The apparently manic Audi R8 V10 is set to break more than just existing performance records in South Africa; it will surely also break egos and hearts. Tested by the Star Motoring newspaper supplement the supercar returned an astonishing 0 – 100km/h time of 4.6 seconds! Considering that at Gauteng altitudes of around 1600m where the Star Motoring is based, this R8 can lose up to 66kW of its 386kW (525hp) power figure. Therefore the tested car may have just been making 320 odd kiloWatts.
But what makes this 4.6 second time incredible is that CAR magazine (South Africa) which is based in Cape Town, virtually at sea level and with no power loss, is said to have plucked out 4.3 seconds from the R8 V10! Since it is a magazine, CAR’s figures will only be published in a couple of months’ time but we have been reliably told that this is the number to look for. It would have been lower I reckon, had CAR not stuck to its rule of testing with a full tank and a front passenger (two things that will undoubtedly add weight to any car and hamper performance).
What does Audi claim officially for the 0 – 100km/h sprint? At last check it was 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 315km/h.
IN4RIDE will of course, in due course, give the R8 V10 a thoroughly deserved shakedown. When that happens you are sure to further confirm exactly what this R2 million Audi is capable of.
