[Source: FlashRods]

Posted on the French car blog Autoboost with helpful annotations, and distributed across the internets with due haste, the implications of such blatant intra-Bavarian treachery raise interesting questions we haven't yet been able to formulate — until now.

Is this car owned by a man who craves performance yet is ashamed of Audis? So in love with the BMW 850i, that lovely V12-ed stealth tourer of the 90’s, that he simply cannot let go? Trying to stand out from a crowd of V8-engined R8-owners but not wanting to pony up the cash for an R8 V10, let alone the just-announced R8 Spider?

Only he knows.

Source: Autoboost

The convertible R8 gets reinforcements along the center tunnel, side sills, bulkheads and wherever else is needed to address the new hole in the frame. The car's still fast though, with a 0-62 MPH time of 4.1 seconds and top speed at 194MPH, a 525 HP V10 will do that. With the added heft from the conversion we're expecting it to be a little more sluggish around a corner, but convertible supercars aren't bought to be track driven anyway.

Dear god, we alternate between hoping this is true and praying to god it's not. [via Autogespot]

The marketingspeak accompanying the image is as follows:

What's happened to electricity? It got dumbed down and domesticated. It's stuck inside toothbrushes and coffee makers. But on September 15 electricity, and all its force and power, will run free and completely untamed.

Sounds pretty, uh... hyperbolic? The image lends credence to a rumor which circulated quite a while ago about an electric R8 concept, but since all we see is a front view in weird red pointillism looking like an R8 with a concept car nose job, it could pretty much be anything. Guess we'll just have to ride the teaser train or wait until the 15th to find out more. [4WheelsNews, Audi teaser site Electricityuntamed.com]

Here's the thing about the Audi R8 V8 and a manual transmission it is a testament to the breed; It's fast, gorgeous, makes beautiful music, it's easy to handle and it's as easy to drive as an old Ford Escort. When equipped with the R-Tronic transmission though, it's merely magnificent when you're driving fast. However, when you're puttering around town, it's an utterly tragic, annoying, searching, shuddering mess.

Like the V8, the V10 is simultaneously gorgeous and sinister. The intakes under the headlights have a reduced numbers of fins and the entire grille treatment wears a black finish, the chin is slightly tweaked, the sideblades have bigger intakes, new wheels and at the rear the twin exhaust tips are replaced with single oval outlets. Everywhere you go it's thumbs up and long drawn out stares leading to the inevitable lane corrections. In the R8, you have to drive more defensively than normal just to avoid the staring masses.

At 525 HP, the new 5.2-liter V10 makes a little more than 100 HP/L and with 399 Lb-Ft, it's a little down on torque against competitors, but as soon as you floor the throttle, that concern disappears. It accelerates to 60 MPH in 3.9 seconds and pulls like a mule well into the triple digits. Going fast in a super car is easy, it's the quality of the car that makes it so much more satisfying. The "snick, snick, snick" of the aluminum gated shifter, the neurotically perfect feel of the clutch, a steering weight heavy and confidence inspiring. With the suspension set in regular mode, the car happily soaks up road imperfections, while in sport mode the whole thing tightens up, gets even more communicative, and gives you that masochistic punishment supercars are known and loved for.

However, you can't be a lazy driver when on the road with the R8 V10. If you want to go fast, you have to row the shifter. Cruising along at 70MPH in top gear, the R8 will accelerate strongly if you floor the throttle, but drop it down two cogs and it'll explode in a chorus of V10 serenaded acceleration. Acceleration like this can't possibly be legally contained to public streets, luckily, we had the chance to drive it at Infineon.

Infineon is built on natural terrain at the edge of a valley, utilizing the dramatic elevation changes afforded by the foot of a mountain. Its fast, banked, bumpy in places and technically demanding. Some of the corners here are downright dangerous (cresting a hill over a blind corner off camber with a wall bearing down on the track anyone?). That said, here's one of our runs in the R8 V10, time we'd like to call 12 minutes in heaven:

Click to play

It's very possible to run the whole track in one-gear in a car with this much power by just leaving it in third. The 8700 RPM redline with no lack of power all the way to the top makes it almost too easy. To get things really going you'll need to be down into second and up into fourth on the front straight. The car is extremely communicative at the limit of adhesion, the stability control system does an excellent job of independently grabbing brakes at different corners to limit understeer. A driver can take a terrible line and the car will make it faster, but take the right line and it stays out of your business and you're even faster. It's a magnificent handler with the crushing acceleration and powerful brakes to back that cornering ability up.

