Test report by CoMod Lotus on the Carrera DIGITAL 132 Audi R8 "Police"
(Art.No. 30644)
The Essen Motor Show has been a destination for car and motorsport fans for many years. And for many years, the VDAT ( Association of Automobile Tuners) advertised safe tuning at the trade fair.
Every year, the VDAT (German Automobile Association) Tune it! Safe! working group presents a campaign vehicle in police livery to introduce car enthusiasts to the reputable and, above all, safe method of vehicle tuning. Also participating in the working group are tire manufacturer Hankook and the Federal Ministry of Transport.
In 2011, a very special car was unveiled: an Abt Audi R8 GTR.
The 525 hp Audi R8 5.2 FSI forms the basis for the new show car, although it has been extensively modified: The police livery isn't a paint job, but a Foliatec wrap, and there's also a Hella traffic light system on the roof. The ten-cylinder naturally aspirated engine has been boosted by 95 hp to 620 hp. A maximum torque of 550 Newton meters catapults the Abt R8 GTR to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and to 200 km/h in 9.9 seconds. However, its top speed is limited to 325 km/h, making it the fastest police car of its kind. The Audi is decelerated by a ceramic brake system, and the car sits on particularly lightweight 19-inch rims with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tires, measuring 235/35 at the front and 305/30 at the rear.
Inside, the Audi resembles a race car: stainless steel roll bars, Recaro racing seats with a four-point harness system, and a carbon fiber sports steering wheel. The interior is also equipped with an Alcantara and leather combination, a black headliner, black carpets, and a black dashboard. There's little room for suspects inside, but it's the undisputed king of the highway. The guys at COBRA 11 can only dream of something like that...
So that would be the model for the new item number 30644. The CARRERA police car is based on the "normal" production R8, which was released in 2008. The Audi was one of the first cars with the revised chassis, and it's still competitive today; it was THE opponent for the Porsche 911 from the very beginning.
The paintwork is cleanly executed and as close to the original as possible, since the ABT R8 naturally differs somewhat from the slot car in terms of bodywork. The Digital R8 I tested has front and rear lights (the light on the front lights shines slightly out of the wheel arch), as well as the light bar on the roof. The interior was sacrificed for the electronics, which actually has a positive effect on the car's handling, as the overall weight is lower than that of the production car.
Overall, a very successful concept; the car is a lot of fun on the track and doesn't have to hide from more modern opponents!
Best regards,
your Lotus
(Art.No. 30644)
The Essen Motor Show has been a destination for car and motorsport fans for many years. And for many years, the VDAT ( Association of Automobile Tuners) advertised safe tuning at the trade fair.
Every year, the VDAT (German Automobile Association) Tune it! Safe! working group presents a campaign vehicle in police livery to introduce car enthusiasts to the reputable and, above all, safe method of vehicle tuning. Also participating in the working group are tire manufacturer Hankook and the Federal Ministry of Transport.
In 2011, a very special car was unveiled: an Abt Audi R8 GTR.
The 525 hp Audi R8 5.2 FSI forms the basis for the new show car, although it has been extensively modified: The police livery isn't a paint job, but a Foliatec wrap, and there's also a Hella traffic light system on the roof. The ten-cylinder naturally aspirated engine has been boosted by 95 hp to 620 hp. A maximum torque of 550 Newton meters catapults the Abt R8 GTR to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and to 200 km/h in 9.9 seconds. However, its top speed is limited to 325 km/h, making it the fastest police car of its kind. The Audi is decelerated by a ceramic brake system, and the car sits on particularly lightweight 19-inch rims with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tires, measuring 235/35 at the front and 305/30 at the rear.
Inside, the Audi resembles a race car: stainless steel roll bars, Recaro racing seats with a four-point harness system, and a carbon fiber sports steering wheel. The interior is also equipped with an Alcantara and leather combination, a black headliner, black carpets, and a black dashboard. There's little room for suspects inside, but it's the undisputed king of the highway. The guys at COBRA 11 can only dream of something like that...
So that would be the model for the new item number 30644. The CARRERA police car is based on the "normal" production R8, which was released in 2008. The Audi was one of the first cars with the revised chassis, and it's still competitive today; it was THE opponent for the Porsche 911 from the very beginning.
The paintwork is cleanly executed and as close to the original as possible, since the ABT R8 naturally differs somewhat from the slot car in terms of bodywork. The Digital R8 I tested has front and rear lights (the light on the front lights shines slightly out of the wheel arch), as well as the light bar on the roof. The interior was sacrificed for the electronics, which actually has a positive effect on the car's handling, as the overall weight is lower than that of the production car.
Overall, a very successful concept; the car is a lot of fun on the track and doesn't have to hide from more modern opponents!
Best regards,
your Lotus
