Audi R8

Audi R8: generations: what actually changed in the numbers

Four rows in the data, four buying windows.

Four rows in the data, four buying windows.

1 generation (2006-09-01–2016-01-31), body Cabrio, 12 versions. Power band 420–560 hp. Ground clearance 120 mm. Tank 75 or 80 L. Gearboxes Manual 6 and Robotic 6. Drive AWD only. Eco class Euro 5. Lightest car in the whole model: 5.2 S-tronic 560 hp, 1525 kg. Unique low-power 8-cylinder: 4.2 S-tronic 420 hp and 4.2 MT 420 hp.

1 generation, restyling (2012-01-01–2015-12-31), body Coupe, 11 versions. Power band 430–570 hp. Clearance mostly 120 mm; one 5.2 S-tronic 570 hp is 104 mm. Tank 75 L. Gearboxes Manual 6 and Robotic 7 (one extra ratio vs the first generation’s robot). Drive AWD only. Eco class Euro 5. Peak here is 570 hp / 540 Nm / 3.4 s / 320 km/h.

2 generation (2015-06-01–2022-01-31), body Coupe, 6 versions. All 5.2 S-tronic, Robotic 7, Gasoline, 10 cylinders, V-shaped, boost No. Power 540 or 610 hp. First RWD cars in the catalogue. Clearance drops to 100 mm. Tank 73 L — smallest in the model. Eco class Euro 6. Compression 12.5 on five versions; 12.7 on the 610 hp 1580 kg car.

2 generation, restyling (from 2018-10-01, stop not measured), body Coupe, 8 versions. All 5.2 S-tronic, Robotic 7. Power 540, 570 or 620 hp. RWD and AWD. Clearance 100 mm. Tank 80 or 83 L. Eco class Euro 6. Compression 12.7 on every version. Top speed ceiling of the model: 334 km/h. Fastest 0–100: 3.1 s. Heaviest cars also live here: 1760 kg kerb / 2050 kg gross.

Arithmetic on the generation peaks: 620 − 560 = 60 hp from first-generation high to restyled-second high; 334 − 317 = 17 km/h on those two peaks; clearance 120 − 100 = 20 mm lower from first generation to second; mixed consumption on the light 610 hp 2 generation car is 12.3 vs 13.9 on the light 560 hp first-generation car (−1.6 L/100 km) even though power is +50 hp.

Engines and specs

Every engine in the data is Gasoline, layout V-shaped, boost No, injection Direct injection (direct) where stated, fuel 98 except one 5.2 S-tronic 560 hp in 1 generation listed as 95. Displacement is either 4163 (8 cylinders) or 5204 (10 cylinders). Bore × stroke 84.5 × 92.8 where measured.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 420 / 4.163 ≈ 101 hp/L; 430 / 4.163 ≈ 103 hp/L; 525 / 5.204 ≈ 101 hp/L; 540 / 5.204 ≈ 104 hp/L; 550 / 5.204 ≈ 106 hp/L; 560 / 5.204 ≈ 108 hp/L; 570 / 5.204 ≈ 110 hp/L; 610 / 5.204 ≈ 117 hp/L; 620 / 5.204 ≈ 119 hp/L. The 620 hp restyle and the 610 hp second generation are the only cars above 115 hp/L. The 420 hp 8-cylinder and the 525 hp 10-cylinder sit on the same ~101 hp/L line — extra cylinders here buy displacement, not specific output.

Identical name 5.2 S-tronic in 2 generation, restyling splits by torque as well as power: 570 hp is 560 Nm (AWD, 2018-10-01–2021-07-31), 550 Nm (RWD from 2021-10-01), or 540 Nm (heavier RWD from 2021-10-01). Do not treat those three as one car.

Engine position is Central where measured; on the 570 hp 5.2 S-tronic in 1 generation, restyling it is not measured, and compression ratio and bore × stroke are not measured on that same version.

Performance and economy

Fastest 0–100 in the catalogue is 3.1 s (5.2 S-tronic 620 hp, 1595 kg, AWD, 2 generation, restyling). Slowest measured is 4.8 s (several 4.2 MT 430 hp cars in 1 generation and 1 generation, restyling). The 620 − 540 = 80 hp step inside the restyle cuts 3.7 → 3.1 s on the light RWD vs light AWD pair (−0.6 s) and 3.8 → 3.2 s on the heavy pair (−0.6 s again). AWD vs RWD at 540 hp in 2 generation: 3.5 s AWD (1640 kg) vs 3.7 s RWD (1590 kg) — +0.2 s for RWD even though it is 50 kg lighter.

