{"id":23888,"date":"2020-03-23T13:00:22","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T12:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autodesignmagazine.com\/?p=23888\/"},"modified":"2020-03-23T11:34:06","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T10:34:06","slug":"design-history-audi-r8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autodesignmagazine.com\/en\/2020\/03\/design-history-audi-r8\/","title":{"rendered":"DESIGN HISTORY | AUDI R8"},"content":{"rendered":"

AUDI R8, ELEGANT POWER<\/strong>
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Where do we start? With Walter de\u2019 Silva\u2019s definition as \u201ca car that is neither arrogant nor vulgar, but which stands out for its elegance\u201d? Or with the official Audi line as \u201cour first mid-engined sports car that combines the experience earned in countless racing victories with the innovative design and technological expertise of Audi\u201d? However, the truth about this car can probably be read more clearly in the eyes of the thousands of spectators who tacitly voted this as one of the most beautiful new models presented at Paris.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Low and short, but wide enough to look purposeful on the road, from whichever angle you look at it the R8 \u201clooks like it is tensing its muscles in readiness \u2013 they say at Ingolstadt \u2013 like a sprinter on the starting blocks\u201d. The car was developed from the Le Mans prototype of three years ago \u201cbut without betraying any aspect of the original concept\u201d, adds De\u2019 Silva, director of design for the Audi Group: \u201cThe car has been redesigned and refined to express sports character, technology and elegance.\u201d De\u2019 Silva places emphasis on the final word: \u201cElegance is a concept that I am convinced is set to slowly make a comeback even in this sector. Indeed the great masters \u2013 Pininfarina, Bertone and Giugiaro \u2013 have always made extremely elegant sports cars. Today there\u2019s a little too much overstatement.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Audi culture, however, demands an ability to create detail and quality in every element. Whereas I like sculpted but clean cars. Our models today \u2013 and the R8 is no exception \u2013 are identifiable by their overall formal cleanliness and a bold personality, especially from the front. There is a lot of \u2018Italianness\u2019 in the R8 and much emphasis on volumes and surfaces. I also hope that I have put some of my own personality into the car.\u201d Mid-engined cars are generally inspired by motorsports. \u201cThis is the first that my team and I have ever designed \u2013 remarks De\u2019 Silva \u2013 so we also had to make a conscious effort to steer clear of these conventions. Gaping air intakes and lots of strained references to racing? No, there was no room for all this on the Audi R8. The merits and performance of the car lie in its engine, the exterior had to express elegance and class. This is why, paradoxically, there is no correlation with the racing Audi in terms of design.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Leather and Alcantara dominate an interior structured around the driver in a philosophy of form following function: that\u2019s not to say, however, that it is as spartan as a race car, but, rather, that it is defined by linearity and simplicity \u2013 with the exception of the carbon fibre inserts echoing the styling of the exterior. \u201cWe could not leave out an element of comfort\u201d, explains De\u2019 Silva, \u201cas we believe that the R8 is a car to be driven every day, not just on the weekend. Two suitcases can fit in the front luggage compartment, along with a suit bag and a shoe case. Two more suitcases can fit behind the seats or \u2013 to cater for the American market \u2013 two golf bags.\u201d Much painstaking work has gone into the details, and alongside De\u2019 Silva on the project were Gert Pfefferle, Audi design director until a few months ago, \u2026 Lamberti for the exterior, Carsten Monneryan for the interior and Andreu Sola for the lights, wheels and engine bay. Is De\u2019 Silva happy with the results? \u201cIf I were to put the R8 next to the original concept, I\u2019d actually say that it looks even better\u201d, answers de\u2019 Silva.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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