The racetrack has taught Audi a lot of lessons. The thoughts and souls of the engineers at Inglostadt were fueled by 13 victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans over a 15-year period, along with victories in a number of significant GT endurance races, and they poured it all back into the Audi R8 V10 Plus. Even the most demanding drivers will be delighted and excited by this car. The styling of the R8 is stunning in its minimalism, in contrast to other supercars that shout with their look-at-me designs. Because of the extensive understanding of aerodynamics and chassis dynamics gained from hundreds of laps at Le Mans, the R8’s only real requirement for traction is its svelte appearance. to read more
The R8’s modest faade conceals a wealth of technology that allows it to accelerate from a standstill to 60 MPH in only 3.2 seconds, navigate corners with hummingbird agility, and go on to a top speed of 205 MPH. This car is totally at home on a racetrack where it can fully utilize all the engineering because it shares over half of its parts with its racecar sibling, the R8 GT3 LMS.
The R8, as its full name suggests, has a 5.2-liter V10 FSI engine that produces 413 ft-lb of torque at 6,500 RPM and 610 horsepower at 8,250 RPM. The R8’s renowned quattro all-wheel drive system distributes power to all four wheels, and the driver controls everything with a paddle-activated 7-speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission. Carbon-ceramic brakes allow you to hold onto the throttle a little bit longer at the end of straights while maintaining control of the speed before turning in.
Magnetically charged dampers further stabilize the vehicle in turns by adjusting hundreds of times per second to manage body roll and grip. The Audi R8 V10 Plus grips at the front through mid-corner with a tiny rear wheel drift at the exit, which can be corrected with a tiniest amount of steering input. Like all great sports vehicles, the Audi R8 V10 Plus motivates the driver to exert more effort and rewards them with input that boosts their confidence.
Don’t let the Audi R8 V10 Plus’s smart technology and precision make you think that it doesn’t enjoy letting loose and having fun. On the contrary, it was designed for it. less >
In This Article...
What drives the Audi R8?
The Audi R8 is renowned for its exceptional handling abilities. Although its mid-mounted engine plays a role in some of that, it’s not the whole picture.
Stand up to see how a mid-mounted engine enhances a car’s handling. The majority of your weight is distributed over your feet when you stand up straight, which gives you stability and security. Now try to walk while leaning very far forward. It becomes harder to maintain control as you begin to teeter, especially if you’re attempting to move quickly.
The same is true of automobiles. The largest single piece of weight that a car carries is its engine, even if it is an all-aluminum, super-light engine like the one in the R8. The car is much more stable, especially at high speeds, if you can keep that weight low and centered between its wheels, which serve as its “feet.”
However, the R8 has another handling advantage. The renowned Quattro all-wheel drive technology from Audi is a standard feature of the R8. All-wheel drive may be thought to be best reserved for snowy days, but it also improves a car’s handling in warm, dry conditions.
On dry days, all-wheel drive implies all-wheel fun since it distributes the power of the vehicle among all four wheels. Thus, as the vehicle navigates curves, power may be sent to the wheels that require it. The R8 has the ability to shift up to 35% of its power to the front wheels, improving its grip in any condition.
You might be surprised to learn that the R8 is actually comfortable to drive. Many exotic cars are designed with the racetrack in mind first and the road second. The R8 performs admirably on both, making it slightly more usable than the ordinary supercar. Supercar passion is, of course, not based on utility. It is heavily based on appearances.
Learn more about the R8’s exterior style, including the new R8 Spyder, by reading on.
Can you drive an Audi R8 every day?
A surprisingly good alternative for a daily driver is the Audi R8. The two seats are comfy and roomy enough to make a short or even a long commute bearable, but the interior isn’t very big and it’s not a viable alternative if you want to have more than one passenger.
Purchasing a secondhand R8 will help reduce your anxiety regarding mileage increases, but the vehicles are unusual enough that you may log miles without worrying about the vehicle’s value depreciating.
