratio of any
supercar. The 5.2-litre, V10, 517bhp (520PS) high revving FSI direct injection petrol
engine is 31kg heavier than the existing V8 414bhp unit, but with the
additional weight at the front of the engine, and being a mid-engined layout,
means no loss of balance, one of the R8's greatest features coupled with Audi's
renounced quattro all wheel drive system.
But it is the V10's immense torque output,
530Nm at 6,500rpm, against the 430Nm of the V8 unit, which sets the two R8s
apart. The response is phenomenal even
in top gear, the larger unit just pulls like a train and overtaking is
lightning fast.
Top speed is 196mph and 0-62mph is 3.9
seconds, marginally faster than the R8 V8 which does 187mph and takes 4.6
seconds to get to 62mph from zero. The new unit perhaps does not enjoy such an
infectious exhaust ‘howl' as the V8, more of a growl or bellow, but sit back,
drive and enjoy. You have a great
engine, brilliant drivetrain, suspension and steering plus fantastic all wheel
drive grip and perfect balance.
Whether the extra £19,755 for the V10 over
the V8 is really worth it is purely down to the customer but many will want the
ultimate performance whether it can be used in real-life or used effectively
with their driving skills.
The price increase is shared roughly 50/50,
with around £10k for the more powerful engine and nearly £10k for the added
equipment and styling changes. Worthy of
special note is that the R8 V10 has the world's first use of all-LED headlamps
as standard.
Other exterior lighting around the car
remains LED as well. Audi's magnetic ride with adaptive damping is fitted as
standard as is a ‘quality' Bang & Olufsen audio system and satellite
navigation.
All this equipment will still not stop
customers going through the extra cost option list and from past experience
Audi said R8 owners add another £9,500 to the price of their cars in the form
of accessories. Just so you know even Bluetooth phone connectivity is a £410
extra cost option.
Whether a customer chooses the 6-speed
manual gearbox or the R tronic semi-automatic sequential transmission is down
to pure choice. One of the other great
things about the R8 is its ability to be a car for everyday use despite its
high performance. It doesn't get temperamental; it can be driven at low speeds
in town, in a leisurely manner on open roads or very hard at track events, all
without fuss.
For most drivers the auto gearbox option
will be ideal for the daily commute or the long motorway cruise. Others will
prefer the manual gearbox which I did, not because it is £5,000 cheaper, but it
gave me a better ‘feel' for applying power and it was marginally smoother and
progressive with no hesitation and abruptness between ratio changes.
Whether you choose the manual or automatic
transmission the 5.2-litre, V10 engine emits considerable CO2, 327g/km for the
semi-auto and 351g/km for the manual which means they are both in the new Band
M vehicle excise duty grouping that costs £405 a year.
For pure entertainment value I can reveal
to you the fuel consumption for the R8 V10 manual model during my brief test
driving using public roads was 18.6mpg, impressive, the auto less so at
16.4mpg. Officially it should be 19.2mpg for the manual and 20.6mpg for the
auto. The manual gearbox just coped
better and more efficiently with what was asked of it.
No point leaving you money in the bank
gaining no interest, invest in an R8 V10 - you know it makes sense - well not
sense exactly, but it will give you a lot of satisfaction. |
| MILESTONES | Audi
R8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro, 6-speed manual £99,575 | Engine/transmission:
5.2-litre, V10, direct injection petrol, DOHC, 4-valves per cylinder, dry sump,
525PS and 530Nm at 6,500rpm, 6-speed manual, quattro all wheel drive.
Performance:
196mph, 0-62 3.9 seconds 19.2mpg (18.6mpg actual), CO2 351g/km, VED Group M
£405. BIK tax 35pc. Insurance group: 20.
For:
Stunning performance but user-friendly for everyday normal driving, immense
grip, perfect balance, must-have supercar technology, beautifully built and
comprehensive specification in the cabin.
Against:
I'll think of something I'm sure - oh yes an expensive and less than smooth-changing
auto gearbox.
©David
Miles |  |
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