Friday, April 8, 2016

Forza Motorsport 6: The new Audi R8

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One of the hottest cars demanded to be featured in Forza Motorsport 6, the all-new Audi R8, has arrived via the Top Gear Car Pack and with its arrival in-game, this is just what the starman has ordered for. Heh, I'm very sure the producers should have faith in car-related sites rather than going through used car dealers or junkyards for some inspiration to add cars in-game via DLC. In fact, the new R8's long-awaited arrival on FM6 is just the tip of the iceberg.

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Since its launch in 2007, the R8, which is named after a winning Le Mans Prototype, inspired from the Le Mans quattro concept and features Lamborghini components, served as the halo sportscar of Audi. For 2015, the Audi R8 is now on its second-generation and it features components seen on its sister car, the Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4.

Premiered at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the all-new Audi R8 features a new Audi SpaceFrame, new interior (including the Audi Virtual Cockpit), new exterior, and so on. Because it features components from the Lamborghini Huracan, the new R8 features an updated 5.2L V10 engine with two power outputs; 540PS for the base model and 610PS for the range-topping V10 plus model. In the V10 plus model, equipped with the S tronic double clutch transmission, 0-100kph takes about 3.2 seconds and onwards to 330kph.

The second-generation Audi R8 was produced at quattro GmbH's new Bollinger Hofe site, close to the Neckarsulm plant. Prices start from 165,000 to 187,400 Euros.

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Having spent three minutes driving the R8, I assumed that this new model will end up as their favorite Audi in-game that can be driven all the time. I mean, isn't that the Audi we've been longing for to drive in-game rather than the previous model? Nevertheless, because this is the German equivalent of the Lamborghini Huracan I drove, it really feels pretty much the same as the Huracan but in a different kind of manner because the new R8's not stupid enough to handle track days seriously. It maybe a four-wheel drive car but it behaves as what a proper sportscar should and I'm starting to enjoy it more than the old R8. Speaking of which, I'm here at Yas Marina Circuit where the new R8 faces off against the predecessor.

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Past meets present, right? This should be fun because this comparison between the old and the new will see how much the new R8 has improved, despising the naysayers that its new look is more of a facelift. See if I care...


Thanks to the newly improved Audi SpaceFrame as well as its new V10 engine from the Huracan and motorsport pedigree that has been inspired from the old R8 LMS as well as the R18, the new R8 feels like a walk in the park compared to the previous R8. All that hard work from quattro GmbH has really payed off to deliver a sportscar unlike any other. With such result, I managed to lap this car round Yas Marina Circuit in 2:35.137, compared to the old model's 2:38.546.

Impressed by how good the new R8 performed against the old R8? For me, it is, but for this car, it's not over yet because it still has some old friends to deal with and that's one thing I'll do it later as the all new R8 revisits its old friends and new enemies.

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