German auto major Audi on Thursday launched in India its most powerful car, Audi R8 V10 Plus.

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"The newly conceptualised high performance sports car (Audi R8 V10 Plus) has been made even tauter and stronger, both on and off the race track. Embodied in its DNA is the know-how acquired in the numerous car racing successes that Audi has achieved over the years," said Audi India head Joe King.

The company specially flew in its brand ambassador and star cricketer Virat Kohli to unveil the car with King, on the airstrip of Tanjea Aerospace and Aviation Limited, 55 km away from Bengaluru, near Hosur in Tamil Nadu.

Talking about his love for Audi cars, Kohli said, "Audi has always been my preferred car. I have always been a fan of Audis. I had an A4, I had an R8 before, I have a Q7 as well."

"Especially this one (Previous generation Audi R8), when I had it, the old one, the comfort it gave me inside the seat was something that was remarkable," said Kohli, fresh after scoring a superb century against Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

With its price starting from Rs.2,60,21,000 (Ex-showroom Karnataka), Audi R8 V10 Plus is powered by a 5.2 FSI quattro engine capable of producing 610 hp power at 6,500 Nm of torque to accelerate from 0-100 km per hour in 3.2 seconds.

The new generation car comes with seven speed S tronic transmission and newly developed quattro permanent all-wheel drive with electro-hydraulically activated multi-plate clutch and four standard modes of Audi drive select.

Features

Measuring 4.42 metres long and 1.94 metres wide, the new R8 is lighter, sharing 50% of its components with its racing twin Audi R8 LMS, including Audi Space Frame and the V10 engine.

"The intelligent mix of aluminium and carbon makes it almost 50 kg lighter and 40% stiffer than the previous model," said an Audi statement.

With a fixed rear spoiler to enhance downforce, the mid-engine sports car has a cargo room of 226 litres behind the seats and another 112 litres luggage compartment at the front under the traditional bonnet which is bereft of an engine in this case.

Built on aerodynamic concept of a race car, Audi R8 V10 Plus has a monoposto cockpit design blended with gloss carbon elements and has 13% improved fuel efficiency. A host of customisation options are available through quatrro GmbH.

Operating in India since 2007, Audi India products portfolio includes 13 models, ranging from Audi A3 to its latest and fastest production car Audi R8 V10 Plus.