The Iron Man Mobile

That’s right. Many a motion picture fanatic will probably recognize the new Audi R8 as the car that Robert Downey, Jr. drove as Tony Stark in the blockbuster film adaptation of Iron Man. In truth, the new Audi R8 has a much more storied history on the racetracks of Europe – particularly the famed Le Mans circuit in southern France. The original R8, a five-time winner at the Le Mans 24 hour race, is the most successful sports car prototype to have competed in the legendary circuit – and its DNA is evident in the road car now available for orders at the PGA Cars showroom located along EDSA.

The production model retains both the mid-engine design and the fast revving V8 power plant of the R8 race car. It features a 420 horsepower 32-valve FSI gasoline direct injection engine and sequential R tronic transmission with steering wheel operation. And while the famed Audi quattro all-wheel drive technology is not permitted for use in race cars, the production R8 features said technology as standard. This promises a unique combination of brawn (0-100kmh in a mere 4.2 seconds!) and superior road handling.

The R8’s design is just as exciting. The car is both wide and long with accentuated wheel arches and air intakes that are both functional and visually imposing. Coupled with the now familiar single frame front grille, it looks every bit more aggressive than the average Audi. From the side, it’s almost sinister with a “sideblade” that acts as a spoiler as well as a visual accent that emphasizes the car’s mid-engine design. And, typical of Audi, there’s substantial detail given to appraising the car’s light design. Optional all-LED headlamps, which resembles daylight even more than either xenon or halogen lamps do, promise to ease the R8 driver’s eye fatigue to levels previously unheard of.

The R8’s body is also an interesting study in innovation. The R8’s aluminum Audi Space Frame body, which is lightweight yet still highly rigid, weighs a mere 210 kg. Its shape, meanwhile, has been improved so much by Audi’s aerodynamics experts that the car’s body actually produces down force – which increases the R8’s stability at high speeds. It’s mind boggling in its ingenuity.

The smart attention to detail continues in the R8’s interior, which can be aptly described as both sporty yet elegant. The most prominent element inside the car is most likely the large arch that encompasses the steering wheels and the car’s instruments, which provides the driver with a direct visceral connection to the machine. The car’s comparatively long wheelbase (2.65 meters) then allows for ideal seating positions, whatever the driver’s body type may be. Finally, the finishing quality of the R8’s crisp leather upholstery is tip-top, making the car’s interior appointments a visual and tactile achievement.

So, if you wonder why Iron Man seemed to have loved his Audis so much, be inquisitive no more. The character of Tony Stark is one patterned after a billionaire who demands nothing less than the absolute best. Given the on-paper qualities of the Audi R8, you might even now argue that it’s the kind of car the genius inventor would have designed himself. Or, in case you still need further convincing, you might want to consider the R8’s history and racing lineage. Five 24 hour Le Mans wins? If there were an Iron Car for Iron Man award, the R8 would still be the hands down choice!

For more information on the new Audi R8, feel free to visit the PGA Cars Audi Center showroom at 201 EDSA, Mandaluyong City. You may also call them at 727-0381 to 85.