
4S1012721BA 
Lights and Vision 
  
  
ZA\ WARNING 
High beams can cause glare for other drivers, 
which increases the risk of an accident. For 
this reason, only use  the high beams or the 
headlight flasher when they will not create 
glare for other drivers. 
thee 
Applies to: vehicles with high beam assistant 
  
    
The high beam assistant automatically turns the 
high beams on or off depending on the surround- 
ing conditions. 
Asensor on the rearview mirror mount can detect 
light sources from other road users. The high 
beams switch on or off automatically depending 
on the position of vehicles driving ahead and on- 
coming vehicles, the vehicle speed, and other en- 
vironmental and traffic conditions. 
Activating high beam assistant 
Requirement: the light switch must be set to AU- 
TO, the low beams must be switched on and the 
high beam assistant must be switched on in the 
Infotainment system > page 44. 
> To activate the high beam assistant, press the 
lever forward @) > page 42, fig. 51. The 54 in- 
dicator light appears in the Infotainment sys- 
tem display and the high beams switch on/off 
automatically. The indicator light Fad turns on if 
the high beams were switched on. 
Switching the high beams on or off manually 
If the high beams did not switch on or off auto- 
matically as expected, you may switch them on or 
off manually instead: 
> To switch the high beams on manually, press 
the lever into position @). The ES indicator 
light turns on. 
> To switch the high beams off manually, pull the 
lever back @). The high beam assistant is deac- 
tivated. 
Operating the headlight flasher 
> To operate the headlight flasher when the high 
beam assistant is activated and high beams are 
switched off, pull the  lever back @). The high 
beam assistant remains active. 
Messages in Infotainment display 
High beam assistant: malfunction! See owner's 
manual 
Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer 
or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the 
malfunction repaired. You can still switch the 
high beams on or off manually. 
High beam assistant: currently unavailable. 
Camera view limited due to surroundings. See 
owner's manual 
The camera view is blocked, for example by a 
sticker or debris. 
The sensor is located between the interior rear- 
view mirror and the windshield. Do not place  any 
stickers 
in this area on the windshield. 
  
ZA WARNING 
High beam assistant is only intended to assist 
the driver. The driver is still responsible for 
controlling the headlights and switching them 
manually depending on  light and visibility 
conditions. It may be necessary to operate 
them manually in situations such as: 
— In adverse weather conditions such as fog, 
heavy rain, blowing snow or spraying water. 
— On roads where oncoming traffic may be 
partially obscured, such as expressways. 
— When there are road users that do not have 
sufficient lighting, such as bicyclers or vehi- 
cles with dirty tail lamps. 
—In tight curves and on steep hills. 
— In poorly lit areas. 
— With strong reflectors, such as signs. 
— If the area of the windshield near the sensor 
is fogged over, dirty, icy or covered with a 
sticker. 
       
G@) Tips 
The high beam assistant is deactivated if you 
manually switch the high beam high beam 
headlights on or off @) instead of waiting for 
the system to do it automatically. 
43  
![AUDI R8 COUPE 2020  Owners Manual Driving 
  
This message appears when you press the 
START ENGINE STOP] button while driving. 
  
      
Engine start system: malfunction! Please con- 
tact Service 
The engine automatic start system  AUDI R8 COUPE 2020  Owners Manual Driving 
  
This message appears when you press the 
START ENGINE STOP] button while driving. 
  
      
Engine start system: malfunction! Please con- 
tact Service 
The engine automatic start system](/manual-img/6/57639/w960_57639-63.png)
Driving 
  
This message appears when you press the 
START ENGINE STOP] button while driving. 
  
      
Engine start system: malfunction! Please con- 
tact Service 
The engine automatic start system has a mal- 
function. 
Drive immediately to an authorized Au- 
di dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to 
have the malfunction repaired. To start the en- 
gine, press and hold the [START ENGINE STOP 
button. 
  
       
Remote control key: hold back of key 
against the designated area. See owner's man- 
ual 
This message appears if there is no convenience 
key inside the vehicle or if the system does not 
recognize the key. The convenience key may not 
be recognized, for example, if it is covered by an 
object that disrupts the signal (such as a brief- 
case), or if the key battery is weak. Electronic de- 
vices such as cell phones can also interfere with 
the signal. 
To still be able to start or stop the engine, see 
=> page 62, Starting the engine when there is a 
malfunction. 
B Remote control key: key  not detected. Is the 
key 
still in the vehicle? 
The B indicator light turns on and this message 
appears if the convenience key was removed from 
the vehicle when the engine was running. If the 
convenience key is no longer in the vehicle, you 
cannot switch the ignition on or start the engine 
once you stop it. You also cannot lock the vehicle 
from the outside. 
Please press the brake  pedal 
This message appears if you do not press the 
brake  pedal when starting the engine. 
Please select N or P 
This message appears when starting or stopping 
the engine if the selector lever is not in the "N" or 
"P" position. The engine will not start/stop. 
62 
  