Top speed: 334 km/h on the light 620 hp; 329 km/h on the 1695 kg 620 hp and on the 1660 kg 570 hp RWD from 2021-10-01; 324 km/h on both 540 hp 1660 kg RWD and 570 hp 1735 kg AWD in the restyle — same peak speed for +30 hp and +75 kg. First-generation 8-cylinder cars sit at 300–302 km/h.

Fuel (L/100 km), where measured:

• Lowest mixed: 11.4 — 2 generation 5.2 S-tronic 540 hp AWD, 1640 kg, tank 73 L, CO2 272.
• Next mixed: 11.7 — two restyle 570 hp AWD cars (1735 kg / 83 L and 1750 kg / 80 L). City on both is 23.5, highway 11.1.
• Light 620 hp restyle: city 20, highway 9, mixed 13.1, CO2 297.
• Light 610 hp 2 generation: city 17.5, highway 9.3, mixed 12.3, CO2 287 — −0.8 mixed and −10 CO2 vs the light 620, with −10 hp.
• 1 generation, restyling 4.2 S-tronic 430 hp 1660 kg: mixed 12.4, city 19.3, highway 8.4, CO2 289.
• Manual 10-cylinder cars in 1 generation, restyling: mixed 14.9, CO2 346 (5.2 MT 525 hp 1695 kg) or 349 (5.2 MT 525 hp 1795 kg). Robot vs manual at 525 hp: mixed 13.1 vs 14.9 (+1.8 for Manual 6).

Not measured (write it as missing, not as zero): city, highway and mixed on both post-2021-10-01 570 hp RWD restyle cars; city, highway, mixed and CO2 on 1 generation, restyling 5.2 S-tronic 570 hp. Power rpm and torque rpm are not measured on those two 2021 RWD cars.

CO2 is not a straight power story: first-generation 5.2 S-tronic 560 hp lists 230 at both 1640 kg (fuel 95, tank 80) and 1525 kg (fuel 98, tank 75), while a later 610 hp 1695 kg car lists 309. Eco class is Euro 5 on both first-generation blocks and Euro 6 from 2 generation.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance is a three-step ladder: 120 mm on 1 generation and almost all of 1 generation, restyling; 104 mm on the one 570 hp restyle-first 5.2 S-tronic; 100 mm on every 2 generation and 2 generation, restyling car. That is −20 mm from first generation to second.

Kerb weight span: 1525 kg (1 generation 5.2 S-tronic 560 hp) to 1820 kg (1 generation, restyling 5.2 S-tronic 525 hp) — 295 kg. Gross: 1825–2050 kg.

kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp), selected:

• 1595 / 620 ≈ 2.57 — light restyle 620 (best in the file)
• 1580 / 610 ≈ 2.59 — light 2 generation 610
• 1525 / 560 ≈ 2.72 — light first-generation 560
• 1640 / 540 ≈ 3.04 — efficient 2 generation 540 AWD
• 1660 / 540 ≈ 3.07 — light restyle 540 RWD
• 1760 / 540 ≈ 3.26 — heavy restyle 540 RWD
• 1820 / 525 ≈ 3.47 — heaviest first-restyle 525 (worst)

Tank: 73 L (all 2 generation), 75 L (most 1 generation early dates and all 1 generation, restyling), 80 L (several 1 generation from 2009-09-01 and four restyle-second cars), 83 L (four light restyle-second cars). Wheels: 245/35 R19 + 295/35 R19 on second generation and restyle (one 610 hp also lists 245/30 R20 + 305/30 R20); first-generation 10-cylinder often 235/35 R19 + 295/30 R19; 8-cylinder 235/40 R18 + 285/35 R18. Wheel sizes are not measured on two 1 generation 525 hp cars (one 5.2 MT, one 5.2 S-tronic). Suspension is Independent, spring front and rear where labelled; brakes Ventilated disc front, Disc ventilated rear (catalogue English as given).

Two kerb clusters in 2 generation, restyling at the same power tell you there are two bodies of mass, not two engines: 540 hp RWD is 1660 kg / 83 L or 1760 kg / 80 L (+100 kg, −3 L); 620 hp AWD is 1595 / 83 or 1695 / 80 (+100 kg, −3 L); 570 hp AWD is 1735 / 83 or 1750 / 80. The lighter, larger-tank cluster is the one that also posts the better 0–100 and higher top speed at each power.

Which version to choose

If the question is outright pace: 5.2 S-tronic 620 hp / 580 Nm / 1595 kg / AWD in 2 generation, restyling — 3.1 s, 334 km/h, 119 hp/L, 2.57 kg/hp. The sibling at 1695 kg is +0.1 s and −5 km/h for +100 kg. Versus the best 2 generation 610 hp at 1580 kg: you buy +10 hp, +20 Nm, +4 km/h, −0.1 s, and you pay +0.8 L/100 km mixed and +10 CO2, plus a +10 L tank (83 vs 73).

