2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro

Audi just unveiled a faster and more powerful Hot Car, R8 at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. This premium sports car is fitted with a potent V-10 engine, and it comes with upgrades such as magnetorheological dampers and minor styling changes that reflect the heightened level of performance.

Inspired by Audi's successes at 24 Hours of Le Mans, the new R8 is powered by a direct-injected 5.2-liter V-10. Instead of injecting fuel into the intake ports, fuel is atomized and sprayed directly into the combustion chambers at over 1700 psi of pressure. This allows for a higher compression ratio and better fuel burn, thus enabling the V-10 to deliver 518 bhp and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. The increase in engine efficiency also means better fuel economy. Audi tells us the R8 V-10 will achieve 17.2 mpg.

Built on an all-aluminum chassis supported at all four corners by double-wishbone suspension with Quattro all-wheel-drive, the new R8 V-10 is aided by the aforementioned dampers that automatically adjust to various road conditions. Carbon-ceramic brakes designed to withstand repeated usage with minimal fade are optional.

On the outside, very little sets the R8 V-10 apart from its 8-cylinder sibling. Up front, the crossbraces for the intake have been reduced in number from four to two. The center grille is finished in chrome. The headlight cluster features all-LED lighting. And around the side, the air vents just aft of the doors are more accentuated. The vents at the rear also have two crossbraces, along with oval tailpipes instead of a pair of twin exhausts.

This Hot Car, fitted with the R Tronic automatic transmission, will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 sec. with a top speed of 196 mph. It will go on sale in Germany in the second quarter of 2009, priced around $182,000. There is no information at this time regarding a U.S. launch date.