Do you think that the V8 will have the same power output as the RS4, or that Audi will find a few more horses through a better routed exhaust or other means? I hope that by the time the cars come out, any reliability questions concerning the V8 powerplant are sorted out.... The only issue that I am noticing on the RS4 forums are oil consumption concerns which are not that big of a deal.

For sure with a curb weight a few hundred kg less than the RS4, and a centre of gravity much lower, it will be a hoot to drive..!!

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<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/nogarohiro/031025LQrear.jpg">

"The outer skin of the body and varioud add-on parts are of mixed weight-saving construction,
using aluminium and carbon-fibre reinforced plastics. This is a precondition for the car's low
gross weight of only 1,530 kilograms and therefore for its outstandingly good power-to weight
ration of only 2.5kg-bhp."

"As a result of these careful design measures, the engine can develop an impressive
449 kW (610 bhp). A big contribution to this formidable output is made by the direct petrol
injection (FSI) system, which set new standards in the cars that won such historic victories in
the 2001 and 2002 Le Mans races and in the American Le Mans Series. FSI combines outstandingly
efficient power output with highly efficient combustion of the fuel.

In the Audi Le Mans quattro the ten-cylinder biturbo FSI engine is particularly pleasant on
account of its willingness to rev freely and its lusty pulling power at all engine speeds."

according to Audi AG Communication Product and Technology 'Audi Le Mans quattro' September 2003



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and lower gravity center

i expect that it may have a bit more but this would be purely based on the exhaust, et al....not the engine itself.

i'd venture to say 10 more hp would be about it.

i am more interested in the weight. if i knew the weight i could dream less anxiously at night about its performance numbers.

i too am not too worried about oil consumption. my S4 has needed only one top off by me in 1.3 years.

my TT was worse.

that's ok. it'll be a good excuse to make a spectacle of yourself in front of your neighbors or the local gas station with your R8 as you open the hatch to add oil into the engine.

people will be like "wha?"

esp.... those new M6 CSL drivers.

boost the output to possibly 450 but then I think of the 5.2 V10 which may produce 520hp. In that case I think Audi may keep it at 420hp.

AUDI AG Annual Press Conference, February 22, 2006

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn
Vorsitzender des Vorstands der AUDI AG
Part 2
Current situation and outlook

.....

I'm particularly looking forward to our super sports car - the R8. It will be launched with a 420-horsepower 4.2-litre engine; other attractive engine versions offering even more power will follow at a later date. The start of production will be in Neckarsulm at the end of 2006; the market launch will follow in 2007.

.....