The new Audi R8 Facelift has made its European debut at the Paris Motor Show 2012. The updated model has shown its face officially in July. The LED headlights and the new rear indicator lights with dynamicized display are now standard equipment on all variants. In the 10-cylinder variants the blades extend outwards farther than on the V8 and have special edging; small marks of distinction also occur at the sills.
Other new details are a single-frame grille with the beveled upper corners painted high-gloss black and horizontal chrome inserts. The bumper is also new, with the air inlets bearing three crossbars each. As an option, Audi installs a front splitter made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Audi offers the R8 in the two solid colors Ibis White and Brilliant Red, in four metallic shades and with five pearl effect / crystal effect coatings.
Two power transmission systems are available for the overhauled Audi R8. The manual six-speed transmission, with its lever leading into an open stainless steel gate, is standard on the V8 and optional on the V10. The new seven-speed S tronic – optional on the V8 and standard on the V10 – spaces the gears closely in a sporty mode; the final drive position has a wide gear ratio.
The overhauled R8 rolls along on large wheels. The V8 engine versions have the standard wheel dimensions of 8.5Jx18 at the front and 10.5Jx18 at the rear, with tire sizes 235/40 and 285/35. On the V10 versions Audi mounts 19 inch wheels of widths 8.5 and 11 inches; the tires come in the sizes 235/35 and 295/30 respectively.