Audi has never produced a real sports vehicle, despite having a long history in motorsports and enjoying enormous success in rallying and endurance racing. The once-popular Audi TT possesses the majority of the necessary components, but its front-wheel-drive architecture, which was mostly derived from the VW Golf, left it well behind the Porsche Boxster, Nissan Z cars, and various roadsters and two-seat coupes from BMW.
Even though the resulting speed-specials were softer and more road-oriented than the adrenaline-charging weapons from Mercedes-Benz’ AMG or BMW’s M division, Audi remained content developing high-performance versions of its premium coupes and sedans, focusing on promoting all-wheel drive technology and turbocharged engines.
Only in the early 2000s, as a result of Audi’s continued dominance in the Le Mans race and the Volkswagen Auto Group’s recent acquisition of Lamborghini, did the reality of an Audi supercar start to take shape. The plan for the mid-engine Audi R8the brand’s first supercartook shape with the Le Mans Quattro concept in 2003. This was done to amortize the cost of development of the nascent Lamborghini Gallardo and to move Audi a little closer to Mercedes and BMW.
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Audi Le Mans Quattro Concept
Although the exotic twin-turbo V-10 engine was replaced with a more production-friendly version of Audi’s naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V-8, the Audi Le Mans Quattro concept looked nearly identical to the real R8 that debuted in 2007. With 414 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque transmitted to all four wheels via either Audi’s R-Tronic six-speed automated manual or a gated six-speed manual transmission, power was enough for a mid-engine sports car of the era. These early R8s had zero-to-60 mph speeds of roughly four seconds and a top speed of about 188 mph.
The Audi R8 Goes V-10
When the revised 5.2-liter V-10 from the Lamborghini LP560-4 was forced into the R8, the R8’s Lamborghini heritage was fully on display for the 2009 model year. Interesting fact: The V-10 in the Lamborghini is actually an Audi V-10 taken from the S6 and S8. In fact, the R8 V10 employs an Audi V-10 that was taken out of a Lamborghini, but I digress. The R8’s peak speed was increased to 196 mph, while its output was increased to 518 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. This allowed it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds.
The Audi R8 Spyder
Both the V-8 and the V-10 models came with drop-top Spyder variations. The V-8 added 14 more horsepower than the V-8 coupe, bringing the total to 428 horsepower, although torque stayed the same at 317 lb-ft. The limited edition R8 GT debuted in 2011, reducing the curb weight of the standard R8 V10 by 220 pounds and boosting its output to 552 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. To make up for the extra power and expand the overall performance envelope, the R8 GT also added a variety of suspension, braking, and aerodynamic improvements over the ordinary car. Only 333 units of the GT were produced in total, with an extra 333 units of the R8 GT Spyder being produced.
In the rest of the globe, the first-generation R8 underwent a mid-cycle makeover for 2012, and it made its way to the United States in 2013 as a 2014 model year. The R8 received mainly cosmetic enhancements from the refresh, but it also received some substantial mechanical improvements, most notably the replacement of the unreliable R-Tronic automatic manual transmission with a new seven-speed dual-clutch. Additionally introduced as an optional upgrade for the V-8 cars was standard magnetic dampening for the R8 V10.
In 2014, the R8 V10 Plus made its way to our shores, bringing with it a new top-of-the-line trim with more power and performance akin to the earlier R8 GT. The R8 V10 Plus, which also received a retuned suspension, an improved interior, and enhanced looks, has the same 5.2-liter V-10 engine as the normal R8 V10 but with 542 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque.
Second-Generation Audi R8
The first-generation R8 was replaced with a brand-new model in 2015 for the 2016 model year following these transient changes. The second-generation R8 shares a large portion of its structural DNA with the Lamborghini Huracan, staying with the bones of the previous generation of Lamborghinis. This includes the well-known 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V-10, the only engine now available, which has an initial output of either 602 horsepower and 413 lb-ft in the R8 V10 Plus coupe or 533 horsepower and 398 lb-ft in the original R8 coupe. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, with the exception of the limited-edition R8 RWS (Rear Wheel Series), is used to distribute power to all four wheels.
