The Audi R8 is known to be a super sports car with its centrally mounted V8 engine, aluminium body and amazing stability, but what people don’t know is the Audi R8 has a great fuel efficiency compared to other sports cars.

Top Gear has put together five of today’s top sports cars in a race to find out which one of them is the most fuel efficient. Racing against the Audi R8 there was a Mercedes Mclaren, an Aston Martin DBS, a Ferrari 599 and a Lamborghini Murcielago.

Each one of those cars were filled with one gallon of petrol and they raced until they run out of petrol, the Ferrari was the first one to stop after only 1.7 miles the second to stop was the Aston Martin DBS, followed by the Mercedez, the Lamborghini stopped after impressive 4.1 miles but the great champion was the Audi R8 with exactly 5 miles covered.

Full LED headlamps are now available as an option for the Audi R8, this new option joins other very well-known high-tech components such as the aluminum Audi Space Frame, ceramic brakes and the mid-mounted V8 engine with FSI technology.

In addition to the standard Audi-signature 24-LED running lamps, LED high and low beam headlamps, LED turn signals are to the front fascia of the Audi R8.

Audi R8’s full LED headlamps are equipped with 54 high-performance LED’s to provide all lighting functions. With a lower energy consumption requiring a lower voltage and a colour similar to daylight offer advantages at night and a greater contrast to be easier on the human eye.

The €3,590 option rounds off the list of equipment available for the high-tech, mid-engine sports car.

Presumably, over time, this innovation will move down the range to other Audi’s in the same way the ABS breaking was initially an option on more expensive cars before becoming available across the full range.

At the weekend at the Nurburgring 24-hour race, a Privateer Race prepared Audi R8 is set to make its debut.

This is by no stretch of the imagination a standard Audi R8, and is therefore being entered in the SP7 class by a German team called 24h-Project 2008: Blue-Tec (and before you ask, we have absolutely no idea what that name means).

The race prepped R8 has had its stock engine changed to race-spec four-litre engine putting out 530bhp and 353lb ft of torque… all in a car weighing just over a ton – OH YES (as Jeremy Clarkson would say).

In addition it has a lightened chassis, and features improved aero packages, high-mounted exhaust pipes and a diffuser.

 After popular demand we have now added wallpapers for Audi A3 Cabriolet, Audi Cross Cabriolet, Audi TTS and even the R8 TDI Concept car.

All can be downloaded now on to your Desktop background Free of Charge!

Click our downloads section today!

Fresh from ripping up the Le Mans racing rulebook with the diesel-powered R10 TDI, Audi is exploring the possibility of breaking yet another mould with a road-going TDI super car based on the R8. The R8 V12 TDI Concept makes its debut at this month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, replacing the production sports car’s mid-mounted petrol FSI V8 with a 12-cylinder TDI endowed with an incredible 1,000Nm of torque.First seen in the forthcoming Q7 V12 TDI SUV, the 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 with 500PS is similar in basic concept to the R10 TDI’s 5.5-litre race engine, and delivers its colossal 1,000Nm output from just 1,750rpm, guaranteeing the effortless delivery of a 4.2-second 0-62mph acceleration time and a top speed in excess of 186mph.Despite its astonishing statistics, this remarkable engine shows the necessary restraint when it comes to environmental impact. Its fundamental efficiency, achieved through the use of an advanced common rail fuel injection system enhanced by piezo injectors, is complemented by twin particulate filters and a new state-of-the-art ultra-low emission system that ensures compliance with proposed EU6 emission limits expected to apply from 2014.   The heart of the system is a special catalytic converter downstream of the oxidizing catalyst and the particulate filter. The second component is an additional tank containing an aqueous urea solution. Small quantities of the solution, known as “AdBlue,” are injected into the exhaust system. The hot exhaust gases break the solution down to form ammonia that splits the nitric oxides into inert nitrogen and water. The system remains effective for the entire service life of the vehicle. The R8’s classic mid-engine configuration, combined with advanced Audi Space Frame (ASF) construction mating lightweight aluminium panelling to an aluminium space frame, provides the very best operating conditions for the futuristic chassis, which itself contains a high proportion of aluminium components. Audi magnetic ride The V12 TDI Concept is equipped with the advanced Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping system, which swaps conventional damper fluid for a magnetorheological fluid containing minute magnetic particles that can be influenced by an electromagnetic field. By applying a voltage to the system’s electromagnets, the viscosity of the fluid is altered by the affected magnetic particles, increasing resistance to damper movement to iron out pitch and roll when necessary, and reducing resistance at times when ride comfort is of greater importance. The system constantly monitors road conditions and driving style and reacts accordingly. A specially tailored version of Audi drive select, the adaptive dynamics system introduced recently in the new A4 Saloon, also helps to personalise the driving experience. Offering ‘Dynamic’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings, it enables further fine-tuning of the magnetic ride dampers and the parameters of the engine and transmission. When the ‘Race’ setting is selected on a circuit, the interior instrument lighting changes from white to red and the onboard satellite navigation system displays navigation information relating to the specific circuit being driven, along with a lap timer. Supplementary information including centrifugal force and boost pressure can also be accessed in this mode. quattro four-wheel-drive reassurance Whether on road or circuit, the R8 is effectively moderated by high-performance carbon fibre-reinforced ceramic brakes, and by the legendary quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system, which by apportioning power to front and rear axles in constantly varying degrees dictated by road conditions prevents the less desirable handling traits often exhibited by powerful mid-engine, rear-drive sports cars. Additional downforce to help the quattro system suck the car to the tarmac at speed is provided by a specially developed, larger version of the production road car’s automatically extending rear spoiler, combined with a fully clad diffuser under-body and special measures such as diffuser apertures in the rear bumper. Air is not only channelled in a way that accentuates the R8’s widely acclaimed handling capabilities, but is also effectively captured by racing-derived NACA ducts within the new glass roof over the passenger compartment to cool the potent V12. The engine itself is also displayed in all its glory beneath a clear glass cover, through which special air deflectors can also be seen in the Concept. At only 684mm in length, the surprisingly compact 12-cylinder is only 166mm longer than the V8 TDI, which means that with the help of the long 2.65-metre wheelbase the sensation of space which sets the R8 apart from rivals is barely compromised. All-LED lighting technology Inside, the V12 TDI Concept is distinguishable by its additional aluminium and carbon fibre elements, and by its figure-hugging racing-style sports seats. On the outside, it is marked out by all-LED lights, enlarged inlet and outlet ducts at the front, side and rear, the modified rear spoiler and exclusive alloy wheels.

