New Donkervoort D8 GTO gets Audi TT RS's 2.5-liter Turbo with up to 400-Horses

It's been two and a half years in the making but Donkervoort Automobielen has finally unleashed its next generation sports car, the new D8 GTO.

The long-nosed roadster was developed in close collaboration with Audi Quattro GmbH, which provided a modified version of the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five found under the hood of the RS3 and TT RS.

According to Donkervoort, the 2.5 TFSI has undergone a diet and lost 30 kg or 66 pounds over the standard Audi variant.

"This weight savings is obtained by redesigning several accessory parts of the motor together with the Audi technicians," says Joop Donkervoort, founder of the Dutch brand.

"For example, amongst others a new intake manifold was developed. Because the intake follows a more favorable route through the motor area it is not only lighter, but has a favorable effect on the achievements of the motor as well," he added.

According to Donkervoort, a special race module switch on the dashboard allows the driver to increase the 2.5 TFSI's output from 340HP to 400 HP.

To accommodate the bigger engine, the GTO is a size larger than its predecessors, the GT Coupe and the D8 270RS roadster, measuring about 350mm (13.8-in.) longer and 150mm (5.9-in.) wider.

The Dutch company says that the GTO shares only 5 percent of the parts with the D8 270RS and about 30 percent with the much more recent GT Coupe. The sports model is built on a tubular hybrid chassis made out of carbon fiber, aluminum and steel, and features a carbon composite body, which help keep the total weight down to around 700 kilos or about 1,550 pounds.

The GTO accelerates from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in just 3.0 seconds and can reach a top speed of 255km/h (159 mph).

Production of the new car will begin in 2012 with deliveries of a first batch of 25 limited edition models expected in the summer. The regular versions of the GTO will arrive in Europe in the beginning of 2013 with prices ranging from €100,000 and €150,000 [US$130,700 - US$196,00] excluding taxes.

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Audi Motorsport to Launch New R8 LMS Ultra for 2012 Season

How to replace a racing car, which won 115 victories and 12 national and international journals, only three years? The answer is simple: do not. Carefully updated so that it is still at the top of its class.

This is the challenge for Audi Quattro GmbH engineers had to develop a more competitive version of the R8 LMS successfully called Ultra.

The Executive Director of the Division, Werner Frowein, said: "Our client teams have provided valuable suggestions and stated preferences for the various areas where the car is used, we analyzed them, and threw R8 LMS for further development in many details.. "

The first of the "to do list" was to reduce vehicle weight. The new doors in CFRP (plastic fiber reinforced carbon) in combination with high-energy foam shaving accident new books, while at the same time, the new head PS1, which increases the degree of passive safety.

Next up was the beginning. R8 LMS Ultra is a higher-inch front wheels (12 - and 11-inch) and General 30-65/18 Michelin tires.

Bilstein has developed a new, lighter compression and rebound adjustable shock absorbers, while the rubber pads to stop the silence transverse control arms are now Uniball joints and optimized for cooling of the front wheels for better durability during the race.

The 5.2-liter mid-mounted V10 is based on the production unit of the car and, according to the regulations, provides up to 570HP, was equipped with a new exhaust system that features of catalytic converters and torque increases career at low revs.

On behalf of reliability, which is of utmost importance in endurance races, the quattro GmbH updated transmission and cooling system. The R8 LMS Ultra Sport large coolers engine oil and transmission fluids, side vents air to the engine enlarged to increased and better airflow to the radiator forward.

The refined aerodynamics complement the changes in the 2011 model. The R8 LMS Ultra has a wider front, which according to the rules for registration of each series can be equipped with blades.

The wind tunnel work has delivered a more effective for most wing in order to maximize support and minimize resistance in the rear, while facing a new face plate helps to achieve the aerodynamic balance optimally.

The new R8 LMS costs € 329,900.00 Ultra VAT and deliveries will begin in March 2012. Audi also the renewal of all of 2012 to all the runners actual R8 LMS.

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