The car features a high-end damper technology as standard: Audi magnetic ride adapts the characteristics of the suspension in milliseconds to the nature of the road surface and to the driving style. Suspended in the oil of the shock absorbers are tiny magnetic particles which, when a voltage is applied, rearrange themselves so as to slow down the flow of oil through the valves. In the R8 V10, deceleration is provided by a muscular braking system - eight brake pistons at the front and four at the rear grasp the brake rotors, which are ventilated and perforated to ensure unimpeded heat transfer. The brake disks on the front axle have a diameter of 15"; the rear discs span 14".
The R8 5.2 FSI quattro is optionally available with a ceramic brake system whose rotors are made of a composite material containing high-strength carbon fibers and abrasion-resistant silicon carbide. These are especially light: their combined weight is 19.84 lb less than the weight of equivalent steel rotors. The ceramic brakes can easily cope with the harsher requirements of racing, won't corrode, and have a typical service life of more than 180,000 miles. Their calipers are painted charcoal gray and emblazoned with the inscription "Audi ceramic".
A distinctive highlight of the R8 V10 are the all-LED headlights as standard equipment. Audi is the world's first automaker to use LEDs for the high beam, low beam, daytime running lights and turn signals. Each headlight integrates 54 of these high-tech light sources. With a color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin, the LED light closely resembles daylight, which is less tiring to the eyes in night driving. Further advantages of the LEDs include brilliant illumination, low energy consumption, and a virtually unlimited service life.
Special details also distinguish the body of the R8 V10. Its side blades are more accentuated than in the eight-cylinder version. The side sills are more striking and wider; the exhaust grilles at the rear windows have a matte aluminum look. Through the large rear window, the ten-cylinder engine is clearly visible in its consummate technical beauty.
When in motion, this Audi high-performance sports car creates a downforce that keeps it in contact with the road - thanks to a rear spoiler which deploys automatically at 60mph and the fully enclosed underbody, which terminates in an upward-curved diffuser. The dominant color at the rear end is high-gloss black, including the settings of the LED tail lights. The air outlets at the rear end have only two cross-braces, and the exhaust system terminates in two large oval tailpipes.
The interior of the R8 V10 provides a unique racing ambience at the luxury level. Its dominant element is the so-called monoposto - a wide arc that contains the steering wheel and the cockpit. The surfaces of the dashboard and doors are lined with fine materials and adorned with precisely stitched decorative seams. Many customizing solutions are available: Audi supplies leather in a wide range of colors, packages with a carbon and piano-lacquer finish.
The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro combines its performance with a generous complement of standard equipment. Highlights include heated seats made of Nappa leather, a driver information system, the navigation system plus and a Bang & Olufsen sound system along with automatic air conditioning. The instruments and the gear shift knob are decorated with red rings; the footrests and the rocker switches of the R tronic have an aluminum finish. The list of options includes other features such as the Audi parking system advanced with its integrated rearview camera.
The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro will be rolled out in Germany in the second quarter of 2009 at a basic price of EUR 142,400.