Intelligent technology 134Rear spoilerThe automatic rear spoiler increases the car's stability.The rear spoiler can be extended or retracted manually or automat-
ically.
Automatic mode (normal operation)•
Automatic extension: The rear spoiler is automatically extended
at road speeds above approximately 100 km/h.
•
Automatic retraction: The rear spoiler is automatically retracted
at road speeds below approximately 35 km/h.
Manual mode
•
Manual extension: Press the switch ⇒page 134, fig. 111 briefly
to extend the rear spoiler all the way out.
•
Manual retraction: At road speeds up to about 20 km/h, press
and hold the switch to retract the rear spoiler. At road speeds
between 20 km/h and 100 km/h, press the switch briefly to retract
the rear spoiler all the way back.
Manual mode will be deactivated for up to 2.5 minutes after 15
extension and retraction cycles. The system switches to automatic
mode at road speeds above approximately 100 km/h.
WARNING
•
If the rear spoiler warning lamp lights up, the rear spoiler may
have failed to extend. In this case, the car's handling may be
different at high speeds. We recommend you not to exceed 140
km/h. Drive to a qualified workshop as soon as possible and have
the fault corrected.
•
When extending or retracting the rear spoiler, please make sure
that no persons or objects are close to the moving spoiler - risk of
injury!Caution
•
If you need to push the vehicle, never put your weight on the rear
spoiler - Risk of damage!
•
Do not operate the rear spoiler manually when the engine lid is
open - Risk of damage!Note
Clean the rear spoiler housing every 2 to 3 months. The rear spoiler
housing must be free of ice, snow and leaves in order to operate
correctly.BrakesNew brake pads
New brake pads do not give full braking effect for the first 400 km,
they must first be “bedded in”. However, you can compensate for
the slightly reduced braking effect by applying more pressure on
the brake pedal. Avoid placing a heavy load on the brakes during the
running-in period.
Fig. 111 Switch for
rear spoiler
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Intelligent technology 136front wheels is not obstructed, otherwise the brakes can overheat. Power steeringThe power steering assists the driver when turning the
steering wheel (with the engine running).The power steering assists the driver by reducing the force needed
to turn the steering wheel.
The power steering does not function when the engine is switched
off. In this case the steering wheel is very hard to turn.
If the steering is held at its turning limit when the car is stationary,
this will place an excessive load on the power steering system. In
this case, the power steering system will make noises. It will also
reduce the idling speed of the engine.
Caution
Do not keep the steering in the full-lock position for longer than
15 seconds when the engine is running – this could cause damage
to the power steering system.
Note
•
If the power steering should fail at any time or the engine is
switched off (for instance when being towed), the car can still be
steered. However, more effort will be required to turn the steering
wheel.
•
If the system is leaking or malfunctioning, please take the car to
a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
•
The power steering requires a special hydraulic fluid. The
container for the fluid is located in the engine compartment. The
correct fluid level in the reservoir is important for the power
steering to function properly. The hydraulic fluid level is checked at
the Inspection Service.
Four-wheel drive (quattro®)On quattro models the engine power is distributed to all
four wheelsGeneral notes
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the engine power is distributed to all
four wheels. The distribution of power is controlled automatically
according to your driving style and the road conditions. Also refer
to ⇒page 132.
Winter tyres
Thanks to its four-wheel drive, your car will have plenty of traction
in winter conditions, even with the standard tyres. Nevertheless, we
still recommend that winter tyres should be fitted on all four wheels
when winter road conditions are expected, mainly because this will
give a better braking response.
Snow chains
On roads where snow chains are mandatory, this also applies to cars
with four-wheel drive ⇒page 171, “Snow chains”.
Replacing tyres
The dimensions of the wheels and tyres used on four-wheel drive
vehicles must comply with the manufacturer's specifications
⇒page 168, “Replacing wheels and tyres”.
WARNING
•
Even with four-wheel drive, you should always adjust your
speed to suit the conditions. Do not let the extra safety provided
tempt you into taking any risks when driving – this can cause acci-
dents.
•
The braking ability of your car is limited by the grip of the tyres.
In this respect, your car is no different from a car without four-
wheel drive. So do not be tempted to drive too fast on icy or slip-
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Your vehicle and the environment139
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Sporty drivingLetting the engine warm up and cool downYou can reduce the amount of wear and tear on your vehicle during
a sporty driving session simply by adopting a more restrained
driving style while the engine is warming up and cooling down.
You should allow the engine to warm up by keeping the engine
speed below 7000 rpm until the engine oil reaches at least 90 °C. In
addition, the tyres will not develop their full grip potential until they
have had a chance to warm up on the road.
Even though the engine continues to be cooled after you switch it
off, it is particularly important to give it time to cool down before
parking. The engine, brakes, exhaust system and gearbox will all
reach very high temperatures when you adopt a sporty driving style.
Before you park the vehicle, allow it to cool down to normal temper-
ature by driving at moderate rpm speeds for several miles.Driving on a racing circuitBefore you take your car out on a racing circuit, please ensure that
it is in perfect condition. You should check the tyre tread and brake
pads for wear. It's also a good idea to increase the tyre pressure by
0.3 bar.
The oil consumption may be slightly higher than “normal” when
driving on a racing circuit ⇒page 157.
You should always check your vehicle after driving hard. Are the
brake pads ok? Do you notice any problems with the tyres (e.g. tread
worn, blistering, etc.)? Are the air intakes free of leaves and
deposits? Is the oil level ok?
Your Audi R8 dealer will be glad to carry out an inspection before
and after you use the car on a racing circuit.
Note
•
Some racing circuits (e.g. with banked curves) can affect the
behaviour of the ESP.