A few laps in, you start to feel the track as much as the car. The physical effort of driving the car becomes the effort of driving the track and you start internally competing. Better, tighter line than the last pass, smoother clutch engagement, later, harder braking. The R8 draws you into the addiction of speed. You forget how much it costs, and it's probably good the handlers at Audi limited our track time.

We'd be shocked if this was not the case, for the manual. But what of the R-Tronic manumatic which made the R8 V8 a tarnished star? Good news, in the V10 version, R-Tronic has been perfected. Even in full auto mode, the transmission makes snap decisions and executes them quickly, driving through heavy traffic is no more a chore than in a normal auto and it's completely unintrusive. Put it into manual control mode and the sport setting and it's utterly awe-inspiring. Shifting with the paddles is lightning quick and you can knock out upshifts and downshifts like an F1 driver. The car feels even faster with the automatic. If manual transmissions die as a result of transmissions like this, we'll only be a little heartbroken, because the V10 mated to the R-Tronic is a seriously good combination. The car that passed me in the video... it was an R-Tronic.

Complaining about the somewhat disappointing spec sheet numbers - conventional wisdom states that 420 HP and 317 Lb-Ft isn't enough in a $114,200 car - is to fail to understand the beauty of the base R8. But it's that complaining which has resulted in this V10 version. The base R8 is about control, not power. It's a scalpel to other supercars' sledgehammers. It asks its drivers to make the most of the sublime chassis to achieve a truly rapid pace, then gives them the feel and response to do just that. In some ways its the anti-supercar. Its subtle looks aren't meant to be the stuff of adolescent posters. Its numbers aren't meant to be the stuff of barstool bragging. That identity means it appeals more to people who wouldn't traditionally buy supercars.

What the V10 does is add an "11" to the R8's volume knob. Does that make it more awesome? Of course it does. But the R8 was always about defying that word. It was about requiring its buyers to view the car as a whole rather than an exclamation point. The V10 brings the R8 into direct competition with cars like the Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo and Porsche 911 Turbo. Like those cars, it's impressively fast, but in being like them it's somehow lost some of what made it so different.

In fact, the modifications required to bump output on Audi's 5.2 liter V10 are a new exhaust system and a bit of reprogramming. Of course there's also a new set of wheels in the deal, a body kit and some carbon fiber pieces, but really it's all about looking sinister and going fast — just what Anakin's coke dealer would need. More details in the gallery ahead.

ABT Sportsline 2009 – press release CW 35
Ten cylinders. 600 HP. The Abt R8 5.2 FSI

These figures make the hearts of sports car drivers beat faster: 600 HP (441 kW),
acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, top speed of 322 km/h. The car to which
these impressive performance figures belong is the ABT R8 5.2 FSI. Its V10 engine draws
plenty of power from its large 5,204 cubic centimetre capacity – all the more if ABT POWER
gives it an extra boost. 75 extra HP or 55 more kW provides a powerful trust at all speeds as
well as increasing the torque.

The fact that the medium-engine super sports car becomes a winner on any track is not just
due to its excellent performance characteristics, but also the perfectly coordinated bodywork
package. It has been designed by the DTM crew of ABT Sportsline according to the latest
motorsport knowledge, including the use of high-end carbon materials. The focus was above
all on the optimum distribution of weight and a systematic light-weight construction. "The 600
HP is not just intended to exist on paper, but also be available on the road", says Christian
Abt. At the same time the ABT R8 thereby looks extremely dynamic. The front spoiler, side
sills and rear apron outline the bodywork and give it a more powerful presence even when at
a standstill. They form one unit with the distinctive rear wing and the typical ABT 4-pipe
exhaust system.

