Jalopnik
Our auto show coverage slogan is "always say yes." This time we said yes to a first drive of the Audi R8 V12 TDI Le Mans concept car, which looks ravishing in the same brilliant red paint scheme it wore to Geneva. But who really cares about paint? We were looking forward to stretching this one-of-a-kind vehicle to the limits. And by stretching it out we mean doing our best not to destroying this invaluable prototype by propelling it into a pot hole.
To make sure we didn't kill ourselves or, more importantly, the car, Audi provided three black Q7's driven by ex-cops for escort. I suddenly knew what it was like to be a Russian oligarch. Audi's best prototype protection feature is Uwe Haller, the car's affable project manager and my navigator. The car is his baby and he managed to point out every manhole cover on the road. This being New York it was a common refrain.
This prototype features the 6.0 V12 TDI, which produces a pavement destroying 500 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. How does it drive? For the purpose of self-preservation, this particular version was limited to half the torque and horsepower so that we couldn't have too much fun with it.
Nevertheless, the six-speed gear box worked, the engine revved up and the brakes clamped down hard. Maybe a little too hard. At one point Uwe winced and asked "did you hear that?" Did I hear what? The brakes were made a noise that made him very nervous. Was I about to get the Audi R8 fire experience?
Thankfully, that didn't happen. I waited as we turned back onto 11th avenue slowed down to get some daylight between myself and the lead Q7. There was a good 80 yards in front of us and I shifted into second and let that oil burner roar. How fast did I get? I'm not sure, but fast enough to make Uwe tense up (which makes me think 28 mph).
Though this wasn't a full force test drive experience, there was one feature of the car that works at any speed: style. We got lots of looks (helped by the escort) and people did the best they could to get pictures of me in the car. When people yelled I told them I was George Clooney. I don't think they bought it.
Credit goes to Audi for letting us take their precious concept car out for a spin on the less-than-stellar NYC streets. It either indicates Audi's abundance of trust or serious judgment lapses.
Comments
George Clowney?
I hope the Suzuki grill on this makes it to production.
Holy crap, it's uglier in natural light!
Will Audi sell replacement front splitters by the gross?
You guys are all drunk. That thing is shockingly awesome in person.
You know, if it comes to it, I may just have to settle for paddleshifters after selling my left leg to buy one.
Audi is totally f'ing with poor Wert. Did they even let him drive it, too? Even if they did, having to drive it in Manhattan is worse than not driving it, since you can do nothing in traffic.
too bad they're not going to build it.
@Ben Wojdyla: I'm with you (but then again,
I also like Scion's orange head of Frankenstein concept)!
How does it sound?!?!?!?!?
@jeremyc: I don't know. I have done some, I mean someone who has little regard for safety or the law, (not me) can get going pretty good on some of the avenues... the lights on 7th seem to work really well at 50ish, plus you get to slalom with the taxis... talk about guys who have no regard for laws or safety.
It's just a tease... Although the 1/2 power and torque is a pretty good indication of how the V8 will behave...
@Ben Wojdyla: There isn't one angle in any of those photos that would support that claim. Unless by awesome you mean technologically, not aesthetically.
I can't believe they'll even let them go in anything other than p***y magnet yellow, as that has got to be the demographic they're shooting for.
@Ben Wojdyla: Well, it must be nice at a press junket to see all of these glorious vehicles. The question is, would YOU by a standard R8?
"It either indicates Audi's abundance of trust or serious judgment lapses." Or they just get a hard on over teasing Werts blue balls...
@Ben Wojdyla: I'm with you, Ben.
Beautiful, menacing car.
This thing would march up to an E-type and rip its aging heart out through its chest wall with deadly precision.
It puts down all enemies with no pithy commentary, no punny one liners, just brutal, bone shearing torque.
Needs less grille.
@Euromobile: And you're just talking about the rear!
If Deadpool were a car this wood be it. [en.wikipedia.org])
@beercheck:
Every time I see a post by you I get thirsty. Mmmmm, beer.
@beercheck: Well then elbow drop me and call me Hogan, BROTHER!
UNFUCKING BELIEVABLY AWESOME!!!!!
I can't get over how it makes Jalopnik much more kick ass that Audi let you guys have a go!!!! Makes the hoons a respectable force!!
I have to say, little sad to hear about the V12 getting cut down to V8.. but then again it makes the US sales SOO much more doable!!
FUCK YES!
@JALOPOLAЯ: Thanks spirit guide, as I forogt to ask such an important questions...
Was the exhaust equivalent to the brown note?
@UDMan: not that I th9ink the word applies to this vehicle but just what does standard relate to here??
@graverobber: Well, there's only one thing for it, then.
T minus 24 minutes and we're green for go...
@graverobber: Every time I see a post by you
I just want a cold stiff body to hold close.
Mmmmm, toe tags.
@JALOPOLAЯ:
Remember, necrophilia is a privilege, not a right.
Why the hell doesn't Audi let you get the standard R8 in red with a black sideblade? This is the only color combination that has actually made me want one. All the others just look awkward.
If Ford's "My name is Dave" grills remind us of Gillette multi-blade manual razors, then surely the R8 grill is the Remington electric razor of the automotive school of design...
@beercheck: I'm working from home... martini is already at hand... but you DO make for a great one-man drinking-game inspiration...! *hiccup*
can't you rent a Uwe Haller for the weekend if you need to move a bunch of shit?
@charles_barrett: Porsche is so impressed, they want to buy the Audi Board Seat!
@Dsanders100: Or a Ewe Hauler if it's a bunch of sheep.
It's starting to get ridiculous. You'll wonder how long it would take to just cover the cars in barb wire, is what they are going for anyway. Its the clinching proof that the whole known creation likes to shave. And that can't be true, can it?
@JALOPOLAЯ: You know, when YOU post, it just leaves me cold... ;-P
@JALOPOLAЯ: ...and VW, and Seat, and Skoda... who'd I leave out...?
So, Matt, how long do you think it took for Uwe's sphincter to unclinch after your toodle around Manhattan in the R8...?
(I can say that... I'm a solid 25% German by ancestry...)
@charles_barrett: cold > stiff
SO HOW DOES THE V12 SOUND, ALL-FUCKIN-READY?
George Clooney look-a-like hoon steals Audi R8 Concept Car and escapes via Statan Island look-a-like ferry!
@JALOPOLAЯAISE: Like the voice of death, itself.
You drove this, and did not record audio ?
:( :( :(
@JALOPOLAЯAISE: well typed
so, was your video camera destroyed by the sheer torque (sure, they tuned it down, but it's got to leave some sort of residue), or by the pure Bruce emanating from the tailpipes?
@JALOPOLAЯAISE: Cold will NEVER outweigh stiff in my book, dude... NEVER... ('tho the two in combination hold no appeal to me, unless there's a ski lodge, a roaring fireplace, a bearskin rug and a hot-toddy involved...)
@charles_barrett: Crap, wrong blog... I'z out...
@I'm so Malaise I can't taste it!!!!!!!!!11: What I meant was the Standard R8, non turbodiesel, The V-8 gas version.