Most supercars once contained naturally aspirated, fire-breathing beasts that were connected to the wheels by a reliable manual transmission. In contrast to its replacement, which can only be purchased with a self-shifting seven-speed gearbox, this first generation Audi R8 is a product of that age and it features the engaging six-speed stick shift.
The German supercar, which belongs to a very small and endangered species, has drawn attention from Forgestar because, you guessed it, it rides on one of their wheelsets. The CF5V is 8.5×19 inches at the front and 11×19 inches at the back, with a Y-spoke design and a gloss anthracite finish.
They twirl around the orange brake calipers that would ordinarily embrace the drilled rotors, in contrast to the Samoa Orange paint job of the R8. The exotic model’s high-end brakes quickly bring it to a complete halt, and its naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine propels it forward.
The vehicle accelerates to 62 mph (100 kph) in less than 4 seconds and, if the road and laws permit it, up to 196 mph with the 518 brake horsepower (525 ps / 386 kW) and 391 pound-feet (530 Nm) of torque produced (315 kph). Together with the wide selection of (for the age) safety equipment, the quattro all-wheel drive system improves traction in bad weather, making it a fantastic everyday driver.
Now, aside from the peak speed, this specific model’s straight-line performance might be on par with the best contemporary hyper hatchbacks. But the truth is that no such vehicle can even come close to giving the driver the same sensations. Additionally, it looks the part thanks to the broad air intakes and gentle lines running along its length; in this configuration, it is an absolute dream car, as you can see in the complete image gallery shared above.
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Audi R8 is it automatic?
A three-pedal layout is the most engaging and enjoyable method to get the most out of an automobile, as every red-blooded automotive enthusiast is aware of. Heinz Hollerweger, the CEO of Audi’s Quattro GmbH, has a different perspective.
You can’t really blame him in some aspects. When questioned why the 2018 Audi R8 will only be available with a dual-clutch, Hollerweger made a point to remind out that today’s most sophisticated automated gearboxes simply outperform manuals at the track.
At the 2015 Geneva auto show, he observed, “You have to look at lap times,” adding that, at least in Europe, demand for Audi R8s with manual transmissions was practically nonexistent. When questioned about it, Hollerweger didn’t budge. Hollerweger thinks there’s no use in offering a manual on the new car because a stick-shift just cannot match the performance of the R8’s dual-clutch transmission and few purchasers requested one.
Of course, we beg to differ, and we were quite surprised by his claim that driving a car with a manual transmission is not a more interesting experience. But regrettably, that seems to be the way of the world, and given the direction that manufacturers of supercars, like Ferrari and others, have been taking recently, it is hardly a surprise.
One more piece of information regarding the Audi R8 was provided by Hollerweger: a V-8 will not be offered for the vehicle. We now understand why the new R8 debuted alongside the V-10, which was a bit of a surprise. We don’t care about a V-8, Hollerweger stated. He also said that demand for the eight-cylinder was weak and that demand for the “iconic” V-10 significantly exceeded estimates for the first-generation model.
If you want an Audi R8, you may choose between a 5.2-liter V-10 engine with 520 or 610 horsepower for this generation at least, but you are limited to the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. You may also choose the R8 e-tron, which has a T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack, electric motors, and a 280-mile range, if you don’t mind waiting a year or more, at least in Europe.
Therefore, those of you who own first-generation Audi R8s with V-8 engines and manual transmissions suddenly possess a pretty rare vehicle. Enjoy.
Is the V-10 R8 available in manual?
What is the one feature that the current-generation Audi R8 is missing? Of course it is, as its predecessor had a beautiful open-gate manual transmission. Why, Audi, can’t we have good things?
Fortunately, the world has individuals like Kevin Howeth. The Charlotte-based tuner Underground Racing, which has recently finished its build of the 2020 R8 Decennium special edition you can see above, is his company, of which he is co-owner and founder.
Only 222 V10-powered Decenniums were ever produced, but ‘Danny from Dallas,’ a longtime Underground Racing customer, apparently desired something a little more distinctive. Just have a look inside Yes, that is a six-speed gated manual conversion from Audi.
And that’s not all. The 5.2-liter V10 in the R8 has been given twin turbos and a total of 1,500 horsepower by Underground Racing, which bills itself as the maker of the “world’s fastest street legal Lamborghinis.” That appears to be sufficient.