The super sports car is presented on BR-type 20-inch wheels which suit the classic design.
The ABT R8 5.2 FSI is a design milestone and is of course very, very fast. This is because
the 600 ABT horsepower contain, what the dynamic design of the car promises.

The new ABT R8 5.2 FSI – data and facts

ABT ENGINE TECHNOLOGY

Engine: 5.2 FSI, V10, 5.204 ccm capacity
Performance tuning: ABT POWER
Performance: 600 HP/441 kW (standard: 525 HP/386 kW)

ABT AERODYNAMICS
ABT front grille
ABT front skirt
ABT side skirts
ABT rear skirt
ABT rear wing

ABT WHEEL TECHNOLOGY
ABT AR and BR; 20 inch; diamond-cut or high-gloss polished
Available also as complete set of wheels with high performance tyres

ABT EXHAUST TECHNOLOGY
ABT rear skirt set, consisting of the ABT rear skirt and the ABT rear pipes

Exhibit A

The problem:

We see a young lady trying to place a bag of groceries inside her Audi R8 V10. She is prevented from doing so by the R8’s 5-liter V10 engine which gives off enough heat to prepare an instant meal from the chicken and the produce in her shopping bag. This is undesirable as her dinner guests are yet to arrive and she would hate to serve them a less than fresh meal.

The Jalopnik solution:

Invite dinner guests to parking lot. Produce copy of Manifold Destiny: The One! The Only! Guide to Cooking on Your Car Engine! and find a recipe. Prepare chicken on intake manifold of engine. Serve piping hot. Initiate highbrow petrolhead conversation by pointing out Bernd Rosemeyer’s 1936 Auto Union Type C racing car on shopping bag.

Exhibit B

The problem:

We see a bike rack installed above the 5-liter V10 engine of a Lamborghini Gallardo, with a bicycle clipped to it. Even if this is a high-end racing bike made of titanium with a melting point of 3034 °F, the immense heat from the engine will cause it to melt and splatter said engine with molten metal. This is undesirable, as a Lamborghini with a melted engine will quickly come to a complete stop.

The Jalopnik solution:

Take off bike rack. Take off bike. Get on bike. Find skilled driver. Hold on to passenger side rearview mirror. Acquire balls of titanium. Enjoy 200 MPH ride on skinny bike tires.

Model: Natalie Polgar. Photo Credit: Balázs Fenyő (Audi), Milano Fixed (Lamborghini)

[via VWVortex]

[via VWVortex]

As part of the 2010 R8 pricing announcement, Audi told us how much green it'll take to get the even more Bruce R8 V10 with 5.2 liters of German fury. At 518 HP and 391 lb-ft of torque, it's not exactly the best bang for the buck, but with a body like that who cares?

It's rumored to launch with only the 5.2-liter V10 under its new vented rear deck, though it's likely that the 4.2-liter V8 will show up later on in the production cycle. Gone are the trademark sideblades on the coupe, creating, what we feel, is a much cleaner execution. Performance figures for the Teutonic ragtop are expected to be similar to the R8 coupe with a top speed that will land slightly lower on the chart.

Initially thought to be revealed during today's Audi Centennial celebration, the R8 Spyder will likely make its formal world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September with a cameo in the upcoming comic book sequel, Iron Man 2 in 2010.

[Note, these photos have apparently been on GermanCarBlog since August. Based on information we have it seems as though this is almost identical to the near-production V10 model. The last photo in the set is the photo illustration we previously posted]

Image © Kors Design

According to China Car Times, the development of the Tong Jian S11 is nearly complete, but details surrounding the hybrid-powered sports car are scarce. The car's designer gleefully lifted the best design cues from both the R8 and most any modern Ferrari, mashing them together to create this Chinese love fusion. Will it ever be produced? We're sure both the boys from Ingolstadt and Maranello are paying very close attention to that.

[ChinaCarTimes]

Normally, images would suffice, but nothing can replace the snarling shriek of the 5.2-liter V10 at full song.

