Tag: r8

Lamborghini Cabrera spotted, readying itself to replace Gallardo

Facebook user and minor YouTube celebrity, Marchettino was the lucky one who spotted the successor to the Lamborghini Gallardo running out and about on public streets and was kind enough to click a few pictures of the menacing machine. It is rumoured that Lamborghini is all set to show a concept car at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show this September, which will replace the baby Lambo in late 2014. Word also has it, that the new Lamborghini will be called the Cabrera.

Image credit: Marchettino

The vehicle in these photos looks to have abandoned some of the Gallardo’s angular features in favour of smoother lines, though it’s possible body cladding is hiding the car’s true design. Murcielago SV-style sills and side air intakes serve up quite a bit of aggression and the silhouette is reminiscent of its to be big brother, the Aventador.

The Cabrera is likely to ride on the second-generation Audi R8 platform, complete with a composite aluminum and carbon fiber construction to reduce weight as much as possible. It’s expected to be powered by an upgraded version of the 5.2-liter V10 powerplant in the current Gallardo, producing around 600 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

Click here for more information on the Cabrera and its alliance with the Audi R8.

[Image credit: Marchettino via Facebook]

June 19, 2013
Lamborghini Gallardo replacement to be launched in 2014

According to reports, Lamborghini is set to put a cap on its 50th anniversary celebrations with the unveil of one last concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, which will closely preview the upcoming Gallardo replacement. The production version of the new two-seater, is set to go on sale in the UK during the second half of next year and will follow its predecessor in sharing key components, including a lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium spaceframe structure, with the replacement for the current Audi R8, due in 2015.

Rumours suggest that the Gallardo replacement will be called the Cabrera. In keeping with Lamborghini tradition, it refers to a line of Spanish bulls whose lineage can be traced to other famous breeds, including the Miura, Gallardo, Navarra and Veragua.

The Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V-10 will carry over, but with extensive revisions to deliver more power and fewer emissions. Peak output should come in at 592 horsepower, which in metric figures converts to about 600 horses. This means the new car is likely to be an LP 600-4. Note, an engine with these very specs was previewed in the Egoista concept. The engine will be mated to a standard six-speed manual gearbox, while the new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic from the R8 will be available as an option, replacing the current Gallardo’s six-speed automated manual ’box. Lamborghini plans on introducing a rear-wheel drive model as well, apart from the usual range of four-wheel drive variants.

The Gallardo replacement’s design is expected to be a blend of the Sesto Elemento and Egoista concepts. The new car, which carries the internal codename LP724, is said to have grown marginally in length to almost 4500mm, or 16mm longer than its predecessor, with width and height remaining close to the 1900mm and 1165mm respectively of the Gallardo. Together with an edgy new exterior, the Gallardo replacement is set to adopt a new interior layout that, with a slight increase in wheelbase over its predecessor at 2600mm, will offer added levels of accommodation.

Lamborghini had initially planned to base its new car around a contemporary carbonfibre monocoque similar to that of the Aventador, however parent compant Audi has dictated them to follow a more conservative route, keeping in mind the second-generation R8.

Since the R8’s conception, both cars have shared a modular spacefame. This allows them to share vital components, and will therefore continue to be the case. A new, lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium structure weighing 198kg will be used by the Audi. That is 24kg less than the all-aluminium structure used by the current R8.

The new spaceframe structure will be clothed in a body that uses a combination of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic and aluminium panels. The move is aimed at bringing the new mid-engined Lamborghini to the scales at less than 1500kg — the official kerb weight of today’s four-wheel-drive Gallardo.

June 17, 2013
2013 Audi R8 V10 Plus Driven At Audi Sportscar Experience 2013

The Audi Sportscar Experience 2013 was held at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) this past weekend, and the newly launched Audi R8 V10 Plus was easily the main attraction for everyone present on hand.

The session on Sunday consisted of 3 stages namely, the slalom, the ABS test and hot laps with assisted driving meant to provide a first hand experience of track driving. The drivers got a chance to sample the TT and the S4 apart from the absurdly fast R8 V10 Plus.

Jatin Dahiya, an engineering student from Delhi, was one of the lucky few who got to try their hands on the R8 V10 Plus. He had the following to say about the experience,

The S4 and TT are brilliant machines but they’re incomparable to the new R8. The acceleration is absolutely brutal, and even though there’s so much power, you never feel like you’re losing control. The amount of grip is unbelievable when you’re going around corners, I had no trouble cornering at speeds above 110 kmph. I was pretty confident of the car’s braking abilities after the ABS test, so I managed to touch 230 kmph on the long straight without much fear. Altogether, it was an amazing experience.

The Audi Sportscar Experience is a fully-guided driving program meant to hone one’s track skills and is held at the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) in Chennai apart from the BIC. The complete lineup of cars now consists of the S4, TT, RS5, R8 V10 Coupe, R8 V10 Convertible & the R8 V10 Plus. Prices have dropped too, with packages available from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 98,000 depending on the whether you opt for basic or advanced training.

Audi RS5

April 9, 2013
Autogyaan: Audi R8 V10 Plus Launched

German luxury car maker Audi has launched the R8 V10 Plus model in India at a price of Rs. 2.05 Crore (ex-showroom). It’s powered by the same 5.2-litre V10 Lamborghini engine as the Audi R8 V10, but manages to churn out 542 BHP and 540Nm of torque. Featuring a 7-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox, the R8 V10 Plus goes from 0-100 kmph in 3.5 seconds and onto a claimed top speed of 317 kmph.

These performance figures are helped to no end by extensive use of carbon fibre, helping the supercar achieve a very impressive power to weight ratio of 345 BHP per ton. The new front splitter, mirror housings, lateral air inlets, side blades, rear diffusor and engine compartment lining are all done with carbon fiber.

Speaking at the launch of the R8 V10 Plus, Michael Perschke, managing director, Audi India, said,

With its sporty and powerful identity, spontaneous responsiveness and extraordinarily high revving, this new member of the R8 family, the V10 plus is the ideal high performance coupé which truly embodies progressiveness and superior performance. With this second addition to the R8 family in 2013, after the launch of new Audi R8 V10 in January, Audi now offers a whole range of R8 options in India. I’m confident that this high performance super sportscar will allow us to further build upon our leadership position in the super sportscar segment in India and maintain the iconic position of the R8 in India.

April 5, 2013