Are Audis automatic or manual?
As fewer Americans learn how to operate them and automakers avoid producing them, the popularity of automobiles and trucks with manual transmissions is declining significantly.
Additionally, because automatic transmissions have greatly improved, the once-true justifications for favoring manual transmissionsthat they make cars more fuel-efficient and less expensive to buyare no longer always valid. This has eliminated the practical benefits that some drivers cited for their preference for manuals.
keeping to the manual? What do you think makes driving a stick shift so special? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
Manual transmissions, which were once the only type of transmission available, played a crucial role in automotive design, from bland, functional sticks and silver wands to exquisitely smooth cue balls. Between the seats or close to the steering wheel, these jewelry pieces were mounted. They are now essentially irrelevant.
According to Mike Fiske, senior analyst at IHS Markit who focuses on automotive engine difficulties, the market for sticks is now at a position “where it’s not a need or even much of an alternative.
The only choice is Audi. The premium automaker, which is a division of the Volkswagen Group, said that starting with the 2019 model year, it will stop selling any manual-transmission vehicles in the United States.
According to Audi spokeswoman Amanda Koons, the 2018 A4 sedan and A5 coupe were the last models offered with a stick-shift option.
The German marque will only use automatic gearboxes going forward in the United States.
Transmission advancements
After a number of recent technological developments, automatic transmissions are now available in a variety of high-tech configurations, such as dual-clutch models that replicate the gear-changing action of a manual transmission. Finally, they all carry out your work for you. There will be no more fiddling with the clutch to change gears.
Koons lamented that there isn’t much of a market for manuals in an email.
Sales of manual gearboxes have been declining for decades, but in recent years, the decline has quickened.
According to IHS Markit, 6.8% of vehicles sold in the United States in 2012 had stick shifters. However, in 2018, that percentage is thought to have dropped to 3.5 percent.
How about the Subaru BRZ? Fiske said that sales of the well-known sports car, which were previously limited to manual transmission models, are now 90 percent automatic.
In 2023, IHS predicts that the proportion of vehicles sold with a manual transmission will decrease to 2.6%. Fiske added that fresh data points might need a change to IHS’s projection.
But stick-shift enthusiasts still have some hope. They continue to be sold in numerous international areas, for starters. In actuality, the 5-speed manual is the most often used transmission worldwide, according to Fiske.
A few years ago, Darryl Hayden, a machine operator from Hampton, Virginia, was determined to get a manual-transmission car, but the dealer had just one option available, and it was rudimentary. Thus, he asked the dealer to look everywhere for the 2014 Ford Focus he ultimately chose to purchase.
He stated, “That was a very challenging thing to locate. Since they’re not building as many anymore, the car “was in South Carolina, and they drove it up to Virginia for me.
With a manual, Hayden claims he feels more rooted to the road, which, he claims, also keeps him alert.
You have more control over the vehicle since you are changing gears on your own rather than waiting for the vehicle to do it, the speaker stated.
While several major auto makers still offer stick-shift options on some models, Audi is discontinuing manual transmissions. According to IHS, the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited were the top five best-selling manual vehicles through July.
Teaching the next generation
While Hayden adores driving a stick, finding him capable of doing so is now more difficult than ever.
Because many of them never learned how to drive a stick as children, Hagerty, a historic automobile insurance located in Traverse City, Michigan, is training auto engineers how to drive a manual.
Additionally, since 2011, the business has taught the skill to about 2,500 students in high school.
One benefit of the courses is that the pupils get to practice clutch control and gear shifting in vintage vehicles like a 1965 Ford Mustang convertible or a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Only two of those pupils, according to Hagerty communication expert Tabetha Hammer, “may never grasp it.”
Automatic future
The tremendous advances made to the automatic transmission may be the primary factor making the manual transmission obsolete.
The newest automatics from General Motors have shift speeds that even the greatest manual drivers cannot match, according to associate chief engineer Mark Kielczewski.
The transmission makes the necessary modifications to maintain the transmission in the right gear, at the right moment, all the time. It does this by detecting whether the car is traveling up or down a hill, whether the driver is driving furiously or just gradually on a curved road.
