Test drive Porsche Carrera 4S against Audi R8: duel
Test Drive

Test drive Porsche Carrera 4S against Audi R8: duel

Test drive Porsche Carrera 4S against Audi R8: duel

Porsche The Carrera 4S has an extremely dangerous new adversary. It is about the Audi R8 4.2 FSI, which aims to win the hearts of sports car fans with its icy design and hot temperament. Will the brand's ambitions be successfully crowned with four rings?

In the sports car segment, with a price of about 100 euros and above, it is especially difficult to have a good image and command respect among others. Take Porsche, for example, which has been polishing the iconic status of its 000 symbol over and over again for decades. years. This model is a legend - largely due to the uniqueness of its essence. In this test, it faces its beefy-equipped rival a 911-horsepower 60-litre flat-six engine (boosted to 3,8 with the optional sports kit) that is traditionally located behind the rear axle.

Striving for the stars

Carrera has been where R8s have been going for years. And yet - the model from Ingolstadt boldly attacks - with a provocative design, impressive equipment and all sorts of marketing tools. The car has an aluminum space frame and is powered by a centrally located 4,2-liter V8 engine. The differences from the RS4 here are changes in the intake and exhaust manifolds (in the latter case, the exhaust tract is greatly shortened).

The Porsche boxer engine does its job under an impressive acoustic accompaniment that takes on an almost ominous dimension at high speeds. The engine spins with almost surreal ease and seems to hit the speed limiter in negative time, and it's a pleasure to drive its performance with an incredibly precise transmission. No wonder the 911 managed to reach 100 km/h even 0,2 seconds faster than the factory data: for the 4S with a special engine kit that increases power to 381 hp. s., Porsche promises 4,6 seconds, while the test equipment claims 4,4 seconds. Despite the almost excessive use of aluminum alloys, the R8 weighs 110 kilograms more, and this negatively affects not only fuel consumption, but also dynamics.

The model with a central engine loses its dynamic characteristics.

Despite the horsepower advantage, the R8 is slower than the Porsche in acceleration to 100 km / h and overall dynamics. After 4500 rpm, however, the V8 starts to get really tough and easily reaches the fantastic 8250 rpm. The R8's transmissions still have reserves even when the 911 has to shift gears. The FSI unit offers impressive headroom without being subject to full utilization at any cost.

In general, the mid-engined Audi model retains surprisingly good behavior even when approaching the psychological limit of 300 km / h. Precision steering is very precise, but not nervous, and the double wishbone suspension surcharge) absorbs unevenness in the road surface smoothly enough for a car in this category. The bad news in this case is that when alternating undulating bumps, the body shows a tendency to vertical shocks resembling a catapult, and when braking at speeds above 200 km / h, some instability and uncertainty are felt.

Porsche's standard PASM adaptive suspension is hard-set, transmitting bumps to passengers relatively unfiltered, and the steering is surgically precise but truly super-direct. When more gas is applied at a very high rate, there is a slight but manageable displacement of the buttocks. There is nothing wrong with the latter, but this trend is more pronounced than with Audi. Carrera requires a much more subtle sense from the driver, and in the event of an incorrect reaction on his part, he reacts with clearly perceived manifestations of understeer or oversteer, depending on the specifics of the situation. And yet - 911 - the only winner in this test. Good technology, bold design and marketing techniques are not enough to defeat one of the most prized icons among sports cars...

Text: Jorn Thomas

Photo: Hans-Dieter Zeifert

Evaluation

1.Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Thanks to its low curb weight and the renowned transmission, the 911 Carrera 4S fully compensates for the lower power output compared to the R8. 4S lags behind the rival only in comfort and ease of control.

2. Audi R8 4.2 FSI Four

Despite losing this comparison, the R8 is Audi's impressive debut in the world of sports car racing. The car offers a perfect balance between comfort and remarkable road dynamics.

technical details

1.Porsche 911 Carrera 4S2. Audi R8 4.2 FSI Four
Working volume--
Power381 k. From.420 k. From.
Maximum

torque

--
Acceleration

0-100 km / h

4,4 with4,6 with
Braking distances

at a speed of 100 km / h

36 m34 m
full speed288 km / h301 km / h
Average consumption

fuel in the test

14,7 l / 100 km15,8 l / 100 km
Base Price96 717 euro104 400 euro

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