Prepare To Be Befuddled By This Inline-Four Audi R8

This 650bhp, 950kg hill climb-spec R8 is powered not by a V8 or V10, but by a heavily-boosted inline-four!
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The defining feature of any R8 - be it a V8 or a V10 version - is surely the engine. So, the idea of whipping out one of those many-cylindered works of art and slapping in a heavily turbocharged inline-four is just a bit wrong, isn’t it?

In the world of motorsport, not really. This fascinating hill climb car from a company called Dialynx Performance has been given a 2.0-litre engine transplant for class reasons, a move which has also helped the mid-engined Audi shed a load of weight - this one tips the scales at just 950kg.

It’s no ordinary four-banger sitting behind the cabin, either. It’s a hybrid of two VW Group engines of the past: an ALT 20-valve aluminium block married to a 16-valve ABF Mk3 Golf GTI cylinder head. The whole shebang is fed by a Garrett turbocharger running at 30PSI.

When brimmed with racing fuel, the engine - which sits on a custom rear subframe - develops 650bhp. It may not sound quite as nice as it did originally, but damn, does it make for one fast R8.

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Comments

Marco Q (hi)

4 cylinder Audi R8? hmmmmm ever heard about the TT?!

09/02/2018 - 12:42 |
4 | 1

But the TT is F4, not mid4

09/02/2018 - 17:58 |
0 | 0
Hawkoga

Call me sour but why couldn’t of just used a S3? This seems like a lot of unnecessary work and harm to a perfectly fine R8?

09/02/2018 - 15:26 |
0 | 0

or an RS3.

09/02/2018 - 16:03 |
0 | 0

The R8 is already mid engined and a 2 door, so it’s much more nimble and won’t understeer like an S3 would

09/02/2018 - 16:46 |
0 | 0
Porsche 959 (CarThrottle's only Facel Vega fanboy, still act

[DELETED]

09/02/2018 - 18:17 |
1 | 0
Daksh Pat

even some gtrs have their v6s ripped out for 4 cylinders

09/02/2018 - 18:32 |
0 | 0
Kyubi22B

Audi R4?

09/02/2018 - 19:25 |
1 | 0
Ben Anderson 1

Honestly? I like it! It’s no screaming V8 or V10, but it sounds brilliant, like an angry hornets nest, and is light as a feather for the sheer size of the car. I approve!

09/03/2018 - 07:11 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

Reminds me of a Supra I saw in a magazine years ago. Out with the 2JZ and in with a I4 with a big turbo. Also running 600-650 hp. The I4 shed a lot of weight and let them mount the motor ~3” lower and about 6” further back (we all know how nose heavy the mkiv Supra is).

09/06/2018 - 03:06 |
0 | 0
Seaworthyone333

Group B much?

09/17/2018 - 05:34 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

what do you mean it doesn’t sound as good i think it sound even better what a sound

12/11/2018 - 23:35 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Now swap it with a four rotor evil dieselgate laughter begins in the background mwuahahha (sidenote that would be EPIC!!!!!!)

12/11/2018 - 23:37 |
0 | 0