However, even though the manual transmission might be going away, the automated transmission shouldn’t become too accustomed. In reality, its days might already be numbered.
This is due to the absence of transmissions in electric vehicles, which supporters predict will eventually supplant gasoline-powered cars.
Audi’s transmission is manual.
2019 marks the end of Audi’s manual transmission manufacture in the US. But fear not, auto enthusiaststhere are still plenty of possibilities to find your next Audi stick shift if you’re willing to settle for a secondhand car.
Many drivers will agree that shifting into gear and hitting the road is the best feeling, but the future of the American manual transmission is not promising. Nearly 99 percent of new US car sales in 2019 were automatics, despite many brands still carrying the torch.
Comes with a manual in the 2020 R8?
A customized Audi R8 from Underground Racing was displayed, and it featured an intriguing engineering design. Since the first-generation Audi R8’s end of production, we haven’t had a gated manual gearbox in a client car that was ready for delivery.
Twin-turbo Lamborghini Huracn and Audi R8 builds are the specialty of the Charlotte, North Carolina-based Underground Racing. They are most known for pulling ludicrous performance numbers from stock V10 engines, but they also have another impressive trick in store. Since enthusiasts prefer manual gearboxes, Underground Racing provided a manual transmission change for the more recent R8s.
One of their Dallas, Texas customers who also ordered UR’s twin-turbo configuration requested that the work be done. A fantastic 2020 Audi R8 with 1,500 horsepower and a manual transmission in place of the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission was the end product. Thanks to Underground Racing’s skill, the center console of the R8 appears to be an original Audi component.
The all-wheel drive system from the factory was retained, but the tuning shop installed a street clutch to give the car drivability similar to that of the factory. The manual transmission was used from a first-generation Audi R8, but it required modifications to cope with the potent engine. Additionally, the vehicle received Performante center-lock wheel conversion along with specially finished Performante wheels.
Although this is now a one-time project, Underground Racing promised that it will soon become a regular addition to their inventory. We must admit that it is not inexpensive because the transmission switch is only available to customers who also purchase the twin-turbo kit.
Although the cost hasn’t been determined, the tuning kit starts at $49,000 installed and can cost up to $175,000 for the most potent variants. Therefore, you would likely need to give careful thought to whether you want a stick-shift Audi R8 or if the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission will suffice.
It’s a shame Audi decided to discontinue this fantastic vehicle, at least in its present V10 configuration. The Neckarsulm, Germany, scientists will decide if the R8 will eventually make a comeback as an electric vehicle.
Which transmission is better, manual or automatic?
There are many distinct types of cars. The possibilities are unlimited when looking for a new car, from choices in drivetrains like front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive to choices in engine type like conventional gas and electric. The type of transmission you choose when purchasing an automobile is a crucial choice.
Modern cars can have either an automatic or a manual transmission. A vehicle with an automatic gearbox does the gear-shifting for you, whereas a manual transmission requires the driver to do it. To shift or not to shift therefore becomes the question.
How many R8 manuals were produced?
It serves as the “model” for what supercars ought to be. Sporty, quick, and affordable to maintain while remaining dependable.
Under Volkswagen’s ownership, Audi has been developing its brand over the past few years. It shares DNA with Lamborghini’s Gallardo and Huracan, which are both owned by VW, and benefits from the technology and world-class supply network of VW.
With the Audi R8, you’ll really spend more time driving than you would maintaining it, in contrast to other supercars that you’ll likely spend more time maintaining.
The R8 was introduced in 2006 and transported to the United States two years later, but it wasn’t until it made an appearance in the first Iron Man movie in 2008 that it really gained attention.
The R8 is regarded as the tame, all-purpose, 2-seat exotic coupe. You’ll be beaming from ear to ear as you fly around a racetrack, tear over mountain roads, or grab your Starbucks while your wallet (and spine) thank you.
Once you’ve decided the Audi R8 is the right vehicle for you, you’ll need to choose the model year and trim level.
: Type 42 (Gen 1)
There are a few further sub-models:
The V10’s recognizable sideblades are broader to improve airflow and give it a more aggressive appearance.
Standard equipment includes a leather package. Yes, there is additional leather interior stitching.
Standard magnetic dampers allow you to change the suspension’s stiffness.