Starting the engine when there is  a 
area d ea) 
It may not be possible to start the engine under 
certain circumstances, for example, if the bat- 
tery in the vehicle key is drained, if interference is 
affecting the key or if there is a system malfunc- 
tion. 
2  3 
9 
db + a 
Fig. 70 Steering column/remote control key: starting the 
engine if there is a malfunction 
As long as the message ?) Remote control key: 
hold back of key against the designated area. 
See owner's manual is displayed, you can emer- 
gency start your vehicle. 
> Press the brake pedal. 
> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button. 
  
       
> Hold the master key in the location indicated in 
the illustration ?) © fig. 70. The engine will 
start. 
> If the engine does not automatically start, 
press the [START ENGINE STOP] button again. 
(i) Tips 
You can view the message again by pressing 
the [START ENGINE STOP] button. 
  
      
  
      
Start/Stop system 
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system 
The Start/Stop system can help increase fuel 
economy and reduce CO2 emissions. 
In Start/Stop mode, the engine shuts off auto- 
matically when the vehicle is stopped, such as at 
a traffic light. The ignition remains switched on 
during this stop phase. The engine will restart 
automatically when needed.  

4S1012721BA 
Driving 
  
Messages in the instrument cluster display 
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system 
Start/stop system: deactivated. Please start 
engine manually 
This message appears when specific conditions 
are not met during a Stop phase. The Start/Stop 
system will not be able to restart the engine. The 
engine must be started with the 
START ENGINE STOP] button. 
  
      
Start/stop system: malfunction! Function 
unavailable. Please contact Service 
There is a malfunction in the Start/Stop system. 
Drive the vehicle to an authorized Audi dealer or 
authorized Service Facility as soon as possible to 
have the malfunction corrected. 
Electromechanical 
parking brake 
The ©) switch is located under the selector lever 
in the center console. 
Your vehicle is equipped with an electromechani- 
cal parking brake. The parking brake is designed 
to prevent the vehicle from rolling unintentional- 
ly and replaces the hand brake. 
Setting/manually releasing the parking 
brake 
> Pull the @) switch to set the parking brake. The 
LED in the switch turns on. The Zw (USA mod- 
els)/[@) (Canada  models) indicator light also 
turns on in the instrument cluster display. 
> To release the parking brake manually, press 
the brake or accelerator pedal while the igni- 
tion is switched on and press the ©) switch at 
the same time. The  LED in the button and the 
indicator light in the display turn off. 
Releasing the parking brake automatically 
Requirement: The driver's door must be closed. 
> To start driving and release the parking brake 
automatically, press the accelerator pedal as 
usual. 
In addition to releasing the parking brake auto- 
matically, other convenience and safety functions 
are available when you start driving > page 66, 
Starting to drive. 
Emergency braking function 
You can  use the emergency braking function in an 
emergency situation, or if the standard brakes 
are malfunctioning or the pedal is obstructed. 
> Pull and hold the ©) switch. 
>» As soon as you release the (©) switch or acceler- 
ate, the braking stops. 
Pulling and holding the ©) switch while driving 
the vehicle activates the emergency braking func- 
tion. The hydraulic brake system will brake all 
four wheels. The braking effect is similar to heavy 
braking > A\. 
To reduce the risk of activating the emergency 
braking by mistake, a warning tone (buzzer) 
sounds when the ©) switch is pulled. Emergency 
braking stops as soon as the ©) switch is released 
or the accelerator pedal is pressed. 
Parking 
> Press the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. 
> Pull the ©) switch to set the parking brake. 
> Select the "P" selector lever position. 
> Turn the engine off > /\. 
> Turn the steering wheel when parking on in- 
clines so that the wheels will roll into the curb 
if the vehicle starts moving. 
  