Is the Audi R8 a useful vehicle?
Although a mid-engined two-seater will never be the pinnacle of practicality, the Audi R8 is a daily driver. Although the driving position feels a little high-set when compared to the low-slung McLaren 570S, it is spacious enough for two people inside.
The cabin also features a huge glovebox, a few cupholders, and a short, covered cubby on the transmission tunnel, among other useful storage areas. Behind the front seats, there is a roomy 226-liter parcel shelf that comes with a useful luggage-retaining system. The R8 has a large trunk in the front, but it is much behind the Porsche 911, which also has the advantage of folding back seats, with a 112 liter trunk that is 34 liters smaller than the one in a McLaren.
Is the Audi R8 a manual or automatic?
A three-pedal layout is the most engaging and enjoyable method to get the most out of an automobile, as every red-blooded automotive enthusiast is aware of. Heinz Hollerweger, the CEO of Audi’s Quattro GmbH, has a different perspective.
You can’t really blame him in some aspects. When questioned why the 2018 Audi R8 will only be available with a dual-clutch, Hollerweger made a point to remind out that today’s most sophisticated automated gearboxes simply outperform manuals at the track.
At the 2015 Geneva auto show, he observed, “You have to look at lap times,” adding that, at least in Europe, demand for Audi R8s with manual transmissions was practically nonexistent. When questioned about it, Hollerweger didn’t budge. Hollerweger thinks there’s no use in offering a manual on the new car because a stick-shift just cannot match the performance of the R8’s dual-clutch transmission and few purchasers requested one.
Of course, we beg to differ, and we were quite surprised by his claim that driving a car with a manual transmission is not a more interesting experience. But regrettably, that seems to be the way of the world, and given the direction that manufacturers of supercars, like Ferrari and others, have been taking recently, it is hardly a surprise.
One more piece of information regarding the Audi R8 was provided by Hollerweger: a V-8 will not be offered for the vehicle. We now understand why the new R8 debuted alongside the V-10, which was a bit of a surprise. We don’t care about a V-8, Hollerweger stated. He also said that demand for the eight-cylinder was weak and that demand for the “iconic” V-10 significantly exceeded estimates for the first-generation model.
If you want an Audi R8, you may choose between a 5.2-liter V-10 engine with 520 or 610 horsepower for this generation at least, but you are limited to the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. You may also choose the R8 e-tron, which has a T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack, electric motors, and a 280-mile range, if you don’t mind waiting a year or more, at least in Europe.
Therefore, those of you who own first-generation Audi R8s with V-8 engines and manual transmissions suddenly possess a pretty rare vehicle. Enjoy.
Can anybody purchase an Audi R8?
As you can see, each Audi R8 owner has a unique story, but they all have one thing in common: the Audi R8 is among the best entry-level exotic automobiles you can purchase right now and NOT lose money.
You need look no further than the first-generation Audi R8 if you don’t want the high ownership expenses of a Ferrari or the flashiness of a Lamborghini but still want a daily-driveable exotic car (with the performance to back it up).
Refer to our Audi R8 buyer’s guide if you want to know everything there is to know about the vehicle.
Check out more of our students to discover more of our students who have successfully hacked their first exotic car.
I hope the actual owners’ first-hand knowledge of the globe helps you in your search for your very own Audi R8.
Is a Lamborghini quicker than an Audi R8?
But you can see how great the Aventador Roadster is by simply looking at the table directly above. The performance parameters of the V12 engine in the Lamborghini Aventador series are simply beyond the capabilities of the Audi R8 Spyder, despite its valiant efforts. Starting in the first row, where we can observe an incredible advantage of 198 horsepower, this is made quite evident. Even though the torque is only 109 pound-feet, it is still quite a bit.
What supercar is the simplest to operate?