All though this car has Not been confirmed for production if you would like to register you interest in the R8 V12 TDI please contact us and we will register you!  

Looking for a present for the Top Gear fans in your family?

You can now get an Audi R8, the Audi Super car that Jeremy Clarkson drooled over earlier in the year for a mere £45 it represents a saving of exactly £78,150 over the standard R8.

The catch? this is a 1:18 scale model, enabling Audi R8 fans to bypass the current twelve month waiting list for a full-size example and park one on the mantelpiece almost immediately.

The meticulously finished Audi R8 model is faithful to the much admired design of the full-blown original right down to the detailing of its windscreen wipers. Only 750 examples of its all-aluminum, mid-engined and quattro-equipped big brother will find homes in the UK in 2008, thrilling their drivers with a mighty 420PS output, 4.6-second acceleration from rest to 62mph and, for those lucky enough to be visiting an Autobahn next year, a 187mph top speed.

The real Audi R8 is available from Essex Audi dealers Of course if you want the real thing contact or if you want one as a r8 company car - check out audinationwide.com

The UKTV Car of the year awards results are in and Audi got the silver in medal in two categories: The Audi Q7 in the 4 X 4 category and the Audi S8 in the Luxury car category.

But with no real suprise the winner of the UKTV Car of the Year and also the star of the Sports category was the Audi R8.

The final votes were cast between 12th November 2007 and 16th November 2007 in the 5 main categories in which a shortlist of 3 cars per category from the previous weeks votes were published.

Votes were cast via the UKTV website by you after adverts were shown across the UKTV Network predominantly one their newest channel Dave!

Click here for a full list of winners.

Top gear tested the Audi R8 Vs the Porsche 911  on the show aired 14th Oct 2007 Jeremy Clarkson raved about the R8 whist the “hamster” still preferred the 911 - but as he owns one he is probably biased

In this weeks Topgear (11th November 2007) Simon Cowell became top of the “star in a reasonably priced car” leader board for the second time by beating Gordon Ramsay’s time of 1.46.38 when he managed an impressive 1.45.9 lap after trying to forget help and advice give to him from The Stig  to gain the top spot! Simon Cowell has recently taken delivery of his new Audi R8.

There is a short clip on the top gear site here of Jeremy Clarksons review on the R8 note that the realplayer version seem to work better.

Audi Progress Magazine 2007 

The second editon of the Audi Progress Magazine is ready for you to download from our downloads section.

 This November 2007 edition includes the Frankfurt motorshow 2007 with the new A4 and A8 unveilings, The additional A5 engines now open for ordering- 1.8T, 3.2 FSI and 2.7 TDI, Audis’ cleaner greener plan for the next few years and even information you may not be aware of about changes within corporate law effecting fleets in April 2008.

 As always hard copies are also available so if you would like some copies sent out to you please call us on 0800 822 3116 or fill out our contact us form and we’ll get some sent out to you.