There's no mistaking this particular prototype with the lesser 4.2-liter V8 model. We've heard rumor that Audi will exclusively offer the 525 HP, 390 lb-ft of torque, 5.2-liter V10 FSI in the Spyder, but we find it difficult to believe a V8 won't be offered at all. Equipped either way, the R8 Spyder will surely remove all stress and worry from your life with a quick kick to the go pedal. [via autowereld]

Audi has won every race at La Sarthe since 1999, the sole exception being the 2003 event—which wasn’t really an exception at all, as the winning Bentley Speed 8 was nothing but Audi’s all-conquering R8 with a roof and a can of British Racing Green paint.

After retiring the R8, Audi returned in 2006 with the R10, the first modern diesel-engined endurance racecar, powered by a V12 TDI engine, which duly took victory at its first outing at Le Mans.

In 2007, Peugeot stepped up to the plate with a similar design, the 908 HDi FAP, which came in second on its inaugural race, retained this position for 2008, then roared back for a 1–2 finish this Sunday against Audi’s all-new R15. This marks Peugeot’s third win at their home race, after the Peugeot 905’s back-to-back wins in 1992 and 1993.

A Porsche RS Spyder entered by Team Essex/Poulsen Motorsport took the LMP2 class. The Corvettes marked their last race before retirement with a fifth class win in GT1, while in GT2 it was all Ferrari, with the top spot going to Risi Competizione’s F430.

Presented here are the best photos from the race.

The Corvette Racing C.6R of Jan Magnussen of Denmark, Johnny O'Connell of the United States of America and Antonio Garcia of Spain drives during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 15, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

Ferrari F430's head through the Dunlop Chicane during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Jan Magnussen (L) of Denmark and Team Corvette Racing and Nicolas Lapierre of France and Team Matmut drive down the Mulsanne Straight during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

Nicolas Minassian of France drives the Team Peugeot Total 908 HDi FAP car down the Mulsanne Straight during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

An Audi R15 heads down to Indianapolis corner during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The Peugeot Sport Total 908 HDi FAP of Alex Wurz of Austria, David Brabham of Great Britain and Marc Gene of Spain drives during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Dindo Capello of Italy drives the Audi Sport Team Joest R15 during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The Team RML Lola Mazda of Tommy Erdos, Mike Newton and Chris Dyson drives during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Johnny Kane of Ireland drives the Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

Jan Magnussen of Denmark and Corvette Racing drives during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

Cars go through Indianapolis corner during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

Cars head towards Terte Rouge during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 14, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

A Kolles Audi R10 drives at sunrise during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 14, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The Aston Martin Racing Lola of Stuart Hall, Harold Primat and Peter Kox comes in for a pitstop during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 14, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The Aston Martin Racing Lola of Jan Charouz of the Czech Republic, Stefan Mucke of Germany and Tomas Enge of the Czech Republic drives during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 14, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

Pedro Lamy of Portugal and Team Peugeot suffers rear left hand damage after a collision in the pitlane during the 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2009 in Le Mans, France.

Photo Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Based on the Lamborghini Gallardo, the Audi R8 features a massaged all-aluminum 32-valve 420 horsepower, 317 ft lbs of torque, 4.2 liter FSI V8 from the B7 Audi RS4 über sports sedan. It's mature, unassuming demeanor makes it the perfect mid-engined alternative to the ever-evolving Porsche 911 and has proven to be quite popular with the editors from this outfit as well as Wall Street money men now that it's viewed as unpopular to cruise Manhattan in much more raucous Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

What you're looking at today is the delicate and involved process of removing and replacing the air conditioning compressor, requiring the heart of Bruce to be removed for our own personal enjoyment. (Hat Tip To Gareth!)

(If you've got a Supercar Teardown story you'd like to share, please email us at autoinsider@jalopnik.com and we might feature yours in an upcoming installment)

GTPlanet is also featuring an interview with Gran Turismo creator, Kazunori Yamauchi in which he reveals that the upcoming Playstation 3 racer will feature both active weather effects, night racing and the previously confirmed, damage modeling. Expect the virtual racer, Gran Turismo 5, to be the largest and most realistic entry in the series yet with a release on the PS3 expected later this year. Until then, we'll have to get our grubby hands on our overpriced copy of GT5: Prologue. [via Audi, GTplanet]