The Lamborghini Huracan, which shares an engineering platform with the Audi R8, provides consumers with all the visual drama they could want in a mid-engined supercar, as well as simple handling and Germanic dependability. The Huracan’s normally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine produces 602 horsepower with four-wheel drive or 572 bhp with rear-drive, which is our preferred configuration. The rear-driver is more agile and sharper than the 4×4, which understeers in tight turns, while having a lesser output. However, the majority of buyers do request 4×4, and because to its exceptional traction and balance, it is one of the most straightforward supercars to drive quickly. Additionally, there is a Huracan Spyder model for those who prefer to feel the wind in their hair, as well as an even more potent Performante model with 631 horsepower and striking carbon fiber aerodynamic modifications. Even the slowest Huracan can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds and achieve 199 miles per hour, with most exceeding 200 miles per hour.
Is the Audi R8 pricey enough?
The Audi R8: A Good or Bad Car? Yes, the Audi R8 is a quality vehicle. A throaty V10 engine with plenty of power and hair-raising acceleration is standard on all variants. The R8 rides comfortably and handles well.
An Audi R8 oil change costs how much?
An Audi R8 oil change typically costs between $209 and $224. Between $55 to $69 is projected to be the cost of labor, while $154 is the cost of parts. Taxes and other fees are not included in this range, nor are your particular model year or geographic area taken into account.
Audi R8: Is it quiet?
Even while some of its more extreme counterparts are faster around a racetrack, the Audi R8 is nonetheless blisteringly quick and comfortable enough to drive every day.
Performance and Economy
The Audi R8 has only one engine, but it just so happens to be one of the best ones found in any car now on the market. A 5.2-litre V10, which also powers the Lamborghini Huracan, is located only a few inches behind your shoulders. With a seven-speed gearbox, this high-revving masterpiece transmits all of its massive 570 horsepower to all four wheels for maximum get-up-and-go when you press the gas pedal. When the Audi R8’s settings are turned up to the proverbial 11, it will accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds and top out at 201 miles per hour.
There is always the option to upgrade to the appropriately called Performance model if this seems a little too tameperhaps you’re a fighter pilot, astronaut, or human cannonball. This adds 620 horsepower to the mix, accelerates to 60 mph in less than three tenths of a second, and tops out at 205 mph.
It’s important to keep in mind that these really fast vehicles have smaller gasoline tanks than ordinary cars, so you should plan on visiting the gas station more frequently. Regarding fuel efficiency, Audi claims the R8 achieves 21 mpg, although under typical driving circumstances, you’ll probably see a number closer to 15 mpg.
Driving
The Audi R8’s ease of operation is one of its main selling points. You might be excused for believing you were driving a TT around town if it weren’t for the sound of a huge V10 engine rumbling away over your shoulder.
While the Audi R8’s relatively big windows make it relatively easy to look out of them and the suspension does an excellent job of smoothing out potholes, it is true that you sit so low to the earth that you’ll worry about shredding your pants on speed bumps. Even when you’re travelling at a high speed and using cruise control to help ease the pain of long road drives, it’s still fairly quiet.
The Audi R8 is eager to display its more wild side as soon as you exit the highway and onto a winding country road. With the accelerator depressed, pull out of a quiet intersection, and the magnificent V10 will scream shockingly and kick the back of your seat hard. Every sprint between tranquil villages becomes an eye-widening event because it reacts to your inputs more swiftly than turbocharged engines found in cars like the McLaren 570S.
That is not to argue that the Audi R8 cannot handle a number of hairpin turns. The quattro four-wheel-drive system of the R8 helps it cling to the road like day-old Weetabix to a porcelain bowl by coaxing grip from even the slickest of surfaces.
Through a sequence of tight corners, you won’t find yourself turning the steering wheel much either, which helps you get a clear idea of what the front wheels are doing. This dexterity allows you to quickly maneuver the broad-shouldered Audi R8 through unexpectedly small gaps without having to worry about damaging the passenger door on a dense hedgerow.