It has been a while hasn’t it? Six months to be exact, since we ran a piece on MTM working on their supercharged R8. Of course every tuner even remotely affiliated with the Audi brand is doing some form of conversion on this halo car. MTM is done now and they have released details of what sort of monster their Dr Frankensteins have created. On the 4.2-litre V8 a belt driven srew supercharger has been screwed to release a good dose of 560PS (412kW) at a screaming 7750 rpm. Forwarding this power is 580Nm of torque available at 5500 rpm. As a result the MTM R8 sends itself into a flying frenzy of 0 – 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, 0 to 200km/h in 12.5 seconds. After that effortless drive we cut out at 301km/h with the limiter on, 315km/h with no limiter.
The quattro drive system is still responsible for some handling, grip and shove as per the normal car. It puts power into Michelin Sport Cups rated at 245/30-20” and 315/25-20” front and back, wrapped around MTM Bimoto forged rims. Although Audi hasn’t said much regarding the R8 V10 yet, the feeling is it may just hover around these figures too.
MTM Supercharged Audi R8: Juicy Details Revealed
Horsepower all over the place
MTM / MTM Audi R8
Comments
carcrazy1234
September 9, 2008 4:32 PM
dude... noone commented on that joke until u kinda mentioned it lol well done foool
Tuner_Mad
September 9, 2008 8:32 PM
Good luck stopping people with the R8 joke... Even though it looks much like one.
mc959
September 9, 2008 2:26 PM
Finally, this beauty receives the horsepower that goes with it's look!! but no prices?
IpsesNipse
September 9, 2008 3:18 PM
They did What Audi should have done in the first place. The RS4 engine just isnt enough for the R8, it needs more power to play in the big boys league.
Xanavi23
September 9, 2008 4:08 PM
The R8 is godly, but i don't like Superchargers. Turbochargers would yield better power deliver, get better gas mileage as you can roll off-boost, and also have much better cooling properties which help give it better top end than a Supercharger.
Fail.
Joe_Limon
September 9, 2008 5:30 PM
superchargers yield more stable torque curves. which increase predictability, and overall driving experience, which is what this car is about.
Xanavi23
September 9, 2008 10:08 PM
"Predictability" is WORTHLESS in the face of all the ALL-AROUND benefits of turbocharging. Its more fuel economic when you don't push it, it has better top end which is always welcome and once the kit is installed, its easier and cheaper for the buyer in question to fine-tune it to his liking.
Joe_Limon
September 9, 2008 11:24 PM
on a track predictability is essential, you don't want to be half way through a corner and have your turbo boost kick in sliding you off the track. On the average race track you are full throttle only 10% of the time, on an autocross track, maybe only 1%. If your car lacks that linear torque curve it becomes so much harder to drive the car to it's full potential. And that is why the Audi R8 strives to be the perfectly neutral predictable handling machine, and not just some power junky drift/drag machine. Jeeze I can't believe I am standing up for this car now.
Xanavi23
September 10, 2008 12:08 AM
Yea, but we're talking about a Turbocharged 8 here, specifically with lower boost and smaller turbo requirements. So due to the smaller turbos, it will spool fairly quick, especially if they use Ball-Bearing turbos, lower boost levels would also only be needed, only around 8-10psi, which would make 120hp easily on a V8. And lastly, getting back to the V8, it has a decent enough torque producing capability so that if the car does get caught out of the boost curve, it won't feel as gutless as a smaller displacement 6 or 4. I'll agree, that with supercharging its virtually impossible to be caught "boost-less" but thats a double edged sword, as its costs it some fuel economy. However, at the same time, if you can afford an R8, you aren't hurting too much by way of gas prices so the fuel economy aspect of turbo-charging may be a moot point depending on the buyer.
Xanavi23
September 10, 2008 12:09 AM
**The point about smaller Turbos and low boost settings meaning that the Turbos could probably spool quite low down in the rev-range as well, though not as low as Superchargers of course**
Joe_Limon
September 10, 2008 1:39 AM
xanavi you argued yourself into a corner, by mentioning smaller turbos to counteract lag, you ended up with the same hp output as supercharging, the only trade off between the two systems would be a slight increase in fuel economy at the expense of a slightly flawed torque curve, which you would notice every time you take off from idle... how often do you do that? hmm just throwing the thought out here, but how about every stoplight? The car wasn't fuel efficient to begin with, heck no audi is save the diesel tt. This is a aftermarket performance kit, I doubt the ppl who buy it would prefer the less predictable option, over the very slightly more fuel economic one. I know you like turbo's but the supercharger isn't always bad. Neither is naturally aspirated, it is just about what you wanna get out of your car.
tdroesch
September 9, 2008 4:27 PM
this car has got the looks and now the grunt to go with it. i wish they would change the daytime running lights however - the flowing strip of dots. just doesn't work for me.
kimbo
September 9, 2008 5:09 PM
why would anyone buy this instead of gallardo lp560? Price is even around the same...
