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La Buena Vida
Driver's Seat
A PROFILE OF POWER
This issue’s tale of two V8s brings together all-new offerings from Audi and Pontiac that represent basically uncharted waters for their brands. The R8 is Audi’s first-ever mid-engine exotic sports car, while the G8 GT is Pontiac’s first V8 rear-wheel-drive four-door sedan in two decades. Both provide heaping helpings of performance.
By Russ Heaps
Audi R8
Able to reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill in just over four seconds, the R8 delivers adrenalin-pumping acceleration. Its top speed is just shy of 190 miles per hour. The root of all this power is a 420-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 that is As quiet as it is quick. virtually no engine noise seeps into the roomy cabin. Prices begin at $109,995.
 control: A multi-function flat-bottom leather-wrapped steering wheel features
paddle shifters.
profile: The optional carbon-fiber “sideblade” is a must-have exotic styling touch.
Balance:
Power is delivered to all four 19-inch wheels with 56 percent going to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions.
outside help: The aluminum space frame is both stiff and lightweight.
choice:
The mid-mounted V8 can be bolted to either a six-speed manual or a
six-speed clutchless manual with fully automatic mode.
easy access: The controls and gauges wrap around the driver in this two-pod layout.
smooth operator: Electromagnetically controlled fluid shocks at all four corners ensure stability and comfort.
Pontiac G8 GT
Pontiac is designated as the “Excitement” division of General Motors. But With the Trans Am long-gone and the slow-selling GTO out of the lineup, Pontiac has had a tough time living up to its mission. The G8 GT puts the bang back into the brand. Not only does it get its giddy-up from a 361-horsepower 6-liter V8, the output will turn the rear wheels. Borrowing its platform from the upcoming Chevy Camaro, the G8 GT will carry a base price of $29,995.
 power:
The Corvette-based V8 has
cylinder deactivation that shuts down four cylinders when cruising and is mated to a six-speed driver-shiftable automatic transmission. It will go 0-60 in well under six seconds.
balance: Pontiac has managed to distribute the front-to-rear weight at nearly 50/50.
Hitting the Road:
Eighteen-inch alloy wheels and rubber fill the wheel openings.
control:
Four-wheel disc antilock brakes include traction and stability control.
safety:
Front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags are standard
sound:
A Blaupunkt-tweaked eleven-speaker audio system with an in-dash six-disc CD changer and personal music device auxiliary input jack kick the tunes.
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