Audi – R8 – Review

On The Outside

That 22-grand premium definitely doesn’t offer the Audi R8 V10 much visual differentiation from the standard car. Yes, some would say that the R8 is enough of a head-turner as it is, but parting with a further 22 large ones gets you the kind of detail changes that only the most serious of anoraks will spot.

For the record, there are different alloy wheels, new LED headlights, flared sideblades, side skirt extensions, oval exhausts and a gloss black section behind the rear number plate which is body coloured on the V8.

If you’re a Premiership footballer and want your R8 to stand out from the others, you’ll just have to wait for the convertible version due at the end of this year. The diesel version of the R8, as shown in concept form at the Detroit Motor Show in 2008, has been put on hold.

On The Inside

As with its outside lines, there’s not much different on the R8 V10’s interior compared to its V8 brother. The other problem is that as well laid-out and clear the R8’s interior undoubtedly is, Audi has since introduced so many of the R8’s detail touches onto its mainstream models. The result is that it no longer feels particularly special.

Satellite navigation and a Bang and Olufsen stereo are now standard (both of which are options on the V8 – more of which later) and there’s a 90-litre luggage space behind the two seats (bags are held in place by a net) that Audi claims is big enough to carry two sets of golf clubs. Together with the T-shaped, 100-litre space under the bonnet, it sounds practical enough, but a 911 Turbo probably has more usable space thanks to its rear seats.

On The Road

If there was one criticism of the V8-engined R8, it was that it always felt like it could handle plenty more power. That query has been answered here with 525bhp now under your right foot (up from the V8’s 420bhp) and, significantly, also 100Nm more torque too (up from 430Nm to 530).

On paper, that brings the V10’s 60mph sprint down to 3.9 seconds and top speed up to 196mph (compared to the V8’s ‘slovenly’ figures of 4.6 seconds and 187mph). While obviously that’s enough acceleration and speed for anyone other than a potential Pagani Zonda customer, what’s most impressive is the R8’s new-found sheer flexibility.

That extra torque makes the R8 even more driveable than it was before (which is saying something), pulling smoothly and cleanly even from low revs. The noise accompanied by the astonishing mid-range punch makes it a driving experience to savour. Aside from those supercars with a horse or bull on the bonnet, automotive symphonies don’t get much better than this and the R tronic version even blips the throttle for you on downchanges.

Talking of changing gear, how you choose to row your gears turns out to be possibly the weakest part of the R8’s driving experience. As standard, the R8 comes with a six-speed manual which accounts for around 60 per cent of R8 sales. That’s interesting when almost every other rival at this level– Gallardo, F430, DB9 – is sold largely in semi-automatic form rather than manual. Also, the R8’s manual box with its Ferrari-like exposed gate, isn’t the easiest of gearboxes to use, especially when you’re trying to rush through a change. The optional R tronic double-clutch system isn’t much better, with a clunky operation. It also bumps the list price up to £104,665.

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source: motoring.sky