R8 COUPE V10 PLUS – SCHOOLBOY FANTASY CAR – USES HEADREST SPEAKERS

29th June 2017 Adam Rayner

You know, back in the Eighties, I specified one of the world’s first ever room-to-room hifi systems for my folks’ house. My dad thought it was under-used but my mama had FM radio in the bedroom, her study, the living room and the kitchen and played Classic FM for hours every day for YEARS. The system was quite soon on the tail of the invention of CD and I added a cheap multi-disc to the set up a few years later as the CD wasn’t available just yet. BEOSYSTEM 5000 had MASSIVE programming power and was years ahead of its time. In fact B&O quietly turned out to be one of the really important players, with some epic developments in HiFi being their own personal milestones. I will let the geeks go do their own research. (Oh OK)beoworld But the really cool thing was the bizarre longevity of the equipment, brand and even the employees. For fully 30 years later, the lad who fitted the system for the local Bang & Olufsen centre, now in his forties, was contacted and came to the house to effect a repair to a remote box. He had kept parts and boxes that were no longer made. Even odder is how little the cool-looking main system has dated. For like some cars, the excellent engineering and neatness of brushed ageless aluminium, remains timeless. My brother in law has it now and it still used.
And that is precisely why Bang & Olufsen are such a good fit with Audi for their automotive efforts. Some older and faithful readers may recall a video about an Audi A7 Sportback I did at VAG HQ about the Audi MMI system of infotainment kit, some time back. Well that video is rising 115,000 views and as a direct result of that (plus the most excellent career development of the executive in that video from rear seat to front seat – in charge of digital press) I am getting to have a go on the brand new Bang & Olufsen automotive audio 3D system in a VERY new Q7. In fact Audi are actually adding it to their press fleet for me to have first go, before others go try it. I am beyond chuffed.

But in the meanwhile, this does look to the utter win for the late season on the Croissette, or just to rock up on my local high street with, as we have some competing rich folks in my area who like to show off their new toys a bit. This is, of course the most awesome R8 ever..convertible, fettled to bonkers levels and a top speed of er 203-and-a-bit mph! The coolest thing for me, is the headrest speakers, though, I am that sad. But it does grip me, as each head restraint is equipped to serve the two occupants their very own dose of pukka stereo cues. How in heck does it sound? When you can hear it above the delicious noise the oily bits make, that is
Anyway, just to make you hurt with want, here are the details of the most awesome Audi ever. You can order yours now for delivery by late Summer.
A mere bagatelle at ‚¬207,5000.

The Audi R8 CoupÃ© V10 plus
(combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 12.5 l/100 km 18.8 US mpg; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 292 469.9 g/mi)
Body, design and convertible top;
Multimaterial Audi Space Frame (ASF) with aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP), just 208 kg (458.6 lb) in weight and with unsurpassed rigidity
25 kg (55.1 lb) lighter than the Audi R8 Spyder V10 (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 11.7 20.1 mpg combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 277 445.8 g/mi); dry weight: 1,587 kilograms (3,498.7 lb), unladen weight (without driver): 1,695 kilograms (3,736.8 lb)
Aerodynamic concept with a focus on high downforce values, wide diffuser and fixed rear
Mid-engine proportions, taut body line
4.43 meters (14.5 ft) long, 1.94 meters (6.4 ft) wide, 1.24 meters (4.1 ft) high
LED headlights standard, optional Audi laser light with dynamic turn signals
Front spoiler, sideblades, sill trims, diffuser, rear spoiler and convertible top compartment lid in CFRP
Electro-hydraulic cloth top, opens or closes in 20 seconds, even while driving at up to 50 km/h (31.1 mph)
Separate extendible and retractable rear window, wind deflector are optional
Many options for customising; the highlight: Audi exclusive micrommata green design package
Engine
Naturally aspirated V10 engine with 5.2 litres of displacement, dry sump lubrication, dual injection, cylinder on demand technology, start-stop function
High-revving, spontaneous engine response, characteristic ten-cylinder sound
Powerful performance: 449 kW (610 hp), 560 Nm (413.0 lb-ft) of torque, from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.3 seconds, top speed 328 km/h (203.8 mph)
NEDC consumption 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres (18.8 US mpg), corresponding to 292 grams CO2 per kilometre (469.9 g/mi)
Transmission
Seven-speed S tronic with lightning-quick shifting, sporty transmission ratios and freewheeling function
Quattro permanent all-wheel drive for fully variable distribution of drive torque, electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch with electronic control and water cooling, rear axle with mechanical locking differential
Chassis
Double wishbone suspensions at all four wheels, optional Audi magnetic ride damper control
Standard ceramic brake system, six-piston calliper on the front axle
Electromechanical power steering; alternatively dynamic steering with variable ratio
19-inch wheels with mixed tires as standard; alternatively 20-inch wheels
Standard Audi drive select driving dynamics system, with additional performance mode with three programs (dry, wet, snow) adapted to specific road conditions
Interior
Clear lines, light and strongly contoured R8 bucket seats, ‘monoposto’ arc in the cockpit
Attractive colours and high-quality materials
Controls are fully focused on the driver; all key functions are on the multifunction steering wheel
R8 performance steering wheel in leather with multifunction buttons and four control satellites as standard equipment
Freely configurable Audi virtual cockpit with 12.3-inch display standard, performance view with central rev counter including shift light display and driving dynamics information
Infotainment and Audi connect
MMI navigation plus with MMI touch is standard, operating concept with flat hierarchies, including free text search and natural language voice control
Seat belt microphones for convenient telephoning as standard
Optional Audi connect, Audi smartphone interface and Audi phone box with inductive charging
Optional Bang & Olufsen Sound System with innovative head restraint loudspeakers
Production
Produced at the ‘Audi BÃ¶llinger HÃ¶fe’ production facility near the Neckarsulm plant
500 highly qualified employees, extremely flexible production, mostly crafted by hand
Three-stage acceptance procedure prior to delivery (commissioning at the test centre, quality acceptance on the factory’s own test track, one-hour test drive on public roads)