Audi India launches R8 LMX supercar at Rs 2.97 crore

Audi has opened 2015 by launching its most powerful as well as the fastest road car, the limited edition Audi R8 LMX in India. The supercar, which delivers breathtaking performance and groundbreaking technology, is the first production car with laser high beam lighting in India. The R8 LMX is priced at Rs 2.97 crore (ex-showroom Delhi/Mumbai.

The Audi R8 is the dynamic, top‑of‑the‑line Audi model. Its high-revving, mid‑mounted engine, double wishbone suspension and ASF (Audi Space Frame) aluminium body are closely based on racing. The R8 LMX is available as a coupe with a production run limited to 99 vehicles. With 570bhp and 540 Nm of torque, its 5.2 litre, V10 engine accelerates the car from 0 to 100kph in just 3.4 seconds. Top speed is 320kph and average consumption is 12.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (299 grams CO2 per kilometre).  A compact, seven‑speed S tronic transfers the power to the quattro permanent all‑wheel-drive system. 19‑inch wheels are combined with carbon‑fibre ceramic brake discs, which up front measure 380 millimetres (15.0 in) in diameter. The R8 LMX is shod with 235/35 R19 tyres up front and 305/30 R 19 tyres at the rear.

“What better way to celebrate another record year at Audi than bringing in a car which denotes our claim of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ – the new Audi R8 LMX. The combination of LED and laser high beam lighting was used for the first time on the new R18 e‑tron quattro at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year. Audi is thus continuing its tradition of using racing to test new technologies destined for production. The limited-edition R8 LMX is the first production car in India to come equipped with laser high beam lighting, a particularly brilliant innovation integrated in a sports car. The R8 LMX, which is beautiful to look at and marvelous to drive, thrills with intelligent lightweight engineering, impressive design and breathtaking driving performance right from the word go. We are positive that the R8 LMX will excite Audi enthusiasts and add more fans into the ever-growing Audi fan base,” said Joe King, head, Audi India.

The laser beam lights are activated at a speed of 60kph and above. The laser light spots offer a higher range of visibility enhancing the safety aspect. One laser module per headlight generates a cone of light with twice the range of the all-LED headlight. Each module comprises four high-power laser diodes. With a diameter of just 300 micrometres, these generate a blue laser beam with a wavelength of 450 nanometres. A phosphor converter transforms this into roadworthy white light with a colour temperature of 5,500 Kelvin – ideal conditions for the human eye that enable the driver to recognize contrast more easily and help prevent fatigue. Fitted with an intelligent camera based sensor system, the headlamps also detect other road users and actively adjust the light pattern to avoid dazzle.

“Audi has always been at the forefront in lighting technologies and was the first luxury car manufacturer to bring LED headlights in India. Last year, we introduced matrix headlamps in our flagship model, theA8 L – again a first by any luxury car manufacturer in the country – direct evolution of Audi’s signature LED headlights delivering a phenomenal 966,105,422 different illumination configurations. The introduction of the laser headlight to the Audi R8 LMX underscores our leading position in lighting technology,” added King.