Is the Nitron DCU included with this kit?

No. The Nitron DCU is required for the elec-TRON R1 to function and is sold separately. Without the DCU, the electronic damping system cannot operate. If you need help selecting the correct DCU for your application, contact us directly.

What does the Nitron DCU do and what maps does it come with?

The DCU processes data from the car every five milliseconds; vehicle attitude, braking forces, cornering loads, and acceleration inputs; and uses that information to determine the correct valve position and damping level in real time. It's fitted with a rotary control switch giving the driver access to pre-installed damping maps; Rain, Tour, Sport, and Race. Damping is continuously optimized within whichever map is selected, so the driver sets the overall character and the system manages the fine adjustments from there.

Does the FAL affect the suspension setup or how the car drives?

No. The FAL operates independently of the coilover setup. Spring rates, damping settings, and geometry remain exactly as configured when the system raises or lowers the front axle. Once you're back on the road, the car drives exactly as it did before the lift was used.

How does this kit differ from the elec-TRON R1 without the FAL?

The coilover and electronic damping hardware is identical. The difference is the inclusion of the Standalone Front Axle Lift system, which adds practical street usability to a lowered performance setup. If front clearance is a regular concern when driving the R8 on public roads, this kit covers both needs in a single purchase.

Are droplinks included with the kit?

No, droplinks are not included. The kit consists of four coilovers and adjustable top mounts covering front and rear, with precision bearing spacers supplied as required.

Is the Nitron elec-TRON R1 serviceable after purchase?

Yes. Every elec-TRON R1 kit is fully serviceable. Nitron hand-builds each unit to order, and the design supports long-term maintenance rather than requiring full replacement when performance eventually needs refreshing.

Nitron elec-TRON R1 Coilover Kit w/ Standalone FAL for 42 Audi R8

The Nitron elec-TRON R1 coilover kit for the 42 Audi R8, supplied here with Nitron’s Standalone Front Axle Lift system, brings electronic damping control through Nitron’s proportional solenoid valve with all damping managed by the Nitron DCU, which is sold separately. The kit includes adjustable top mounts and race springs, covering the same broad adjustment range as the R3 without the independent compression adjustment and remote reservoirs. The hardware traces directly back to the R3 platform, so what you’re getting is proven race-derived componentry packaged into a more accessible, straightforward setup; one that works particularly well on a car like the R8, where the mid-engine balance and quattro all-wheel drive system already do a significant amount of the handling work and the suspension just needs to keep up with precision rather than complexity. The included FAL addresses the practical challenge of running a lowered R8 on public roads, raising the front axle by 25mm to clear driveways, speed bumps, and parking obstacles without affecting the suspension setup or how the car drives once conditions return to normal.

elec-TRON

The elec-TRON R1 for the 42 Audi R8 runs on Nitron’s Standalone Electronic Damping configuration, which means the Nitron DCU is required and sold separately. Each shock carries its own proprietary proportional solenoid valve, giving the DCU precise, independent damping control at every corner simultaneously. The system monitors g-load, vehicle speed, road conditions, and driver inputs all at once, making damping adjustments every six milliseconds. For reference, a human eye blink takes somewhere between 100 and 150 milliseconds. The suspension is reacting to what the road and the driver are doing in real time, not catching up after the fact.

Standalone Electronic Damping System

The Nitron DCU is required for the elec-TRON R1 kit on the 42 Audi R8 and is sold separately. It’s the brain behind the elec-TRON system, transforming a conventional passive damper setup into a precision semi-active platform. Working in conjunction with Nitron’s elec-TRON valve, the DCU continuously processes data from the car every five milliseconds; assessing vehicle attitude, braking forces, cornering loads, and acceleration inputs to determine the correct valve position and damping level at any given moment. The result is a suspension system that isn’t set to a fixed damping rate but is constantly optimizing grip and comfort in real time based on what the car is actually doing. The DCU is fitted with an adjustable control knob giving the driver access to a range of pre-installed damping maps; Rain, Tour, Sport, and Race; each tuned for a specific driving context. Damping continues to be adjusted continuously within whichever map is selected, so the driver sets the overall character and the system handles the rest.
- Supplied with a custom or universal wiring harness
- Utilizes Arm Cortex-M4 processor
- Independent control of 4 electronic dampers
- 6 position rotary control switch or visual rotary display and control allows user to access a number of pre-installed damping maps (3 passive / 3 adaptive)
- Two 3 axis accelerometers
- 3 axis gyroscope
- 200Hz damping control rate
- Configured for application location and settings
- Ideal for resto-mod applications
- Fully resin bonded

The Nitron Front Axle Lift (FAL)

Running a lowered performance car on the road comes with a familiar set of frustrations; steep driveways, speed bumps, and parking lot ramps that sit just low enough to make every approach a calculation. The Nitron Front Axle Lift system is built around that specific problem. With 25mm of lift available at the front axle, it clears the obstacles that lowered ride heights make problematic without requiring any changes to the suspension setup and without affecting how the car performs once you’re back on the road or circuit. It’s a practical addition to a performance suspension package, not a compromise of one.
- 250W pump
- 25mm lift height
- Typical lift time under 3-seconds
- Audible in-cabin warning system
- Switch with built-in warning light
- Auto off function
- Protects your car from damage caused by steep driveways and speed bumps
- Compatible with a wide range of suspension setups