ShinyG
September 9, 2008 5:18 PM
Well, Audi has a lot of diehard fans for once. I know some of them, they seem almost brainwashed! Some of them think their 105 bhp diesel is "very sporty" :))
Xanavi23
September 10, 2008 12:40 AM
Because sadly while the LP560 is a great car, in reality the LP560 is an Audi and NOT a Lamborghini. This car is an Audi but it doesn't run around pretending to be something else. I respect any one who buys a Gallardo, but its still just an Audi, chassis, engine etc etc.
dmanero
September 9, 2008 6:19 PM
Get that the r8 get a boost in power, but I don't the way the engine bay looks now. Before the engine looked clean and just looks beautiful. oh well I guess you got to sacrificy something to gain something else.
xLumino
September 9, 2008 9:10 PM
you are great: laughting about something you don't understand! Airintakes for engine and brake cooling. and airouttaktes(!) for warm air output from both systems...
looksa good. the black wheels give an interesting contrast
alessandro
September 11, 2008 5:40 PM
Ahaa, how cars works? That IN/OUT engineering kindergarten does not works on me purely for professional reasons as well as it does'nt goes for exuse to "single frame philosophy".
THERENAISSANCEMAN
September 9, 2008 7:46 PM
unbelievable ! it really looks like an R8 , wait...it IS an R8 ! ! !
great_supercars255
September 9, 2008 8:32 PM
WOW! that looks great, like a better version of the r8, but it is a newer version so.. but even so...
radmeister
September 9, 2008 10:54 PM
Not going to last long, every clown knows you don't boost a high comp engine. They get better figures out of the 350hp 4.2V8 with lower compression because they can raise the boost and power delivery is better. I hope they changed the pistons to lower the compression ratio.
Decypha
September 10, 2008 12:21 AM
HAHAHAHAHA On that point about Audi fans. That is so true, they will defend anything about Audi to the hills.
MTM does good on their Audi conversions; not surprising then that this one is spot on.
Xanavi23
September 10, 2008 12:45 AM
You know, speaking of the R8, the V8 model will be the slowest of the bunch, but if i had the choice i'ld take the V8 every time, something about the balance of a V8.
norther
September 10, 2008 3:06 AM
god damn it. mtm made this more powerful than the v10 r8, which has 2 turbos. why audi, why? why are u so lazy. you made some beautiful engines, but u want to put the same 5.2 with the same turbos but with only 525 bhp in the flagship car? that engine should have 600 bhp in the v10 r8. i am sssoooo.....sad
Xanavi23
September 10, 2008 4:34 AM
Norther, do you forget that Audi also has a production TDI V12 coming in the R8 ? That will have easily 600+hp, if the V10 had more power, it would almost make the TDI V12 almost not worth it, as most buyers of these Elite sports cars don't care about fuel economy or "clean" burning cars, only HP and performance. As such power in the V10 had to be kept down.
Kalan
September 10, 2008 4:00 PM
Okay, Having read all your comments, I feel that as a proud owner of a Daytona Grey R8 as well as a Muegellan Blue RS4 I have some views to share.
Yes, I will defend the Audi brand forever, there is nothing on earth to compare with the TOTAL package. I've owned BMW, and Merc's too, they just can't compare.
I know squat about Turbo v/s Supercharging, but having owned the previous generation TT, Turbo's have some serious drawbacks, that dreaded Lag effect, I hate it. But it appears that this is not an issue when coupled to a V8? Having seen the MTM supercharged RS4 on You-Tube, man I think it knocks the socks off any turbo option. Besides, supercharger just sounds soooo much cooler and sooo much more powerful.
No, I don't care much for fuel economy at this level of car, I want smooth delivery of power and lots of it, all the way through the rev range.Once I have that, I could do with a little more power, and then some more.
As far as the MTM R8 goes, I like that they did not go crazy on the body styling, this car does not need much more to be done to it, possibly the only thing I would change is the 2 fin air intakes ala R8 V12, versus the current 3 fin air intakes. Love the mags, not sure about the black though? I agree that the engine with supercharger looks unsightly, MTM could have done a better job on the looks considering that you can see the engine through the rear windscreen. Don't like the "supercharged" wording on the side skirts, looks too much like Lambo "Superleggera". A little more originality and less copy please MTM !! As for those bucket seats, I'm sure they do wonders for the grip levels and weight reduction, but man do they look porno, I reckon it would look great in black only, no two tone please. The air duct in the rear windscreen? I wonder if it is effective or just for looks, is this where the supercharger would breath from? if so, could have done a better job. Lastly, a Lambo is NOT an Audi. It shares interior switchgear and panelling, that's it, nothing more.Irrespective of your limited knowledge, that's where the similarity starts and ends.
Xanavi23
September 12, 2008 5:54 AM
For the Record, there's nothing wrong with Audi, they have proven themselves on the race track...LONG before they wen't to Le Mans in various forms of competition.
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