The R8 5.2's bits I like best...

[SebringSilver]

I love my R8 4.2. I think it's one of the greatest sportscars ever conceived and built. But nothing is perfect, and in the R8 5.2, there is a car with certain styling cues that I think do a great job of making the R8 look even better.

In particular, those styling elements are the side skirts, and the silver-coloured hatch vents either side of the engine cover. So, what did I do?

I added them to my car.

These are pictures I took with my BlackBerry earlier this evening, please let me know what you think.





I think the car looks rather nice with these side skirts, and I particularly like the new hatch vents as they work very well on my Ice Silver car.

[NFS13]

They look great! I was just about to pull the trigger on the side skirts before I traded to the 5.2. It really changes the look.

[M3R8]

Every time I see a V8 in the bay I can't help but thinking, it looks so small in there...

Supercharge it.

[cavaret]

I think the GT rear hatch is a great option too!!!

[SteveR]

And I was thinking of taking off my silver vents and putting in the black ones. I'm on a mission to remove all chrome and silver from mine. Glad you like your new setup though.

[Rit2]

SebringSilver,

Good choice! IMHO, those silver vents go really well with lighter-colour cars.

[Fashion Cat]

Indeed sometimes its just the little things and attention to detail that provides that subtle but profound look to moving art. Love your set up. I can't quite see in the first picture but do you have the CF engine trim? Even without the trim the whole bay is sculpted beautifully, but adding CF just takes it to a whole other level.

[SebringSilver]

They look great! I was just about to pull the trigger on the side skirts before I traded to the 5.2. It really changes the look.

Thanks, if I went to the V10, I'd have to change the front and rear intakes to make it look like a 4.2! LOL

Every time I see a V8 in the bay I can't help but thinking, it looks so small in there...

Supercharge it.

I'm very happy with the stock performance of the V8, so I'll be staying away from engine mods with this car. An exhaust might be on the horizon though.

[SebringSilver]

And I was thinking of taking off my silver vents and putting in the black ones. I'm on a mission to remove all chrome and silver from mine. Glad you like your new setup though.

Yeah, I'm really happy with the results. I see a few other R8s up here in Vancouver that have had the treatment that you're also doing with your car. They look aggressive, but without being over the top.

Hmmm...maybe see if there are any V8 owners in your part of the world who'd be interested in a swap (of the hatch vents)? No harm saving some money.

[SebringSilver]

SebringSilver,

Good choice! IMHO, those silver vents go really well with lighter-colour cars.

You're so right. I probably wouldn't have changed the vents if my car were black or some other dark colour.

Indeed sometimes its just the little things and attention to detail that provides that subtle but profound look to moving art. Love your set up. I can't quite see in the first picture but do you have the CF engine trim? Even without the trim the whole bay is sculpted beautifully, but adding CF just takes it to a whole other level.

Yes, I have the carbon fibre engine bay and I think it's one option that no R8 owner should overlook. As for the subtlety factor, that's exactly my motivation for doing these couple of changes. They're OEM pieces, they truly enhance the R8's looks (rather than just making it look different for the sake of being different), and they're very subtle!