Having been around since 2016, the second-generation Audi R8 has received a midlife refresh for 2019, and is packing some noteworthy changes.
The exterior has received a host of subtle updates. There’s a new front bumper with a redesigned grille, black headlight surrounds and a new front splitter. The sides feature new side skirts, larger air intakes for better cooling and for a more aggressive look. At the back, there’s a full-length grille that aids cooling, a reshaped diffuser and oval-shaped tailpipe surrounds finished in matte black titanium on the V10 Performance (earlier known as the V10 Plus).
Also on offer will be two new metallic paint options – Ascari Blue (pictured here) and Kemora Gray – along with new 19-inch and 20-inch alloy wheels. The interiors remain largely unchanged save for a few Alcantara inserts dotting the cabin.
The biggest changes are on the performance front, with the power output on the standard V10 model going up from 533hp to 562hp, which gives it a claimed 0-100kph time of 3.4 seconds. There’s also more power with the V10 Performance, up from 603hp to 611hp and torque is up to 565Nm, resulting in a claimed 0-100kph time of 3.1 seconds.
Audi has also reworked the R8’s suspension settings for “even more stability and precision”, while both the standard and dynamic steering systems have been revised for better response and feedback, and more discernible differences between the drive modes.
The 2019 R8 is fitted with new Michelin tyres, which are said to provide more grip and, combined with the retuned ABS system, help gain a five-metre reduction in stopping distance from 200kph.
The pre-facelift R8 is currently on sale at India at a price of Rs 3.21 crore (on-road, Mumbai), and the facelifted R8 should come in at roughly the same price when it is launched sometime in 2019.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
