Audi Le Mans V8:

Audi Le Mans - a show car but very close to the production model, which will appear at the end of 2006. By testing pre-production, Le Mans for the first time brought to a public road, or rather to the former public road. In splendid isolation test pilots "annealed" back and forth on a secondary highway dvadtsatikilometrovomu section, with both ends blocked by police. The car is built on a platform of mid-engine Lamborghini Gallardo. But if the number comes in Lambo 2500-3000 units per year, Audi's estimated annual gathering of about 10,000 supercars. Price Le Mans in Europe will start with 90 000 euros for a car with an engine V8. In this price range the car will compete Porsche 911 C 4S and Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG. Option with V10 will cost 120-135 thousand. His rivals - Porsche 911 Turbo, Aston Martin DB9 and Mercedes-Benz SL 600. Gallardo, incidentally, is much more expensive - about 170 thousand. The test car was an experimental engine V10 5.0 biturbo - almost like the Gallardo, only 60 "horses" is more powerful. However, in 2006 in a series of car will go with another engine - atmospheric V8 4.2 FSI power of 380 hp The decision was taken to avoid internal competition among brands. In the hierarchy of Audi Group, which includes the company Lamborghini, Le Mans has to stand on a step below the Gallardo as the price, and on the strength of the motors. Fears of leadership Audi Group is clear: if the serial machine turned out to be a full copy of the prototype plant in St. Agatha, where do Lambo, it would fit close. Le Mans is able to give decent odds Gallardo! 610-strong "veshka" allows Audi to shoot up to "hundreds" of just 3.7 seconds and accelerate to 345 km / h. However, unlike the Gallardo with a "ceiling" of 309 km / h at Le Mans series will be ... speed limiter, triggered at 250 km / h - it's easier to certify the car for retail sale. However, there are many tuning firms, who are willing to pereshyut 'brains »Le Mans and will remove the stopper. Particularly impressive results tyuningery be able to achieve a version of V10, which will appear three years after sales began Le Mans V8. It will not be turbo, as the prototype, and pyatisotsilny atmosfernik 5.2. Returning to the test. As in all past Audi, start the engine prototype is carried out not by turning the ignition key, and pressing a button. In response to a finger touch to the coveted roundels, V10 started and rumbled loudly, enveloped in a dense area around the car's low-frequency "veil." Worrying, as the last kettle, the pilot tries to move the car. Carefully measuring out the force on the gas pedal (the prototype is more than five million euros), by clicking the lever includes a first gear box DSG. But the move does not work safely: the car reacts to the lightest touch to the accelerator, like Satan, who is splashed with holy water: roared, performs a throw on a pair of forward hulls and deaf. Timeout. Gradually become accustomed to the harsh manners of the engine and transmission (strange when reversing from the field does not remain a trace), yet the start. The tachometer red zone starts at 7500 min-1, but Christophe, a guy from ingolshtadskogo Audi Centre for Research and Development, asked not to spin the engine above 4000. Lada. But what is it? At 120 km / h power unit suddenly begins to gasp, as if to dystrophic hundred meters. Christophe smiled: "You know, man, we specifically limited the speed to keep the car." Understand, I understand, but these tricks look ridiculous, especially given the setting running Le Mans - for the concept they are just wonderful! The driver can fully merge with the car, to be with him in one piece. Low gear (wheel makes just two and a half turns lock to lock) allows you to instantly change direction. The only thing in this sad, - large turning radius. The brakes, too, proved to be excellent. Four ventilated Brembo disc ceramic forced to hang on seat belts, even with a light touch to the pedal. Performing a series of intensive ottormazhivany and no changes have caught the brake dynamics. Yes, definitely, "ceramics" works better than the usual "steel". Unfortunately, the day of the test turned out to be dry and sunny. Whether under the wheels of Le Mans wet asphalt, ice and even better, we would be able to enjoy the benefits of a full drive quattro. In normal driving mode 60% of the torque necessary for the rear axle, but in the event of wheel spin percentage changes: the more energy is produced wheel having better contact with the road. Control of the machine provides not only the "Quattro", but the Magnetic Ride System - shock absorbers with adjustable stiffness, developed by Delco. They are not the usual run by oil, and a special "metallic" capable in a split second to change the viscosity under the influence of the electromagnetic field. His strength is regulated by the central processor MRS, which receives information from sensors that measure road conditions, speed, acceleration (including side) and steering angle. Thus, the damping constant adjusts to traffic conditions. At the wheel of Le Mans for a minute you do not think about his relationship with the Gallardo. They do have much in common, but on the outside and inside are two completely different car. At Audi different proportions of body: it is higher, it has a longer wheelbase. The inside is completely futuristic dashboard where on one display may appear and scale speedometer, and a map navigation system. It is true that for security reasons (to avoid distracting the driver) so the panel is unlikely to remain at the production model. Most likely, there will deliver a regular analog speedometer display and information system will move to the center console. Looks very similar to the prototype production model. On the way to the conveyor is only slightly changed form the front (it would be the least dangerous for pedestrians in the event of a collision), will increase the exterior mirrors, and perhaps there will be regular HID headlights instead of the current LED. Rear spoiler, similar to a boomerang, left, it automatically extends for 120 km / h, and then removed at 90 km / h. For 20-inch alloy wheels Ronal put the same, but the 19-inch. Undergo minor changes luggage capacity: redesigned front part of will inevitably reduce the size quite spacious for a supercar front trunk, so the seats will be another place for luggage. Mass prototype, the "body" which is a mixture of aluminum, steel and carbon fiber - 1530 kg. Stock car "lose weight" only 80 kg, which confirms once again how close the current Le Mans to the conveyor version. "Alien" - not a fantasy. It's here. Specifications Audi Le Mans V8: Body - sedan Number of seats - 2 Curb weight, kg - 1450 Maximum speed km / h - 250 Engine: - Type - petrol, FSI, V-shaped 8-cylinder 32-valve - location - lengthwise, in front of the rear axle - a working volume, cm3 - 4172 - Power, hp in min-1 - 380/6500 Transmission - Manual, 6-speed Tire size (front, rear) - 235/35R19; 295/30R19 Suspension Wheels (front and rear) - an independent brakes (front / rear) - disc, ventilated.