Unique Technology

Nitron builds every shock around precision components that go through a thorough design and development process long before final assembly. The modular construction gives engineers the room to develop each application properly on its own terms, without cutting corners on part quality or how components work together under load. Everything is machined to tight tolerances and inspected individually by trained technicians; quality control isn’t a final step here, it runs through the entire process. New materials, finishes, and processes are validated extensively before they’re brought into production, with proprietary Nitron technologies woven throughout to produce shocks that hold up against the competition on both road and track. That level of engineering discipline is what the brand has been built on.
- Basic Damper Design:
  1. End Eye / Top Mount
  2. Damper Piston & Shim Stack
  3. Shaft / Rod
  4. Floating / Separator Piston
  5. Suspension Oil
  6. Compressed Nitrogen Gas

Bespoke Engineering

Nitron doesn’t start with a generic damper and work backward from there. Every application is developed from the ground up, with components, spring rates, and damping characteristics determined by the specific platform rather than borrowed from something adjacent. The geometry, weight distribution, and suspension travel of the vehicle shape the design from the start, not as corrections added later. That’s what separates a kit engineered for your car from one that was simply made to fit it.

Features

Shares core technology with the R3 kit
No manual damping adjustments, fully controlled by the solenoid valve
Internal reservoir type
Full alloy body
Preload adjuster
Nitrogen gas charged
Nitron FAL raises 25mm at the shock
FAL kit contains all components (cylinders, hydraulic lines, pump, wiring loom and controller)
Precision bearing spacers supplied as required
Consists of 4 coilovers and adjustable top mounts
Hand made to order

Specifications

Coilover Type: elec-TRON R1 with standalone FAL
Rear Suspension Type: OEM
Droplinks Included: No
Recommended Spring Rates: N/A (requires Nitron DCU to work)

Applications

Audi R8 4.2 V8 quattro: 42 | 2007-2015
Audi R8 5.2 V10 quattro: 42 | 2009-2015

Other Suspension Kits for the Audi R8 (42)

Notes

This kit requires the Nitron DCU to work
Images used for illustration purposes only. Specific details, finishes and end fittings may differ from that shown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nitron DCU included with this kit? No. The Nitron DCU is required for the elec-TRON R1 to function and is sold separately. Without the DCU, the electronic damping system cannot operate. If you need help selecting the correct DCU for your application, contact us directly.
What does the Nitron DCU do and what maps does it come with? The DCU processes data from the car every five milliseconds; vehicle attitude, braking forces, cornering loads, and acceleration inputs; and uses that information to determine the correct valve position and damping level in real time. It’s fitted with a rotary control switch giving the driver access to pre-installed damping maps; Rain, Tour, Sport, and Race. Damping is continuously optimized within whichever map is selected, so the driver sets the overall character and the system manages the fine adjustments from there.
Does the FAL affect the suspension setup or how the car drives? No. The FAL operates independently of the coilover setup. Spring rates, damping settings, and geometry remain exactly as configured when the system raises or lowers the front axle. Once you’re back on the road, the car drives exactly as it did before the lift was used.
How does this kit differ from the elec-TRON R1 without the FAL? The coilover and electronic damping hardware is identical. The difference is the inclusion of the Standalone Front Axle Lift system, which adds practical street usability to a lowered performance setup. If front clearance is a regular concern when driving the R8 on public roads, this kit covers both needs in a single purchase.
Are droplinks included with the kit? No, droplinks are not included. The kit consists of four coilovers and adjustable top mounts covering front and rear, with precision bearing spacers supplied as required.
Is the Nitron elec-TRON R1 serviceable after purchase? Yes. Every elec-TRON R1 kit is fully serviceable. Nitron hand-builds each unit to order, and the design supports long-term maintenance rather than requiring full replacement when performance eventually needs refreshing.

About Nitron Suspension

Nitron Suspension has been at the forefront of precision suspension engineering since 1998, founded by Guy Evans with the goal of building high-performance shocks for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Over 200 dealers now carry Nitron products across Europe, Asia, the US, Australasia, and Africa. In 2008, the company moved into a dedicated facility in the UK’s Motorsport Valley, adding dynamometers, 5-axis CNC machines, and 3D CAD capabilities to support both growing demand and continued product development. A second expansion came in 2023 with a new office in Murrieta, California. The team behind every Nitron product draws from deep backgrounds in machining, materials technology, hydraulics, bike engineering, and F1 racing, with many engineers bringing firsthand experience as competitive drivers and riders. That depth of knowledge across both the technical and competitive sides of motorsport shapes every product Nitron develops.

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Nitron elec-TRON R1 Coilover Kit w/ Standalone FAL for 42 Audi R8 [NTCAU010ER1-FAL]

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