After six years, the Audi R8 underwent a facelift in 2014. In addition to the two clutch transmission, the makeover provided:
In addition to the V8 and V10 trims, the “V10 Plus” was a third trim that was added with the facelift, as was previously reported. You gain an additional 25 horsepower, brakes made of carbon ceramic, and some weight savings from more carbon fiber. Magnetic dampers are no longer an option, leaving you with only a rigid, sporty suspension. If you’re not aiming to beat the 2-minute lap record at Sonoma Raceway, the additional $19,345 adds just negligible value.
You are largely paying for the engine in the V10 variant, which normally costs 1020 percent more than the V8 model and is the same engine used in Lamborghini’s Gallardo. The V8 and V10 have very distinct driving characteristics. The roaring V10 appears to be directly behind your head in the mid-engine arrangement, giving the V10 90 more horsepower than its competitor.
Some detractors would argue that the V8 is superior because “the weight ratio is better and the lap times are faster.” Even while the V8 is theoretically more powerful, it will still score far lower on the fun factor once you drive both of them. In any case, your goal should be to have fun.
Consider your preferred transmission type after deciding on the engine size.
Manual:
Automatic:
Rowing through the gated shifter with metallic “clinks” is as pleasant as it gets if you enjoy driving manual. The 6-speed manual is the preferred transmission, especially when paired with a V10 engine. Given that there are no high displacement manual supercars in existence today, some will argue that a low-mileage V10 manual is a unicorn.
Although single-clutch automatic transmissions received a bad rap because of the R8, they are nevertheless a lot of fun to drive. Although there is a slight delay when changing gears (which is more noticeable in the lower speeds), each shift is accentuated, which keeps the driver far more attentive than a smooth dual clutch will. Driving a dual clutch after becoming accustomed to this feels “too smooth”almost as though there are no gear changes.
Treat your R-Tronic transmission like a manual transmission to get the most out of it.
In between your R-Tronic shifts, let off the gas similar to how you would with a manual transmission.
It will feel just like a manual once you get the hang of it, with the exception that your left foot gets to just hang out.
The clutch may be serviced almost just like any other manual vehicle. It can easily last up to 75k miles if driven properly. The majority of R8s on the market have nowhere near that many kilometers on them.
When the Gen 1 R8 underwent a facelift in 2014, the S-Tronic dual clutch transmission became offered. The S-Tronic performs better in all respects. The R-0-60 Tronic’s time can be shaved by 0.2 seconds with lightning-fast shifts. Each gear change lasts 0.125 seconds, or about as long as it does to blink.
The manufacturing of the Audi R8 was suspended in 2016, and the brand-new model, which used the same base as the Lamborghini Huracan, was unveiled in 2017.
Despite the fact that the new R8 outperformed its predecessor in every way, Audi removed the V8 and the manual transmission from the list of available options. Many automotive aficionados found the loss of the manual transmission to be a sad day, but Audi argued that the modern engine is too complex for a basic transmission to handle.
You can choose between two trims:
The new V10 plus continued where the Gen 1 V10 plus left off, save from the difference in horsepower. The V10 Plus is the craziest member of the family; it comes with shorter gearing on the S-Tronic transmission and ceramic brakes as standard equipment. At higher RPMs, this provides the power more quickly than the base model does. Additionally, it no longer has magnetic ride dampening. exclusively with a stiff, sporty suspension.
With the exception of the rear spoiler, they have the same appearance. The classic adaptive spoiler from the R8 is standard on the V10; the V10 plus adds a significantly larger fixed wing.
When the ordinary R8 just isn’t cutting it, the V10 Plus is the middle child between the standard R8 and the Huracan. Be prepared to pay 1015% more.
It’s also important to note that in 2018, Audi unveiled the R8 RWS, a variation with rear-wheel drive. There were only 999 made worldwide and it cost $30,000 less than a normal V10. Despite being substantially less expensive, they are hard to locate due to their low production quantities.
The new R8 gained a more aggressive front and rear fascia and returned to oval-shaped exhaust tips, much like the Gen 1 facelift.
The same trim is now known as the “V10 Performance” since the “V10 Plus” moniker was dropped. Strangely, the horsepower dropped from 610 to 602, albeit you won’t notice the difference.