What's improved besides engine cooling due to the mid-engine layout? Any additional power/torque?

 

Engine cooling is degraded in a mid-engine platform. Nothing is better for engine cooling than being placed right up front and center.

 

I was talking about the comparison of the R8 to cars like the 430 and GT3 which are much harder to drive at the limit. Even the TT handles much more like a rwd car then the R8 or any Audi for that matter quattro gives sooo much power to the front wheels. My point was their is an obvious correlation between the lap times and the relative ease with which each can be driven at the limit. I bet the 996TT is faster than the 997GT3 if two normal people are driving, but you put someone like Tiff in or any race car driver I suspect the result would be different. AWD makes slow people fast, RWD makes fast people faster.

Now I am sure there are a few exceptions, but most of the time this is true.

 

Please note that there is a difference in all these "quattro" systems. Same branding, different systems.

I think the R8 uses the Gallardo system. I am not sure but I think almost 100% can go to the rear wheels. Someone with better memory than myself?

 

It was my understanding that the R8 starts out at 60/40 R/f and it can send more to the rear or front depending on the conditions and which tires have grip. Porsche used to be 95/5 R/f, and I think it's still that way on the 997. Now either way go drive any audi and go drive a 911 and I will be very surprised if you don't the 911 acts more like a RWD car than the R8.

 

I may not care for the styling of the R8, and I didn't give it any thought when I ordered my 997TT, but I think it's great that Audi has produced such a good car that will be competition for Porsche. More competition = better Porsches for us, the consumers.

 

Yeah it might be improved but it has the same HP rating as a A4 with the same motor. I for one would have liked to see it have more HP just for the sake of saying it has more HP than the RS4 motor and therefore isn't exactly the same motor.

 

the rs4 motor is no engine to scoff at.

 

weights much less.

 

review of the R8 from clarkson. no not kelly. http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol...cle1869881.ece

 

Evo magazine is one of the most devpted porsche mags put there..well its not a porsche mag,but usually if they put a porsche in a test it wins.
Regardless of that...Autocar and Auto und Sport have all lapped an R8 on their own test circuit..and in each case it has beaten..the 997tt ,and the gt3 and an 06 gallardo.
To try and deny it is faster round a track is quite frankly ludicrous.
It sounds like an amazing car,but I wont be changing my turbo for one...well not until I see how good the forthcoming v10 is going to be.
Audi should be congratulated ,the first manufactuirer to make a car that in terms of dynamics and useability matches a 911.
Hopefully Porsche will rise to the challenge and the next generation of 911s should be extraordinary.

 

it's like a more powerful cayman. nice idea and good execution. Not feeling the styling but otherwise pretty darn good.

 

I agree. Although if they put in a TT V10 and lightened it up with a special track version, I'd have to reconsider my 997 GT2 order A modded TT V10 would be cool

 

+1
Taste is taste. Technique is technique. Thanks.