General specifications
Country of origin Germany
Numbers built N/A
Introduced 2009
Introduced at 2008 Essen Motorshow

Engine
Configuration 90º V 10
Location Mid, longitudinally mounted
Construction aluminum block and head
Displacement 5.204 liter / 317.6 cu in
Bore / Stroke 84.5 mm (3.3 in) / 92.8 mm (3.7 in)
Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Direct Fuel Injection
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated

Drivetrain
Chassis/body carbon fibre and aluminum body panels on aluminum spaceframe
Suspension (fr/r) double wishbones, coil springs over hydraulic dampers, anti-roll bar
Steering rack-and-pinion, power assisted
Brakes vented ceramic discs, all-round, ABS
Gearbox 6 speed Sequential
Drive Rear wheel drive

Dimensions
Weight 1250 kilo / 2755.8 lbs
Length / Width / Height 4470 mm (176 in) / 1984 mm (78.1 in) / 1195 mm (47 in)

Performance figures
Power 500 bhp / 373 KW
Torque 500 Nm / 369 ft lbs
BHP/Liter 96 bhp / liter
Power to weight 0.4 bhp / kg


The name of the R8 is legend: The R8 sports prototype won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times between 2000 and 2005 and celebrated 63 wins from 80 starts. The first thoroughbred production sportscar from Audi with the same name, the Audi R8 unveiled in 2006, carries the genes of the triumphant racing prototypes. Its many prizes awarded by juries and readers' polls, in which the young R8 pulled away from reputable competitors, confirm its status as dream sportscar.

Now, the name R8 returns to the race track: Bearing a close resemblance to the production car and derived from a chassis taken from the production line the Audi R8 LMS arises. ''The R8 is the first production Audi to carry the name and genes of a successful racing sportscar and is, as a result, an outstanding base from which to build up our first large customer sport programme,'' explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. ''Since the R8 was introduced we have received many enquiries for a race version. With the Audi R8 LMS we will offer customers a racing car incorporating high-quality technology and the typical Audi qualities but which is, however, also easy to handle.''

For the first time Audi develops a race car specifically for customer sport use which carries the project name R16 internally. The car is developed according to the FIA GT3 regulations, a sportscar class which made its breakthrough in many countries and internationally in 2006, where the most fascinating sportscars from Europe and the USA compete against one another. Audi respects the spirit of the class - to offer production based, low-cost but powerful racing cars - in all aspects of the vehicle conception. The development has been carried out since January 2008 in close cooperation with Abt Sportsline, the team with which Audi has won the DTM title three times since 2004 with factory programmes.

The road going sportscar based on the lightweight aluminium Audi Space Frame (ASF) with its conceptual roots in racing provides the perfect basis for motorsport. Whether chassis structure, engine position, suspension or brakes - many elements could be carried over entirely from the production line or with small modifications. quattro GmbH takes a standard production chassis from the production line in Neckarsulm as base for every R8 LMS. After the roll-cage is fitted the R8 LMS is completed at the quattro GmbH. The Audi Hungaria Kft. production line in Györ provides the 500 hp plus V10 engine. Audi Sport in Ingolstadt assumes absolute responsibility for project development.

Like every Audi the Audi R8 LMS also guarantees first-class safety. The sportscar designed for customer sport offers exceptional active safety. The range starts with the most prominent external features, the standard lighting system with Xenon plus headlights and LED tail lights. A race ABS, the minutely adjustable traction control (ASR) and the specially tuned suspension take every demand into consideration.

''The car is extremely well balanced,'' stresses Frank Biela who has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times with Audi since 2000. He shares the set-up work with Nordschleife expert Frank Stippler and Christian Abt, the German Super Touring Car Champion in 1999. ''The R8 LMS can be driven easily on the limit in a drift and won’t spring any nasty surprises on the GT3 customer. The ABS is ideal to prevent the driver from sliding off and flat spotting tyres.'' The steering and seat are further active safety elements. The steering column length and angle can be adjusted, and the Recaro bucket seat moves longitudinally to allow drivers of different statures sharing a car to sit perfectly. During a race, drivers must never remove their hands from the steering wheel since the production six-speed gearbox adapted for racing purposes is activated by shift paddles. For this purpose Audi successfully transferred technology from professional racing: The pneumatic system required for such gear-shift procedures originated from the R10 TDI race car. Finally, the complex rapid refuelling system from Stäubli ensures splash-free fuelling and helps to prevent possible burn injuries. The standard production all- wheel drive quattro - another active safety feature - is however unfortunately prohibited by the regulations.

The passive safety elements of the R8 LMS are also exemplary. Starting with the strength of the aluminium frame ASF via the standard door design with high safety reserves in the event of a side impact to the motorsport specific additional equipment: The Audi R8 LMS exceeds the demands of the regulations by far. The steel roll-cage is manufactured from tube with greater wall-thickness than specified in the regulations. The R8 LMS is also fitted with a new motorsport 120 litre tank located in an optimum position behind the cockpit. The extremely complex fire-extinguisher system completes the excellent occupant protection.

The pneumatic gearbox control from the Audi R10 TDI is not the only technology to have found its way from professional projects into the customer sport programme. The petrol direct injection - originally tested by Audi for the first time in the R8 sports prototype in 2001 - is a characteristic feature of the Audi R8 LMS and many Audi road going cars. The rear-wing profile of the R8 LMS is almost identical to the corresponding R10 TDI aerodynamic component. Indispensable for Audi, even if not specified by the regulations, are the two race catalytic converters fitted to the R8 LMS.

The R8 LMS has undergone diverse tests and set-up cycles in preparation for its homologation since August 2008. This type approval goes hand-in-hand with an extensive initial categorisation in which the FIA test driver tests the R8 LMS and data is recorded. After consideration of all subjectively and objectively determined values the minimum weight and other parameters are fixed. The advantages and disadvantages of all competitors are compensated for by a system of vehicle specific handicaps during the homologation. Also, the FIA acts throughout every season by initiating optional additional modifications to maintain performance parity. The fully homologated Audi R8 LMS is available to customers from the 2009 season for a target price of 262,000 Euros plus VAT.

 

audi has come a long way since the 5000. lol

 

Man that thing is one sexy machine.

 

holy F***

 

sexiest car out right now, hands down.

 

Mhm sexy...

 

Freakin' nice as hell..

 

+1 no doubt about it

 

beautiful car - i want to drive one soooo bad

 

Beautiful car! Sucks that Audi just pulled out of ALMS

 

absolutely stunning.

 

what?? when did this happen i thought puget and audi would do battle next year and one of the acura teams was going to lmp1....i was all excited to go Sebring this year and watch