If the question is pace per litre of fuel on the sheet: 5.2 S-tronic 540 hp AWD, 1640 kg, 2 generation — mixed 11.4, CO2 272, 0–100 3.5 s, 320 km/h. That is −1.7 mixed vs the light 620 restyle at a cost of −80 hp and +0.4 s. No other measured mixed figure in the model is lower.

If the question is rear-wheel drive: it does not exist in 1 generation or 1 generation, restyling. In 2 generation, 5.2 S-tronic 540 hp RWD is 1590 kg / 3.7 s / 320 km/h / mixed 12.4 (light) or 1680 kg / 3.8 s / 318 km/h / mixed 12.6 (heavy). In 2 generation, restyling, 540 hp RWD is 3.7 s / 324 km/h at 1660 kg (to 2021-09-30) or 3.8 s / 322 km/h at 1760 kg; from 2021-10-01 the RWD cars are 570 hp with consumption not measured — 3.7 s / 329 km/h / 1660 kg / 550 Nm or 3.8 s / 327 km/h / 1760 kg / 540 Nm. The extra 30 hp on the light 2021 RWD vs the light 2018 540 RWD is +5 km/h and the same 3.7 s.

If the question is a clutch: only 1 generation and 1 generation, restyling. Pair Manual 6 with the output you want: 4.2 MT 420 hp (1 generation, 1560 kg, 4.6 s, 301 km/h) or 430 hp (4.6–4.8 s, 300–302 km/h); 5.2 MT 525 hp (3.9–4.1 s); 5.2 MT 550 hp in the restyle (3.8 s, 319 km/h, 1645 kg). At 525 hp in 1 generation, restyling, 5.2 S-tronic vs 5.2 MT is 3.6 vs 3.9 s (light pair) and mixed 13.1 vs 14.9. The robot is the faster and the lower-consumption car; the manual is the lighter car in each pair (−25 kg at 525 hp light, −25 kg at 550 hp, −25 kg at 430 hp light).

If the question is eight cylinders: 4.2 S-tronic or 4.2 MT, 4163 cc, 8 cylinders, 430 hp (or 420 hp only in 1 generation). Best measured 8-cylinder robot in the restyle: 4.2 S-tronic 430 hp, 1660 kg, 4.3 s, 300 km/h, mixed 12.4. First-generation light 4.2 S-tronic 430 hp is 1565 kg, 4.6 s, 302 km/h, mixed 13.3. You give up 0.8–1.2 s and 14–34 km/h versus a 540 hp second-generation car, and you keep Euro 5.

If the question is first-generation peak: 5.2 S-tronic 560 hp, 1525 kg, 3.6 s, 320 km/h, mixed 13.9, tank 75 L, Robotic 6, Cabrio. Versus restyle-first 570 hp 1670 kg: −10 hp, −145 kg, +0.2 s, same 320 km/h; consumption and CO2 on the 570 are not measured. Versus restyle-second 620 hp 1595 kg: −60 hp, −70 kg, +0.5 s, −14 km/h.

If the question is not to buy the heavy twin: at every repeated power in 2 generation and its restyle there is a ~90–100 kg heavier car with +0.1 s, −2 to −5 km/h, a 3 L smaller tank on the restyle, and worse or equal consumption. Example: restyle 620 hp 1695 kg mixed 13.3 vs 1595 kg mixed 13.1. 2 generation 610 hp 1695 kg mixed 13.6 / CO2 309 vs 1580 kg mixed 12.3 / CO2 287 — same horsepower, +1.3 L/100 km and +22 CO2.

Reliability / problems: the data file has no failure rates, service intervals or recall counts. What it does measure for a buyer’s risk sheet is eco class (Euro 5 vs Euro 6), whether consumption is measured, and whether rpm figures exist. The 2021-10-01 570 hp RWD restyle cars and the 570 hp first-restyle 5.2 S-tronic are the versions where economy is not measured; treat range estimates on those as unknown, not as equal to their 570 hp AWD neighbours.

Short map. Want the smallest kg/hp and the highest speed: restyle 5.2 S-tronic 620 hp 1595 kg. Want the lowest mixed figure: 2 generation 5.2 S-tronic 540 hp AWD 1640 kg. Want RWD after 2021-10-01: restyle 5.2 S-tronic 570 hp 1660 kg (economy not measured). Want a lever: 5.2 MT 550 hp 1645 kg in 1 generation, restyling. Want 8 cylinders: 4.2 S-tronic 430 hp 1660 kg in 1 generation, restyling. The catalogue name will still say 5.2 S-tronic on most of those cars; the horsepower, drive, kerb weight and generation dates are the actual SKU.