THE LAST OF US
BBC TopGear India|April 2024
The Audi R8 is no more. TG was there to witness the final build, and we couldn't help but get involved...
GREG POTTS
THE LAST OF US

It’s 5am on an industrial estate just outside the city of Heilbronn in southern Germany. Never let it be said that this job isn’t glamourous. And yet, despite the smokestack location, the day is set to be filled with fanfare.

It begins with a proper Stars in their Eyes moment, as the painted bodyshell of a Vegas Yellow Audi R8 rises up from the basement below and is then rapidly revealed by an overdramatic garage door. Just missing the smoke machines.

Of course, I wouldn’t be out of bed at this time to watch any old R8 get pieced together, but this is the last ever car. Yep, after two generations and 18 years of production, it’s the end of the road for Audi’s internal combustion-engined supercar. Over 45,000 examples have been built since its introduction in 2006, and while the name could possibly appear on a future flagship EV, the R8 as we know it is soon to be dead.

The factory is Audi’s small Böllinger Höfe plant. Although we say small there are still 41,000 square metres of production space and around 1,500 employees. The R8 has been built here since the place opened in 2014, but in 2020 the e-tron GT muscled itself onto the same line and ensured that the dominant sound in these halls is of tyre squeal on polished floors rather than the echo of V10s.

Speaking of engines, I’d assumed that the Lambo-developed 5.2-litre V10 would come straight from Audi’s plant in Hungary ready to be plugged in to the middle of the R8’s carbon and aluminium spaceframe, but stumbling across the engine room it’s clear that isn’t the case. In fact, over 100 extra bits need to be fitted to each engine before it’s ready to meet its chassis.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2024-Ausgabe von BBC TopGear India.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2024-Ausgabe von BBC TopGear India.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS BBC TOPGEAR INDIAAlle anzeigen
THE FOUR FACES OF MUMBAI
BBC TopGear India

THE FOUR FACES OF MUMBAI

How the Tata Nexon Matches Your City Vibe

time-read
2 Minuten  |
May 2024
KANYAKUMARI TO KASHMIR
BBC TopGear India

KANYAKUMARI TO KASHMIR

Everyone is out to find an alternative to petrol or diesel. Could this be yours?

time-read
5 Minuten  |
May 2024
FROM CITY STREETS TO SNOW-CAPPED PEAKS
BBC TopGear India

FROM CITY STREETS TO SNOW-CAPPED PEAKS

The summer sun beat down mercilessly, a stark contrast to the yearning for cool mountain air.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
May 2024
2024 MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT - Still Swifty without a cylinder
BBC TopGear India

2024 MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT - Still Swifty without a cylinder

Most of us know or are accustomed to Swift.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
May 2024
2024 FORCE GURKHA - Terrain Tamer
BBC TopGear India

2024 FORCE GURKHA - Terrain Tamer

The Gurkha's story began in 1987 with the introduction of India's first indigenous utility vehicle.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
May 2024
DUBAI - Revving Up the Luxe
BBC TopGear India

DUBAI - Revving Up the Luxe

A Tesla picks you up from the airport - that's Dubai for you. TopGear India embarked on a quest to uncover the finest cars and indulge in extraordinary experiences during our recent visit to Dubai.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
May 2024
LAUNCH CONTROL
BBC TopGear India

LAUNCH CONTROL

Tesla has finally unlocked the Cybertruck's off-road potential. We grab a rival and head to the desert for a baptism of fire...

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
May 2024
QUESTION OF SPORT
BBC TopGear India

QUESTION OF SPORT

The standard Ioniq 5 N sweeps the hot hatch title, and now there's an even racier version. Can it convince us electric motorsport isn't a total waste of time?

time-read
6 Minuten  |
May 2024
ASSAULT & BATTERY
BBC TopGear India

ASSAULT & BATTERY

The Taycan has always been quick, but Porsche just took things to a whole other level...

time-read
7 Minuten  |
May 2024
BRITS ABROAD
BBC TopGear India

BRITS ABROAD

Is the MG Cyberster a return to form for the Great British Roadster? Bizzarely, we had to travel to China to find out...

time-read
8 Minuten  |
May 2024