Audi R8 Sport Under Consideration

Pole-dancing? Audi’s next lightweight supermodel might be a bit more of a stripper.

The Audi R8 is great. But as evidenced by the R8 V-12 TDI (nee R8 TDI Le Mans) concept car on display at this year’s Detroit and Geneva auto shows, Audi is clearly thinking about proliferating the R8 lineup.

The next R8 to roll down the spotless Neckarsulm, Germany, assembly line may be a lightweight stripper version rather than a more powerful oil-burner. So hints Stafan Reil, the head of development for Quattro, GmbH, which assembles the R8 and almost every Audi that starts with “S” and “RS.”

Lighter, more intensified cars make sense for Audi’s sport cars, Reil tells Car and Driver, much like Lamborghini’s success with the lightened Gallardo Superleggera.

“This is a direction you can go and make business,” Reil says, stressing that Audi won’t build anything that won’t make the company money. “It makes sense for the TT, and maybe in the future in an R8.”

A stripped-down-and-juiced-up R8, likely to be called the R8 Sport or R8 Quattro Sport, would adhere to the same ethos as the 2005 TT Quattro Sport, 1000 of which were made in 2005, although none made it to the U.S. The TT Quattro Sport had a more powerful version of the TT’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with a stiffer suspension, fewer interior comfort features, and no rear seats or spare tire. Freed from the additional weight, the Sport was able to lop half a second off the 0-to-60 mph sprint. Styling was unique, as was the paint job: all had a black roof over a contrasting body color.
This philosophy would translate well to the R8. Horsepower would rise from 420 to somewhere around 500, we think, with racing seats, fewer speakers, and more carbon fiber throughout the body and chassis. We also expect to see carbon-ceramic brakes and slightly racier bodywork/paintwork. Such a car might be able to hit 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds, given that the “base” R8 does the dash in four flat.

Reil’s comments also suggest a similar treatment is planned for the TT, in addition to the TT-S that debuted in Detroit and the rumored TT-RS. When and where either of these models would be sold is still up in the air. But for our part, we sure hope they can “make business” with them over here

2010 Audi S4 to Get Supercharged V6

Audi maintains performance while increasing efficiency by 20%.

Those who assumed the 2010 Audi S4 would share its powertrain with the S5 were incorrect. Instead, look for an all-new forced-induction 3.0-liter V-6 that will generate something close to the 340 horsepower found in the outgoing S4’s 4.2-liter V-8.

Why is the Audi S4 moving from a V-8 to a V-6, just as the BMW M3 moved from an inline-six to a V-8? In two words: Fuel economy. Audi’s strategy is to deliver comparable or improved overall performance by toeing the line on weight and maintaining power output by using forced induction on a smaller displacement engine. Doing so will boost a manual transmission S4’s fuel economy on the European cycle to 23.3 mpg compared with only 19.4 mpg for the V-8 S5. That’s an efficiency gain of 20%.

A less powerful, 290-hp, 310 lb-ft version of the engine will be the base offering in the A6 Quattro, replacing the 3.2-liter V-6. Known as TFSI, which in the past has been Audi’s internal moniker for four-cylinder turbos, the new engine may be referred to as the 3.0T in the model name, possibly indicating a twin-charged system using both a supercharger and a turbocharger. While Volkswagen has a “twincharger,” Audi has not yet offered such a system. At the very least, we expect the new V-6 to be supercharged, although what will allow the S4’s version to generate 50 or so more horsepower is still a mystery.

Don’t look for a dramatically lower weight in this S4. Compared with the outgoing 2008 A4, the redesigned 2009 A4’s body is approximately 10 percent lighter. The A4 and S4 will use identical sheetmetal this time around—the new S4 apparently was not developed by Audi’s high-performance division, Quattro GmbH, but the S4 will be distinguished by having distinct cladding from the A4. Not only does the sharing save money, but stresses the exclusivity of the RS 4 which will better stand out with its distinct sheetmetal—including bulging fenders—and a V-8.
We expect to see Audi roll out its Magna-sourced “sport differential” (BMW uses ZF) in the S5 and Q5 as well, to combat understeer in its four-wheel-drive vehicles. This trick differential, like the one in the BMW X6, adds about 40 pounds. The S4 will be the first Audi vehicle in the U.S. with a longitudinal engine layout to offer a dual-clutch transmission. Now known as S tronic (although even Audi people still call it DSG, as it was originally known, and as VW still calls it), this seven-speed sequential-manual will further improve performance and efficiency.

The supercharger will make the V-6 weigh about the same as the V-8 overall. Add in the requisite safety and luxury features that every new model gets, and it’s a wash. Expect Audi to claim a nominal weight reduction of only 20–100 pounds for the new model, putting it at about 3900 pounds.

Audi will debut the 2010 S4 this fall sometime after the 2008 Paris show in October—making the L.A. show in November a possibility. Expect the new S4 to compete with the BMW 335i for efficiency but the Audi probably won’t have the edge in performance and will cost significantly more. Watch for more details on the new S4’s engine in the coming days.