•
Driving the car on a racing circuit places a heavy load on all parts
of the vehicle. This can result in increased wear and tear.
Environmental compatibilityEnvironmental protection is a top priority in the design, choice of
materials and production of your new Audi. Particular importance
has been attached to the following aspects:
Design measures for economical recycling•
Joints and connections designed for ease of dismantling
•
Modular construction to facilitate dismantling
•
Increased use of single-grade materials
•
Plastic parts and elastomers are labelled in accordance with ISO
1043, ISO 11469 and ISO 1629
Choice of materials
•
Nearly all materials used can be recycled
•
Similar types of plastics grouped together for easy recycling
•
Recycled materials used in manufacture
•
Reduced vapour emissions from plastics
•
CFC-free refrigerant in air conditioner
Compliance with the laws prohibiting the use of:
•
Cadmium
•
Asbestos
•
Lead
•
Mercury
•
Chrome VI
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Wheels and tyres 170•
If wheel trims are fitted after the car is purchased, ensure that
there is an adequate flow of air for cooling the brakes.For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to the laws in the country
concerned.
Note
•
Tyres with the “R0” mark are specially matched to your Audi. We
recommend that you use these tyres only. Your Audi R8 dealer or
specialist retailer will gladly provide you with further information.
•
Never mount used tyres if you are not sure of their previous
history.
•
For technical reasons it is not normally possible to use wheel
rims from other vehicles. In some cases this also applies to rims
from other vehicles of the same model.
Wheel bolts
The wheel bolts are designed to suit the rims on your car.The wheel bolts are matched to the rims. When installing different
wheels (for instance alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres) it is
important to use the correct wheel bolts with the right length and
correctly shaped bolt heads. This is essential for the secure fit of the
wheels and for the proper function of the brake system.
Audi R8 dealers have full information on the technical requirements
when installing or changing tyres, rims or wheel trims.
The wheel bolts should be clean and turn easily.
A special adapter is required to turn the anti-theft wheel bolts*
⇒page 182.
Winter tyres
Winter tyres will significantly improve the car's handling
in winter road conditions.–Use only radial ply winter tyres.
– Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
– Only use winter tyres of the correct type approved for
your vehicle.
– Please note that the maximum permissible speed for
winter tyres may be lower than for summer tyres.
– Also note that winter tyres are no longer effective when
the tread is worn down.
– After fitting the wheels you must always check the tyre
pressures. The correct tyre pressures are listed on the
sticker on the driver's door pillar ⇒page 167.In winter road conditions winter tyres will considerably improve the
car's handling. Due to their type of construction (width, rubber
compound, tread pattern), summer tyres give less grip on ice and
snow. This applies particularly to vehicles equipped with wide
section tyres or high speed tyres (code letters H, V or Y on the side-
wall).
Only use winter tyres of the correct type approved for your vehicle.
The sizes of the winter tyres approved for your vehicle are listed in
the vehicle's documents (e.g. EC Certificate of Conformity or COC
document
3)). The vehicle documents vary depending on the
country of residence. Also refer to ⇒page 168.
Winter tyres are no longer fully effective when the tread is worn
down to a depth of 4 mm.
WARNING (continued)
3)COC = Certificate of conformity
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Fuses and bulbs 192
Some of the items listed are only fitted on certain models or are
optional extras.
The electric windows and electric seat adjusters are protected by
circuit breakers. These reset automatically after a few seconds
when the overload (caused for example by frozen windows) has
been corrected.
Note
Please note that the above list, while correct at the time of printing,
is subject to alterations.
Row
No
Electrical equipment
amps
1
Vacant
--
2
Vacant
--
3
Auxiliary water pump
10
4
Optional equipment
5
5
Power supply, terminal 15, starter
30
6
Pump for brake servo
15
7
Horn
20
8
Wiper motor
30
9
Wiper motor
30
10
Headlight washer system
30
11
Electrically heated rear window
30
12
Electrical sockets and cigarette lighter
20
Fuse row -E-
AE
Row
No
Electrical equipment
amps
1
Electronic stabilisation program
10
2
Electronic stabilisation program
25
3
Vacant
--
4
Vacant
--
5
Control unit for convenience electronics
20
6
Control unit for convenience electronics
20
7
Level sensor (ASS), anti-theft alarm
5
8
Air conditioner
10
9
Seat heating
25
10
Lumbar support
10
11
Electric windows
30
12
Control unit for doors
10
Fuse row -F-
AF
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Index 206Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Switching on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Locking and unlocking the vehicle from in-
side
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Locking passenger's door manually . . . . . 46
Long periods of non-use
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
LongLife Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Luggage lid
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Manual release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48MMain beam headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 56
Make-up mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Manual operation
Fuel tank flap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Luggage lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Maximum speed
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Menu button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Menu display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Menu, changing settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mileage recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Mirrors
Anti-dazzle setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Automatic anti-dazzle exterior mirrors 64
Automatic anti-dazzle interior mirror . 63
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Interior mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Make-up mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Mobile phones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
NNatural leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
No R gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38OOctane rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Oil
SeeEngine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Oil consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
On-board computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Opening
Engine lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Outside temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9PPaint damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Paint No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Parking
R tronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Parking lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Parking the car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Performance figures
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Performance, weights and dimensions . 198
Personalised remote control key . . . . . . . 41
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Polishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Pollen filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Pollution filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Pressure (tyres) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
QQuartz clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
quattro
SeeFour-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136RR tronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Backup programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Kick-down feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Launch control programme . . . . . . . . . 93
Manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Steering wheel with paddle levers . . . 93
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