Nitron elec-TRON R1 Coilover Kit for 42 Audi R8

The Nitron elec-TRON R1 coilover kit for the 42 Audi R8 brings electronic damping control through Nitron’s proportional solenoid valve, with all damping managed by the 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.

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.

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

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 (x3 Passive and x3 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

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
• Precision bearing spacers supplied as required
• Consists of 4 coilovers and adjustable top mounts
• Hand made to order

Specifications

• Coilover Type: elec-TRON R1
• 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
• Audi R8 GT: 42 | 2011-2015
• Audi R8 V10 Plus: 42 | 2013-2015

Other Suspension Kits for the Audi R8 (42)

• NTR-R1 Coilover Kit
• NTR-R1 Coilover Kit with Standalone FAL
• elec-TRON R1 Coilover Kit with Standalone FAL
• NTR-R3 Coilover Kit
• elec-TRON R3 Coilover Kit
• NTR-R3 Coilover Kit with Standalone FAL
• elec-TRON R3 Coilover Kit with Standalone FAL

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

• Which Audi R8 42 variants does this kit fit? The Nitron elec-TRON R1 coilover kit covers the Audi R8 4.2 V8 quattro (2007-2015), R8 5.2 V10 quattro (2009-2015), R8 GT (2011-2015), and R8 V10 Plus (2013-2015), all within the 42 generation.
• 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 actually do? The DCU is the processing unit that controls the elec-TRON valve on each shock, making damping adjustments every five milliseconds based on vehicle attitude, braking forces, cornering loads, and acceleration inputs. It’s fitted with a rotary control switch that gives 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 chooses the overall character and the system manages the fine adjustments in real time.
• How does the elec-TRON R1 differ from the NTR-R1 for the R8? The NTR-R1 uses combined 2-way manual damping adjustment across 24 clicks, giving the driver direct physical control over the setup. The elec-TRON R1 replaces that with Nitron’s proportional solenoid valve and DCU-controlled electronic damping, adjusting automatically based on real-time data. Both kits share R3-derived hardware, but the elec-TRON R1 is the better fit for drivers who want the suspension to adapt continuously rather than being set manually.
• How does the elec-TRON R1 differ from the elec-TRON R3 for the R8? Both kits use Nitron’s proportional solenoid valve and DCU-controlled electronic damping, but the elec-TRON R3 adds independent manual compression adjustment via remote reservoirs, giving drivers and engineers direct control over high and low speed compression on top of the active electronic damping. The elec-TRON R1 handles all damping electronically without that manual compression adjustment capability, making it the more streamlined of the two.
• Does this kit work with the R8’s factory suspension electronics? The 42 R8 does not use a factory electronic damping system, so this kit runs on Nitron’s Standalone Electronic Damping configuration rather than integrating with an OEM system. The Nitron DCU acts as the standalone control unit, providing full semi-active damping capability independent of the factory electronics.
• 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.
• 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.