ZA WARNING 
— If a gear is engaged while the vehicle is sta- 
tionary and the engine is running, do not 
press the accelerator pedal inadvertently. 
Otherwise, the vehicle will start to move im- 
mediately and this could result in an acci- 
dent. 
— Emergency braking should only be used in 
an emergency, when the when the standard 
brake pedal is malfunctioning or obstructed. 
During emergency braking, your vehicle will 
brake similar to heavy braking. ESC  and the 
associated components (ABS, ASR, EDL) can- 
not overcome the laws of physics. In corners 
and when road or weather conditions are 
bad, a full brake application can cause the 
       
65  

Driving 
  
in manual mode before reaching the maxi- 
mum engine speed only in the “comfort” or 
“auto” driving programs. 
Transmission malfunction 
i Transmission: malfunction! Safely stop vehi- 
cle 
Do not continue driving. Stop the vehicle as soon 
as possible in a safe location and secure it so it 
does not roll. See an authorized Audi dealer or 
authorized Audi Service Facility for assistance. 
5 Selector lever: malfunction! You can contin- 
ue driving. Please contact Service 
There is a system malfunction in the selector lev- 
er. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal- 
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the 
malfunction repaired. 
fs} P button: malfunction! Auto P when engine 
off. Please contact Service 
There is a malfunction in the "P" button on the 
selector lever. The transmission automatically 
engages "P" when you switch off the engine. 
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized 
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the 
malfunction corrected. 
Transmission: please press brake  pedal and se- 
lect gear again 
Press the brake pedal and select the desired se- 
lector lever position again. You can then continue 
driving. 
5 Transmission: too hot. Please adapt driving 
style 
The transmission temperature has increased sig- 
nificantly.  Drive very cautiously or take a break 
from driving until the temperature returns to the 
normal range and the indicator light turns off. 
fl Transmission: malfunction! You can contin- 
ue driving. See owner's manual 
There is a system malfunction in the transmis- 
sion. You may continue driving. Drive to an au- 
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service 
Facility soon to have the malfunction corrected. 
72 
[Gj Transmission: malfunction! You can contin- 
ue driving in D until engine is off 
There is a system malfunction in the transmis- 
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency 
mode. If you turn the engine off, you will not be 
able to select any other selector lever positions 
after starting the engine again. Drive to an au- 
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service 
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor- 
rected. 
i} Transmission: malfunction! You can contin- 
ue driving with limited function. Please contact 
Service 
There is a system malfunction in the transmis- 
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency 
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or 
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall. 
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized 
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the 
malfunction corrected. 
+} Transmission: malfunction! You can contin- 
ue driving with limited function. No reverse 
gear 
There is a system malfunction in the transmis- 
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency 
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or 
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall. 
You cannot engage the reverse gear. Drive to an 
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service 
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor- 
rected. 
i Danger of rolling away! P not possible. 
Please apply parking brake 
— The parking lock was released using the emer- 
gency release > page 73.  Or 
— The parking lock can no longer be engaged. 
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or author- 
ized Audi Service Facility immediately to have 
the malfunction corrected. 
Move selector lever to automatic position 
There is a malfunction in the tiptronic mode. End 
tiptronic mode by pushing the selector lever to 
the left into the "D/S" position.  

4S1012721BA 
Intelligent Technology 
  
  
reduce the risk of injury, do not place your 
foot under the brake pedal. 
@) Note 
— Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the 
pedal lightly when braking is not actually 
necessary. This can cause the brakes to over- 
heat and increases braking distance and 
causes wear. 
      
— Before driving on long stretches with steep 
hills, reduce the vehicle speed and shift to a 
lower gear to use  the engine braking effect. 
This reduces the load on the brakes. If you 
need to brake  additionally,  brake in intervals 
and not continuously. 
G) Tips 
— If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil- 
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure 
that the air flow to the brakes is not ob- 
structed. Otherwise the brake system can 
overheat. 
— Also refer to the information about brake 
fluid > page 239. 
Steering 
Electromechanical steering supports the driver's 
steering movements by electronically adapting 
the power steering depending on the vehicle 
speed. The settings depend on the selected Audi 
drive select* mode. 
Dynamic steering 
Applies to: vehicles with dynamic steering 
The driving dynamic and driving stability are in- 
creased by the steering ratio based on the speed. 
At reduced speeds, steering is direct in order to 
provide agile steering behavior and keep the 
steering effort as minimal as possible when the 
driver is maneuvering the vehicle. This  sets the 
steering to be less sensitive at higher speeds in 
order to provide improved vehicle control. 
Messages 
a Steering: malfunction! Please stop vehicle 
The power steering may have failed. Adapt your 
driving style immediately to compensate for the 
fact that it may be more difficult to turn the 
steering wheel, and stop your vehicle in a safe lo- 
cation as soon as possible. Do not continue driv- 
ing. See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized 
Audi Service Facility for assistance. 
a Steering: malfunction! You can continue 
driving 
There is a malfunction. Steering may be more dif- 
ficult or more sensitive. Adapt your driving style. 
Have the steering system checked immediately 
by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi 
Service Facility. Please note that the red indicator 
light may turn on after restarting the engine. Do 
not continue driving if  it does. 
Dynamic steering: correcting steering wheel 
Position 
The steering is reinitializing. The steering wheel 
will move easily after starting the vehicle. Reiniti- 
alization might be necessary if the steering wheel 
was moved while the engine was switched off. 
The  display  turns off if the initialization was suc- 
cessful. 
@) Tips 
— If there is a malfunction, the steering wheel 
may be crooked when driving  straight. 
—Ifthe a or Ee indicator light only stays on 
for a short time, you may continue driving. 
All wheel drive (quattro) 
Applies to: vehicles with all wheel drive 
In all wheel drive, all four wheels are powered. 
General information 
In all wheel drive, the driving power is divided be- 
tween all four wheels. This happens automatical- 
ly depending on your driving behavior as well as 
the current road conditions. Also see > page 86, 
Electronic stabilization control (ESC). 
The all wheel drive concept is designed for high 
engine power. Your vehicle is exceptionally pow- 
erful and has excellent driving characteristics 
both under normal driving conditions and on > 
89  

