Supercar Engine Watch: R8 Upgrades To V10, Zonda Downgrades to V8
Autospies reports a probable reason for Audi's recently revealed R8 incenttives: an engine upgrade. The dons of Ingolstadt are looking to drop the Lamborghini Gallardo's V10 under the R8's freshly-minted hood. Sure, Sant'Agata may be embarrassed by all of the Audi-sourced components in its exotic whips, but that's not stopping Audi from raiding its corporate cousin's engine bin for a little go-fast. No one seems sure if the V10 will fully replace the V8, or if it will be offered as a higher performance trim (SR8? R8S?). But you can (supposedly) hear the extra cylinders by watching the video which seems to have sparked all this speculation here. Audi has yet to comment on the cylinder count speculation, so, caveat gawker. Meanwhile, the Pagani Zonda is "downgrading" from its AMG-sourced V12 to the McLaren-Mercedes SLR AMG SVP ASAP STAT's kompressor V8. AMG is phasing out its V12s, and the V8 in question ups the ante-matter from 540hp to 680hp (as well as improving fuel efficiency). Check out the prototype next-gen Zonda here.
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I think I said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again: putting the Gallardo V10 in the R8 is like putting Pam Anderson's boobs on Jessica Alba - sometimes less is more.
A diesel would have been so much better for Audi.
If Zonda wants to win races, a V8 and it's lower weight/complexity/ fuel burn are a big advantage. V12s are great in prototype classes, but aside of the Astons, does anybody else know about a current, successful racing GT V12? I was under the impression that the successful Ferraris were the F430s
The problem with the Zonda V12 is not that AMG will be phasing out them in the future - The 7.3L engine the Zonda uses was only available until the 2001 model year in the old (R129) SL73 AMG. So that's when production for this engine was phased out - every engine Pagani uses in Zonda production is more or less "new old stock". The supercharged V8 would be similar, as it's only available in the G55 and SLR now.