The second-generation R8 received a power boost and cosmetic overhaul for 2019. The standard coupe now has 562 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, while the newly called R8 Coupe Performance Quattro has 602 hp and 443 lb-ft. All versions of the second-generation R8 feature excellent performance; manufacturer estimated zero-to-60 mph timings range between 3.2 and 3.5 seconds, though independent tests have shown that these times are conservative.
Audi R8 Highlights
The Audi R8 will probably do well with time. Many enthusiasts’ rankings of the best designs from the 2000s routinely place the first generation of the supercar at the top, and it will only become better with time. Even though older R8s could have a negative connotation as merely used supercars, wait a while or buy one now, when their depreciation curve is at its lowest point.
The R8 will be one of the best ways to get into something genuinely exotic for not much more than the price of entry into a loaded mid-size crossover SUV after the first R8s are out of the too-new-to-be-classic but too-old-to-be-cool dead zone. Early V-8s are especially affordable to buy and substantially less expensive to maintain than a Ferrari or Lamborghini of a same vintage. Think of regular Porsche 911 maintenance as being more expensive than a BMW or Audi car and less expensive than an Aston Martin.
Any generation of the R8 is intended to be a more formal, understated supercar, if such a thing exists. Although the price of the current R8 is closer to that of the Porsche 911 Turbo, the current Acura NSX, and the Aston Martin Vantage than it is to the Huracn or the 720S from Lamborghini, the R8 performs and performs on par with those more exotic cars, in our opinion. On the basis of its sound and brutal launch control, we’d really prefer a new R8 to any of the listed options. A first-generation Audi R8 V10 with a gated manual transmission is rumored to be one of the best “exotic” sensations available for less than $100,000, so there’s that as well.
Audi R8 Buying Tips
Any model or specification of Audi R8 should be fairly reliable and shouldn’t come with too many mechanical surprises. A pre-buy check at a nearby expert or dealer is always a pleasant addition with any potential purchase, as is a thick stack of maintenance documents. Considering that even the oldest R8s still get factory support from Audi for the time being, the R8 has a high availability of parts. As previously said, anticipate routine maintenance costs akin to those associated with a Porsche 911.
We strongly advise only looking at first-generation R8s with either the six-speed manual transmission or the later dual-clutch models if you’re in the market for one. At all costs, stay away from the R-Tronic; it’s clumsy, slow, somewhat fragile, and, in the opinion of some devotees, destroys the whole experience. The type of engine also important because V-8s are obviously more economical than V-10s, but there is also a big difference in the speed, upkeep, and prestige between the two engines, which can add to (or take away from) collectibility.
Audi R8 Auctions
The Audi R8 has undoubted appeal, but it isn’t yet valuable enough to sell at big auction houses. The solid track record of sold R8s suffices to provide an estimate of what you might pay for a first generation, and Bring a Trailer never lets you down. There are so many second-generation R8sthe current modelon Audi lots that purchasing one directly from the manufacturer would be preferable.
Are Audi R8s uncommon?
What kind of appearance are you looking for in a supercar? attracting with vibrant colors? or in all-black with subtly ominous accents? It’s clear that the owner of this uncommon, limited-edition Audi R8 Green Hell Edition chose the latter, and it’s as delectable as it gets.
The Audi R8 Green Hell Edition, a limited-edition supercar that will only be made in 50 units worldwide, honors the R8 LMS’ five overall triumphs at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. It is constructed in Audi’s “Bllinger Hfe” manufacturing facility, which also produces the Space Frame for the R8 LMS race car.
Gallery: Audi R8 Green Hell Edition
The limited edition Audi R8 is available in four different color schemes, but the car shown in the page’s header is painted in a devilishly beautiful shade called Mythos Black. The brief, scriptless video was made by Auditography, but we’re not mad about it. Seeing the German Huracan in the flesh has already left us speechless.
To contrast the Tioman Green paint, the press imageswhich you can see in the gallery abovecome with black foil covers. Red is used in place of these highlights and continues to the wheels for superb yet subtle style. The interior is filled with a variety of Alcantara-covered items and “Green Hell R8” badging.
The number of Audi R8s sold is unknown.
As we continue to explore 2019 sales data, we take a closer look at how well Audi did in the United States in 2018. The first statistic that caught our attention was the sharp fall in interest in the R8, which is considered the model at the top of the line. While the Four Rings were able to sell 927 units of the V10 engine in 2018, despite the mid-cycle redesign, that figure sharply dropped to only 574 vehicles in 2019.