Intelligent Technology 
  
snow and ice. Always read and follow safety pre- 
cautions > A\. 
Winter tires 
By using all wheel drive, your vehicle has good 
forward motion with standard tires in winter con- 
ditions. However, in winter we recommend using 
winter or all season tires on all four wheels, be- 
cause this will improve the braking effect. 
Snow chains 
If there are snow chain laws, snow chains must 
also be used on vehicles with all wheel drive 
= page 259, Snow chains. 
  
ZA WARNING 
— Also, in vehicles with all wheel drive, adapt 
your driving style to the current road and 
traffic conditions. Do not let the increased 
safety provided tempt you into taking risks, 
because this increases the risk of an acci- 
dent. 
— The braking ability of your vehicle is limited 
to the traction of the wheels. In this way, it 
is not different from a two wheel drive  vehi- 
cle. Do not be tempted to accelerate  toa 
high speed when the road is slippery, be- 
cause this increases the risk of an accident. 
— Note that on wet streets, the front wheels 
can “hydroplane” if driving at speeds that 
are too high. Unlike front wheel drive vehi- 
cles, the engine RPM does not increase sud- 
denly when the vehicle begins hydroplaning. 
For this reason, adapt your speed to the 
road conditions to reduce the risk of an acci- 
dent. 
      
90 
Rear spoiler 
Applies to: vehicles with retractable rear spoiler 
The extendable rear spoiler increases driving sta- 
bility. 
5  = 
S $ 
db + a 
  
Fig. 92 Center console: button for the rear spoiler 
The rear spoiler retracts and extends. It can be 
activated in various operating modes (manual 
mode or automatic mode). 
Automatic mode (normal operation) 
— Automatic extension: this occurs when driving 
faster than approximately 75 mph (120 km/h) 
or at a certain engine compartment tempera- 
ture. 
— Automatic retraction: this occurs when driving 
slower than approximately 22 mph (35 km/h) 
or at a certain engine compartment tempera- 
ture. 
Manual mode 
— Extending manually: briefly tap  the > fig. 92 
button to fully extend the rear spoiler. 
— Retracting manually: when driving at speeds 
below approximately 10 mph (20 km/h), press 
and hold the button to retract the rear spoiler. 
At speeds between 10 mph (20 km/h) and 62 
mph (100 km/h), the rear spoiler will com- 
pletely retract when you tap the button. You 
cannot retract the rear spoiler if it extended 
due to the engine compartment temperature. 
Indicator lights 
|  / S Rear spoiler: malfunction! Please con- 
tact Service 
The rear spoiler may not have extended due toa 
malfunction. This could change the vehicle's driv- 
ing characteristics at high speeds. Do not drive >  

4S1012721BA 
Intelligent Technology 
  
faster than 85 mph (140 km/h). Drive immedi- 
ately to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized 
Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction re- 
paired. The color of the indicator light depends 
on the vehicle speed. 
  
ZA WARNING 
Driving at higher speeds without the rear 
spoiler deployed can impair handling charac- 
teristics, making the vehicle harder to control. 
— Always make sure that the spoiler is de- 
ployed when driving at speeds over 85 mph 
(140 km/h). If the rear spoiler warning/indi- 
cator light in the instrument cluster comes 
on, the rear spoiler may not have deployed. 
— Never drive at speeds higher than 85 mph 
(140 km/h) if the spoiler is not deployed. 
Have the spoiler inspected as soon as possi- 
ble by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified 
workshop. 
— Always obey speed limits and other traffic 
laws. 
— Hot air from the engine compartment can 
escape through the rear spoiler when it is 
open and it could burn you. 
     
