NAIAS – Audi R8 5.2FSI Quattro and Sportback Concept
January 12, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Audi took care of both ends of the automotive spectrum at the 2009 North American International Auto Show with two new cars that highlight the pinnacle of power and prestige, as well as the epitome of economy.
The world debut of the R8 5.2 FSI Quattro delivers the most powerful engine yet for the new Audi supercar that’s earned almost universal acclaim. The heart of the matter is the fitment of a 5.2-litre V10 that uses direct injection fueling to help generate a stupendous 385kW and a 313km/h top speed.
The R8 5.2 FSI Quattro is the “next step in bringing our racing experience to the street,” said Rupert Stadler, Audi’s chairman of the board of management.
The R8’s V10 pushes the car from 0-100km/h in under four seconds when equipped with the R-tronic automated manual transmission, one of two transmission options for the R8 5.2 FSI Quattro. The other available transmission is a conventional six-speed manual.
Audi’s other world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show is the Sportback concept, a sleek full-size five-door sedan incorporating a hatchback that Audi said “offers a glimpse at Audi’s future design vocabulary.”
The car furthers Audi’s commitment to its sportback design, which it first brought to production with the A3 sportback; the company said it has become more popular than the A3’s two-door hatchback body style.
“The Sportback concept takes Audi’s design language to a new level,” said Michael Lindt, Audi board member for technical development, “The sportback body style will be a cornerstone of our future growth.”
Meanwhile, almost diametrically opposed to the volcanic power of the R8 5.2 FSI Quattro, Audi confirmed it will offer a 2.0-litre diesel engine in its compact A3 model later this year. The A3 2.0 TDI will be a “catalyst for change in America,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi of America.
“Consumers will easily see 40-plus miles per gallon from the A3 2.0 TDI,” said de Nysschen of the car that Audi will pit against US high-mileage icons such as the hybrid-electric Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.
“The A3 2.0 TDI can be all other efficiency technologies on the market”, said Audi’s Rupert Stadler.
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This car is so good looking any better and it would hurt love it
Oh my lord! /me drools!!
Nice looking cars from audi, although i don’t like those wheels on R8 V10, looks too aftermarket to me. Wonder what Porsche, VW’s new owner will think with the R8 V10 eating into 911 Turbo’s market.
As for the Sportback concept, which will surely become the new A7, it is stunning looking and very elegant and sleek, i would choose this offer MB CLS, which i still think looks like an AU Falcon. This also makes me sad that BMW dropped their Concept CS due to the financial crisis.
I love it. I quite like the CLS too but I think Audi have actually gotten it right because what car manufacturers seem to forget is that coupe means cut off in french and what car makers are calling coupes these days are just two door sedans. I love the Panamera too but this is much more composed in the design area and that interior is simply amazing and I’m sure it’s great quality too. It looks properly mean too, I was wondering where Audi would take their designs to next, if this is it then I’m happy.
The A5 shooting brake looks fantastic, IMO. But if you ask me, leaving the ‘A5′ designation on could get confusing. Wasn’t the A7 meant to be more or less what this A5 Sportback purports to be?
Supercool, Just the R8 just needs a big diesel donk now for me.
As for the A5 – its got a lot of the NSU RE80 from the 70’s in it. Hopefully not the wankel engine to go with it.
Honey, they blew up the front of the Lancer…
The Sportback looks okay from the Rear but the front is too gawdy.. I would much rather have the Merc-Benz CLS or even the BMW X6 which is essentially a 4 Door Coupe on an AWD platform.
However; the Sportback [4 Door Coupe Design] is nothing new – Holden had a Kryptonite Green SS-X [AWD] 4 Door Coupe Concept at the SIMS back when the VZ was released. It had the same silouhette as the Audi does with the swooping roofline tapering off towards the rear where there was a bi-fold hatchback tailgate.
And just think Wheelnut, if Holden had actually released it they would have been pioneering what is now a very popular niche. Shame they’re too boring to take a risk like that…
Imugli, it has no resemblance to the Lancer other than the fact that everything points into the centre and Mitsubishi are hardly the first to do that.