First Drive: 2012 Audi R8 GT [w/video]
A Supercar Without The Bad Attitude
Regardless of the frequency, our pulse still races every time we fire up a ten-cylinder engine. It's not just the unique sound or the warbled vibration that gets the blood flowing – it's the anticipation. Whether the badge says Gallardo, Viper or M5, a V10 under the hood promises intoxicating power and frenzied excitement.
The new Audi R8 GT packs just such an engine – a 5.2-litre V10. Mid-mounted in an aluminum and magnesium monocoque chassis, the powerplant is rated at 560 horsepower. With all-wheel drive and a sequential gearbox, the coupe rockets to 96 kph in 3.6 seconds before hitting an aerodynamic wall just shy of 321 kilometres per hour. It is, notes Audi, the lightest, fastest and most powerful supercar in its lineup.
Constructing the R8 GT was hardly a mild undertaking. Audi first put the R8 on a diet, shedding 81 kg (180 pounds). They then turned their attention to the powerplant, where engineers were able to coax the 5.2-litre V10 into delivering another 35 hp. The suspension, brakes and underpinnings were upgraded, while the automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive system received their own new set of commands. Lastly, unique cosmetic touches were applied that not only improved the R8's appearance, but boosted performance.
As Audi has limited production of the R8 GT to just 333 copies worldwide (with only 25 examples falling into very lucky hands within Canada), we consider ourselves fortunate to be one of just a handful of journalists at Sonoma, California's Infineon Raceway to put the world's newest exotic through its paces on a race circuit.
2012 Audi R8 GT - Click above for high-res image gallery
Regardless of the frequency, our pulse still races every time we fire up a ten-cylinder engine. It's not just the unique sound or the warbled vibration that gets the blood flowing – it's the anticipation. Whether the badge says Gallardo, Viper or M5, a V10 under the hood promises intoxicating power and frenzied excitement.
The new Audi R8 GT packs just such an engine – a 5.2-litre V10. Mid-mounted in an aluminum and magnesium monocoque chassis, the powerplant is rated at 560 horsepower. With all-wheel drive and a sequential gearbox, the coupe rockets to 96 kph in 3.6 seconds before hitting an aerodynamic wall just shy of 321 kilometres per hour. It is, notes Audi, the lightest, fastest and most powerful supercar in its lineup.
Constructing the R8 GT was hardly a mild undertaking. Audi first put the R8 on a diet, shedding 81 kg (180 pounds). They then turned their attention to the powerplant, where engineers were able to coax the 5.2-litre V10 into delivering another 35 hp. The suspension, brakes and underpinnings were upgraded, while the automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive system received their own new set of commands. Lastly, unique cosmetic touches were applied that not only improved the R8's appearance, but boosted performance.
As Audi has limited production of the R8 GT to just 333 copies worldwide (with only 25 examples falling into very lucky hands within Canada), we consider ourselves fortunate to be one of just a handful of journalists at Sonoma, California's Infineon Raceway to put the world's newest exotic through its paces on a race circuit.
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