ZA\ WARNING 
Improper operation of the rear spoiler can 
cause crushing injuries. 
— Always make sure that nobody, especially 
children, is in the way when the rear spoiler 
is deployed or retracted. 
      
©) Note 
— Never push on the vehicle on the rear spoil- 
er. This could cause damage. 
— To prevent damage to the rear spoiler do 
not lean or place anything on it. 
—To reduce the risk of damage, only operate 
the rear spoiler manually when the engine 
compartment lid is closed and the moving 
parts for the rear spoiler are not blocked. 
G@) Tips 
Clean the rear spoiler compartment every 2 to 
3 months. To function correctly, the rear 
spoiler must be free of ice, snow and leaves. 
Energy management 
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent ener- 
gy management system for distributing electrici- 
ty. This significantly improves the starting ability 
and increases the vehicle battery life. 
(i) Tips 
— If you drive short distances frequently, the 
vehicle battery may not charge enough 
while driving. As a result, convenience func- 
tions for electrical equipment may be tem- 
porarily unavailable. 
— The vehicle battery will gradually drain if 
the vehicle is not driven for long periods of 
time, or if electrical equipment is used 
when the engine is not running. To ensure 
that the vehicle can still be started, the 
electrical equipment will be limited or 
switched off. 
Notice about data 
recorded by the Event 
Data Recorder and 
vehicle control modules 
Event Data Recorder 
This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data Re- 
corder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to 
record, in certain crash or near crash-like situa- 
tions, such as an airbag deployment or hitting a 
road obstacle, data that will assist in understand- 
ing how a vehicle's systems performed. The EDR 
is designed to record data related to vehicle dy- 
namics and safety systems for a short period of 
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this 
vehicle is designed to record such data as: 
— How various systems in your vehicle were oper- 
ating; 
— Whether or not the driver and passenger safety 
belts were buckled/fastened; 
— How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the 
accelerator and/or brake pedal; and, 
— How fast the vehicle was traveling. 
These data can help provide a better understand- 
ing of the circumstances in which crashes and 
91 
>  

4S1012721BA 
Checking and Filling 
  
  
the high temperature of the emissions sys- or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the 
tem could start a fire. malfunction corrected. 
  
— Do not apply underbody protectant in the 
exhaust system area, because this increases AN WARNING 
the risk of fire. Incorrect use of the connection port for the 
On Board Diagnostic System can cause mal- 
eo functions, which can then result in accidents 
and  serious injuries. 
      
Follow the safety precautions > page 228, Gener- — Only allow an authorized Audi dealer or au- 
al information. thorized Audi Service Facility to read out  the 
engine data. 
  
  The vehicle may only be driven with unleaded 
gasoline, or the catalytic converter will be de- . 
stroyed. Engine compartment 
Never drive until the tank is completely empty. General information 
The irregular supply of fuel that results from that 
can cause engine misfires. Uncombusted fuel 
could enter the exhaust system, which could 
  
Special care is required if you are working in the 
engine compartment 
cause overheating and damage to the catalytic For work in the engine compartment, such as 
converter. checking and filling fluids, there is  a risk of in- 
jury, scalding,  accidents,  and burns. For this 
On Board Diagnostic System (OBD) reason, follow all the warnings and general   
safety precautions provided in the following in- 
formation. The engine compartment is  a dan- 
gerous area. > /\. 
The  On Board Diagnostic System monitors the 
engine and transmission components that influ- 
ence emissions.   
ZA\ WARNING 
— Turn the engine off. 
— Switch the ignition off. 
— Set the parking brake. 
— Select the “P” (Park) selector lever position. 
— Allow the engine to cool. 
— Keep children away from the engine com- 
partment. 
— Never spill fluids on a hot engine. These flu- 
ids (such as the freeze protection contained 
in the coolant) can catch fire. 
— Avoid short circuits in the electrical system. 
— Never reach into the radiator fan. The fan is 
Engine data can be read out at the On Board Di- temperature-controlled and can turn on 
agnostic System connection port using a special suddenly, even when the ignition is switched 
testing device > fig. 175. off. 
S S$ 
z  a 
  
port for the On Board Diagnostic System (OBD) 
On Board Diagnostic System 
Indicator light — Never open the engine compartment lid 
when there is steam or coolant escaping 
from the engine compartment, because 
there is a risk that you could be burned. 
Wait until  no steam or coolant is escaping. 
If the S indicator light blinks or turns on, there 
is a malfunction that is causing poor emissions 
quality and that could damage the catalytic con- 
verter. Drive slowly to an authorized Audi dealer        
229