The 2019 Audi R8 made its début earlier today tweaking its legendary V10 for even more power.
Debuting in 2015, the second generation Audi R8 wasn’t exactly long in the tooth but it was about time Audi threw a mid-cycle refresh of sorts at its supercar-shaming two-seater. As per an official press release from Audi earlier this week (Oct. 23, 2018) they’ve unveiled a fresh face for the 2019 Audi R8 and even got its tuners to suss out an extra bump in power that should make this Audi R8 competitive for years to come. Check out the fresh-faced Audi below.
La force, la puissance, le design : découvrez la Nouvelle Audi R8. #LeagueofPerformance pic.twitter.com/H6mCmKUMEI
— Audi France (@AudiFrance) October 23, 2018
Opting to use the suffix -er, Audi is unofficially admitting that this is indeed just a refresh and not a full-blown third generation. Compared to the 2018 Audi R8, the front face of this Audi R8 has a wider, and flatter front grille. Air intakes on either side are now delineated by thick bars. Harkening to the iconic UR-Quattro, the front hood sports three slits. Underneath, the front splitter juts wider, up, and out, further than before, a small detail hard to catch.
Car Scoops reports that the engines are all marginally more powerful than 2018. The bog-standard Audi A8 V10 gains 29 HP and seven lb-ft to 562 HP and 405 lb-ft while the V10 Performance gets just 9 HP and 14 lb-ft up to 311 HP and 427 lb-ft which is surprisingly not enough to raise the top speed from 205 MPH but does knock a tenth off the 0-60 MPH time which is now just 3.1 seconds.
As far as handling is concerned, its marginal gains with “even more stability and precision.” Audi has retuned the steering for better response and feedback. An Enhanced Stabilization Control means that you brake sooner and in shorter distances when compared to last years.
Around all four corners, optional and ultralight 20-inch wheels milled to a five-V dynamic design paired with summer or sport tires adds a bit of flair to the refreshed look.
I’ll be keen to see comparisons to either made on the track and in the real world. With such marginal changes, I wonder if your better off just getting a 2018 Audi R8, dropping a couple of pounds yourself, possibly wearing a lighter set of socks, and saving a couple thousand in the process.
Source: Audi
