Lighter, faster & more efficient 2016 Audi R8 revealed [Video Update]

27/02/2015 - 23:44 Audi R8, Audi, 2015 Geneva Motor Show Anjan Ravi

Audi has released a video showing the new Audi R8 lapping it a race track.

[Head to Youtube if you can't see the video above.]

Audi R8 e-tron has a range of over 450 km.

Ahead of its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show next week, Audi has revealed the 2016 Audi R8, and announced details of the car.

2016 Audi R8 front quarter press shot — The new Audi R8, for now, will not get a V8 engine.

First up, the engines. At the time of the launch, the second generation R8 will be available only with a V10 naturally-aspirated engine. The 5.2-liter unit, borrowed from the previous generation model, is available in power states of 540 hp and 610 hp.

A 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox and a newly-developed quattro system put this on to the road, and in extreme cases, Audi says that 100 percent of the torque can be transferred to the front or rear axle. The 610 hp R8 V10 Plus does 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and hits a top-speed of 330 km/h.

Later on, Audi will introduce the R8 e-tron with power and torque outputs of 455 hp and 920 Nm of torque. It will do 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds with a range of more than 450 km.

2016 Audi R8 dashboard press shot — The new R8 gets the Virtual Cockpit first seen on the new TT.

At 8.47 km/l average consumption, the R8 V10 is now 10 percent more efficient with CO2 emissions of 275 g/km.

The R8 V10 Plus has a dry weight of 1,454 kg, which is 50 kg lighter than its predecessor. The Audi Space Frame and a combination of aluminium and carbon fiber reinforced plastics have resulted in the weight loss, despite the new R8 coming with more equipment. At the same time, torsional rigidity has increased by 40 percent.

With an overall design resembling the first generation R8, the new model gets LED headlights and dynamic turn signals at the rear as standard. Inside, the supercar borrows the new Virtual Cockpit which was first seen on the new TT last year.

2016 Audi R8 rear quarter press shot — Dynamic turn signals at the rear, LED headlights and 19-inch alloy wheels are standard on the R8.

The new R8 will go on sale in Europe in the summer of 2015 at a price of 165,000 Euros (INR 1.15 crores) and 187,400 Euros (INR 1.31 crores) for the V10 Plus.

The second generation Audi R8 will be produced at a new Quattro GmbH production site that was specially built for the sports car - the “Böllinger Höfe” site in Heilbronn.

You can find more details in the press release section.