Sales of the “baby R8,” the TT, increased marginally by 3 percent to 1,324 units. It’s important to note that when discussing sales, Audi lumps all of the vehicle’s variants into one, so the TT includes the base model, TTS, and TT RS Coupes, in addition to the TT Roadster. The same is true for the R8, since both body variants are considered in the figures released by the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer.
Gallery: Audi R8 V10 Decennium
When comparing the coupe-limited SUV’s availability in 2018 to 2019’s full year of sales, the Q8’s enormous spike in sales of 603 percent from 2,029 to 14,256 seems reasonable. The Q7, its conventionally styled sibling, saw a 7 percent decline to 34,649 units, while the smaller Q5 saw a 4 percent decline to 67,516 units.
The Q3, another Audi SUV that had a decline in demand, saw sales dip alarmingly by 12 percent to 14,822 units. Conversely, sales of the A6 and A8 sedans increased significantly in 2019 with increases of 69 and 85 percent, respectively, to 17,807 A6s and 2,963 A8s. Demand suffered for the A5 model line last year as sales fell by 11% to 23,023 vehicles.
Sales of the A4 and A3 families both decreased in 2019; the former dropped by 24%, while the latter had a 43 percent loss. The fully electric E-Tron, which was added to the lineup in 2019, generated 5,369 sales.
Are Audi R8s still being produced?
For the brand, the Audi R8 is a pivotal vehicle in its history. It altered how people thought of Audi. It also demonstrated that they were capable of being cool, quick, and goal-oriented. The V10 R8 is now officially being announced as the last of its kind.
We announced a few weeks ago that the R8’s next version would be an all-electric vehicle. Contrary to many other theories, Audi made such statement today. By 2023, production should be finished.
Audi RS’s head of communications, Sebastian Grams, confirmed it to Top Gear “Audi RS adheres to the main Audi company’s all-electric driving philosophy. With our S and RS versions, this is the plan. If we were to create a brand-new category of super sports automobile, it would be electric. It adheres to our plan and our goal for a world powered entirely by electricity.
That not only makes it very evident that there won’t be another V10 R8, but it also raises the possibility of another possibility. Remember that he said, “If we construct.” Therefore, there appears to be a likelihood that Audi won’t replace the R8 in any way.
Of fact, the RS e-tron GT is already capable of keeping up given how quickly electric vehicles are developing. Later in the decade, Audi might decide to bring back the badge. That would allow the company time to devise a distinctive strategy for standing out.
We do know that Lamborghini won’t play a significant role in it, though. Despite the fact that they have always used similar components to create both the R8 and the Huracan, they are now obviously diverging.
According to their CEO, Lamborghini does intend to produce an all-electric vehicle by 2027 or 2028, but it won’t be a great sports car. Additionally, Grams made it clear that Audi will not be developing a hypercar in the vein of a Rimac any time soon.
“If you construct a lightweight vehicle, you won’t require 2,000 horsepower to enjoy yourself on the road. Even on the track, physics will always place a cap on your ability to perform. For instance, it makes no difference if you have 2,500 horsepower or 2,000 horsepower.
That’s a really good point that emphasizes how drastically the automotive landscape is shifting due to electrification. We eagerly anticipate learning the final shape of the new R8.
Are r8s trustworthy?
Is a pre-owned Audi R8 coupe trustworthy? The R8 is exquisitely constructed and has the typical high-quality Audi experience. However, compared to other brands, Audi has a larger percentage of reported issues and has consistently performed poorly in our most recent customer satisfaction and dependability assessments.
What Audi R8 is the most elusive?
What kind of appearance are you looking for in a supercar? attracting with vibrant colors? or in all-black with subtly ominous accents? It’s clear that the owner of this uncommon, limited-edition Audi R8 Green Hell Edition chose the latter, and it’s as delectable as it gets.
The limited edition Audi R8 is available in four color options, but the car shown in the page’s header is painted in a devilishly beautiful shade called Mythos Black. The brief, scriptless video was made by Auditography, but we’re not mad about it. Seeing the German Huracan in the flesh has already left us speechless.