Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro: Comparison against Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro: Comparison against Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Awesome comparison here of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro against the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. A must read for every car lover! And they made a video as well...enough said.

While the usability of the R8 remains intact, under the aluminum skin is an angrier, more tortured soul. From idle to the 8700-rpm redline, the R8 may sound more muffled than the Monza-ready Gallardo LP560-4, but the tone isn’t softened enough to hide the fact that a monster lurks behind the driver’s seat.

Our enthusiasm for the V-10 was probably helped along by the old-fashioned, honest-to-God manual transmission of our test car, a refreshing change from the computer-controlled, automated manual transmission that has become nearly omnipresent in this class of car. Guiding the shifter through the six-speed’s gates and using a clutch pedal provides direct, human control over the gearbox, making for a closer relationship with the V-10 than would paddle shifters alone. Exploiting the 525 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque is that much more satisfying without a layer of computer interference.