According to the head of development at Audi, Ulrich Hackenberg, the R8 will donate its rear suspension and a number of other unspecified components to the Gallardo as part of a mid-life face-lift planned for the midengine two-seater in 2008.Despite their outward differences, the Gallardo and R8 are based around a common set of mechanical components, making the proposed changes relatively inexpensive. The new rear suspension, a development of the Gallardo's existing double-wishbone setup, adopts a trailing link within its design that's claimed to provide added toe-in effect for what Hackenberg describes as "more controlled cornering."
Hackenberg, who has recently been chosen to oversee new-car development at Volkswagen, says the new arrangement will be tuned to suit the Gallardo's more sporting nature, with unique bushings and anti-roll bar rates helping to set it apart from the R8.
Other developments rumored but not yet officially confirmed for the face-lifted Gallardo include a new direct injection system for its 5.0-liter V10 engine. Among other fine tuning, it is expected to help boost the Sant'Agata supercar's reserves from today's 520 horsepower up to around 550. Such a system is already used on the R8's 4.2-liter V8, which produces 420 hp.
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