2016 Audi R8 Specs Released, Only V10 Available at Launch

Though it’s not making its official debut until early March at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, specs on the 2016 Audi R8 have been reported.

Motor Trend is reporting that the second-generation Audi R8 will be available with naturally aspirated V10 engines at launch with the entry-level model sporting 540 hp and the more powerful model having 610 hp in V10 Plus trim. On the European-spec prototype, the 2016 R8 has a maximum torque of about 413 lb-ft, though we expect more definitive figures to be released when the car officially bows in Switzerland.

Developed alongside the new Lamborghini Huracan, the 2016 Audi R8 is being described as a more “controllable and usable kind of car,” compared to the Huracan according to Audi R8 project manager, Roland Schala. Schala refers to the Huracan as a “beast” and in a way is defining the R8 as a more streetable, daily driven sports car.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Geneva Motor Show Preview

Further on in the R8’s life cycle, a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is likely to be added to the lineup to appease other markets such as China. Standard on the R8 will be quattro all-wheel drive, but a rear-wheel drive R8 e-tron will also debut at Geneva. Manual transmission fans will be disappointed to hear that the company is moving forward with offering the R8 with a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission only.

According to the German automaker, the more powerful model will hit 62 mph from a standstill in 3.2 seconds and have a top speed of 205 mph. As for weight, the new model will be about 110 lbs lighter than the outgoing V10 Plus while torsional rigidity has been improved by 40 percent.

[Source: Motor Trend]

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