Twin Turbo V10 R8 Canned: Combusts into Flames Too Much

[HeilSvenska]

Well. At least it answers one question. Remember the R8 prototype that was destroyed in a fire earlier this year?

Some of us thought that it was a diesel R8 and so forth. It turns out that it was a twin turbo V10 version of the R8, or RS8. And apparently it causes it to catch fire. So. No 600hp RS8 from Audi. Which also means the most powerful R8 will probably be no more powerful than a Gallardo.

When we first wrote about the burned out Audi R8 in the picture above, we mentioned scuttlebutt saying it was a test mule. Now, Quattro GmbH director Werner Frowein reveals that it was indeed an RS8 test mule, and that the problem was specifically due to the turbos of its V10 powerplant getting too hot in the mid-engined layout. Based on the best translation we can find of the Dutch article, Frowein says (or at least we think he says) that putting the twin-turbo V10 in the R8 is out of the question, and that they are instead working on a normally-aspirated V10 with a little more than 500 HP. -Autoblog via German Car Blog

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by mrmojo77 What, Veyron has 4 turbos in a mid-engine layout. Is it so hard to put two of them in R8 chassis?

And 10 radiators.

[acmarttin]

Rs8 W12

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by acmarttin Rs8 W12

You see, that's not much better either because the normally aspirated W12 doesn't make that much more power than the 4.2L V8. I'm sure lot more torque over the rev band, but a lot heavier and thirstier.

And the more powerful version uses... a twin turbo set up, so we're back to square one... with a bigger fire.

[RC45]

They could always just buy some 427ci push rod V8's - they dont run hot

[ZfrkS62]

Originally Posted by mrmojo77 What, Veyron has 4 turbos in a mid-engine layout. Is it so hard to put two of them in R8 chassis? Well, the NA V10 sure makes a nice rumble and it should be sweet to listen in RS8.

and 16 cylinders. So essentially you are running 4, turbo-charged 4 bangers. or 2 twin turboed straight 8 engines. Neither of which generate the heat of 5 cylinders feeding a single turbo. The midengine layout doesn't give much in the way of airflow through the engine compartment. My guess is that due to designs, the turbos are sitting in VERY close proximity to many a combustible objects.

The only real hope for this would probably be supercharging the motor and avoiding the extreme heat generated by turbos. Or remote mounting the turbos behind the gearbox, keeping it away from most of the engine compartment.

[79TA]

Originally Posted by RC45 They could always just buy some 427ci push rod V8's - they dont run hot

lol

it's LS7 time! . . . or maybe LS9? hmm, that reminds me of how I'd like to build one of those deathtrap Factory Five super cars.

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by 79TA lol it's LS7 time! . . . or maybe LS9? hmm, that reminds me of how I'd like to build one of those deathtrap Factory Five super cars.

You mean this?
http://www.factoryfive.com/photogall...7gtm/cost.html

[79TA]

Yes, that, a camshaft, and a some turbo goodies . . .

[JoeHahn]

Originally Posted by HeilSvenska You see, that's not much better either because the normally aspirated W12 doesn't make that much more power than the 4.2L V8. I'm sure lot more torque over the rev band, but a lot heavier and thirstier. And the more powerful version uses... a twin turbo set up, so we're back to square one... with a bigger fire.

You forget the W12 Nardo that has 600bhp+ NA from the W12?

[RC45]

Wow - one would hope you could get 600bhp from 12 cylinder - my puney little home grown V8 puts out 660bhp normally aspirated...

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by JoeHahn You forget the W12 Nardo that has 600bhp+ NA from the W12?

That's an expensive version unique to the concept, isn't it? The most powerful version on the W12 in production as far as I know is the one in the Spyker C12 LaTurbie, which makes 500hp. If it's like that, might as well get a lighter V10 from the Gallardo. Does a W12 even fit in an R8? It's supposed to be smaller than a conventional V12, but 12 cylinder engines are still huge...

[Svensson]

Originally Posted by RC45 Wow - one would hope you could get 600bhp from 12 cylinder - my puney little home grown V8 puts out 660bhp normally aspirated...

True, but I bet the problem is not to produce that much power, but making it properly drivable for everyone, reliable enough and still doing it within the limits of the emission regulations.

Now you sure have created a real monster with "Camzilla", no doubt about that, but I'm not sure that an engine like that complies to those points enough to be used in a production supercar from a big car company like VAG... Or GM for that matter...

[Svensson]

More news from EVO

Super-R8’s V10 to be based on RS4/R8 V8 and will offer over 500bhp.

The ultimate version of Audi’s R8 is hardly a secret any more, but a few more details of the flagship model have emerged recently. Confirming our earlier news story, the V10 engine will be completely new and not related to the V10s in either the RS6 or the Lamborghini Gallardo. Instead it is essentially a development of the high-revving V8 from the RS4 and R8. Engineers tell us that this new engine will shade BMW’s 500bhp M Power V10 – as found in the M5 and M6 – in terms of outright power and revs. Considering BMW’s figures, that means the new 5.2-litre engine should be good for around 520bhp and rev beyond 8250rpm. We’ll have to wait a little longer than expected before we get to drive the V10 R8 though, as Audi has decided to delay its introduction due to the higher than expected demand for the current R8. We don’t expect the V10 version to be released until late in 2008, but from what we’re hearing, it should be worth the extra wait.

[ae86_16v]

^ Should be a good engine, even without the extra 60-80bhp.