2019 Audi R8: Looking Mean and Packing More Power [News]

Audi has recently unveiled its updated 2019 Audi R8. The new model year brings a number of changes including more aggressive styling, a stiffer chassis, and more power. The R8 is Audi’s halo car, and this new model carries that attitude more than its reserved predecessors.

This model will head on sale on Europe next year. From there, it will likely make its way to the U.S. market as a 2020 model.

2019 Audi R8 unveiled
[Photo: Audi]

Performance

The 2019 Audi R8 will still be powered by a 5.2L naturally aspirated V10. However, Audi has squeezed out a few extra ponies. The 2018 model made 532 horsepower and the V10 Plus model made 602. While they haven’t specified power for the base car, we know the 2019 R8 V10 Performance model will make up to 610 horsepower, fed to all four wheels through a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. That slight boost in power is enough to shove the 2019 Audi R8 to 60 MPH in 3.2 seconds.

[Photo: Audi]

Styling

Audi has given the R8 a bit of a facelift for 2019. Most noticeable is how Audi has updated the grill and front fascia. The R8 still maintains an angular, aggressive design at the front. Now, have accentuated the vents and angles to make for a much meaner-looking car.

50% Race Car

Perhaps some of the biggest upgrades on the new car come from the chassis department. According to Audi, the 2019 Audi R8 has around 50 percent shared parts with the R8 LMS GT3 race car. What’s more, it shares 60 percent of its chassis components with the R8 LMS GT4.

Audi has added some more drive modes to the Audi drive select system. In addition to performance mode, there is also a dry mode, wet mode and snow mode. The different driving modes adapt the car’s traction management system to varied road conditions. Mores specifically, Audi has programmed the different drive modes to account for the difference in road friction.

[Photo: Audi]

When can we buy one?

The 2019 Audi R8 will go on sale in Europe in early 2019. However, they have not specified a date for the US at this time. As for cost, Audi will formerly announce pricing at a later date, closer to launch.

Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for the latest news, views & real-world reviews and of course, more news on the 2019 Audi R8.

While the R8 may be comfortably out of reach for some, Audi does have other performance models. Some of us may be able to afford one of Audi’s smaller RS models like the RS3 or the TTRS. To see how those perform, check out the video below: