2010 Audi R8 Reviews

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Audi R8 at its international launch in Portugal.

How quick is the new Audi R8 4.2?

No sooner had the tyre dust settled on the 2013 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix than Audi hit the grid in the race for supercar supremacy Down Under.The automobile manufacturer had chosen the day after the GP to let loose the latest R8 supercar, which in its V10 guise, is the fastest production vehicle on the German maker’s books, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix track in Victoria.VALUEPrices range from $279,500, plus on-road costs, for the V8 manual Coupe to $408,200 for the V10 plus S tronic. The Fine Nappa full-leather package (up to $19,000, ouch!) includes quilted seat covers and inserts in the door liners. This quilting is also available as an option for the Alcantara headlining.All R8 variants now come standard with LED headlights, introduced with the R8 four years ago. Now a special control unit transforms the daytime running light strip into turn signals. Headlights also include a static turning light.The rear lights, including reversing light, are also LEDs with a unique dynamic turn signal light always running outward in the direction of the desired turn. The spoiler of the R8 deploys automatically at 100 km/h.DESIGNAppropriately tagged the ‘spearhead’ of the Audi model range, the R8 now comes in two body styles – Coupé and Spyder (convertible). The new top model is available only as a coupe.On the outside much is familiar. The unique sideblades – air intakes in front of the rear wheels - have been retained. A new single-frame grille with tapered top corners is finished in high-gloss black; in V10 models, its struts decorated with fine chrome strips. The four Audi rings are not on the grille but on the bonnet.The bumper has also been redesigned, the black air intakes to the radiator and brakes having three crossbars. At the heart of the R8’s ultra lightweight construction is the aluminium Audi Space Frame, weighing in at a mere 210 kg, roughly 40 per cent less than a similar steel structure.The body of the R8 Spyder, with its automatic cloth cap, weighs 216 kg. At the lower end of the scale, the R8 V8, with the six-speed manual gearbox, registers just 1560 kg, while the weight of the top model has been trimmed by 50 kg.Aluminium double wishbones provide dynamic handling on the race track, while at the same time producing a comfortable ride on the road. The R8 rolls on 19-inch alloy wheels in a variety of modern symmetrical designs.But there is more ... or, in this case, less. Many body parts of the R8 Spyder and R8 V10 plus are made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer, the same material as used in the interior of the top model. Bucket seats have folding backrests giving access to space behind for small objects such as briefcases and umbrellas.TECHNOLOGYIt has a choice of three engines, plus a new S tronic transmission replacing the R tronic of old. The result is that sprint times for both models equipped with the new seven-speed S tronic have improved by 0.3 seconds, while fuel consumption has been trimmed by up to 0.9 litres per 100 km with carbon dioxide emissions at 22 grams per kilometre.The fast shifting dual clutch S tronic incorporates launch control that provides optimal traction when setting off. The eight-cylinder engine powering the Audi R8 V8 delivers 316 kW and 430 Nm of torque, the latter between 4500 and 6000 rpm. Running through the S tronic, it pushes the R8 Coupé from zero to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 300 km/h.The Audi R8 V10 with the S tronic does the sprint in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 314 km/h, the ten-cylinder engine producing 386 kW and delivering 530 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm. At the top of the model range is the new R8 V10 Plus with 404 kW of power and 540 Nm of torque.Equipped with the S tronic, it accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h. Power is put to the ground through a quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with a rear-axle bias.The positioning of the engines amidships means the axle weight is distributed roughly 43 per cent front to 57 per cent back, perfect balance for a sports car, while dry sump lubrication enables the motors to be mounted low, giving the vehicle a low centre of gravity, a further advantage for a performance vehicle.SAFETYPowerful brakes consist of four discs, internally vented and perforated, with a wave design to reduce weight. Even lighter, yet durable, carbon fibre-ceramic discs are optional and standard on V10 plus.DRIVINGSurprisingly, the high-performance R8 handles heavy street traffic like a trouper, tootling around benignly to a subdued engine accompaniment, evident on a transport stage from airport to island.However, the real R8 is always on hand to use its motor muscle and slip into those gaps that often appear in a line of slow moving vehicles, to the relief of the frustrated driver.Once on the Phillip Island track, members of the motoring media did their best to unsettle all three R8s but without much success. The trio were calling the tune through their state-of-the-art ride and handling.We were told the V10s could clear 300 kilometres per hour. I eased off at a tad over 220 km/h at the end of the main straight before we hit the beach. Next stop Tasmania.It was left to Audi Sport driver Markus Winkelhock, who had flown in specially for the occasion, to really wind up the rubber band on the R8 V10 plus. He said he liked the track. From my spot in the passenger seat it showed.Winkelhock has form. He won the Nurburgring 24 Hour endurance race in 2012 in a works R8 and was within a second of the leader at Daytona when he ran out of fuel within cooee of the chequered flag.  VERDICTBuyers of the latest R8 have everything to look forward to.MODEL LINE-UPR8 Coupe 4.2 FSI V8 manual 316 kW: $279,500R8 Coupe 4.2 FSI V8 S tronic 316 kW: $287,000R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI V8 manual 316 kW: $308,400R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI V8 S tronic 316 kW: $315,900R8 Coupe 5.2 FSI V10 S tronic 386 kW: $366,900R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI V10 S tronic 386 kW: $395,800R8 Coupe 5.2 FSI V10 Plus S tronic 404 kW: $408,200Audi R8 V10 PlusPrice: $408,200Engine: 5.2-litre V10Power: 404kW/540NmTransmission: Seven-speed dual clutch, all-wheel-drive0 to 100km/h: 3.5 secondsEconomy: 12.9L/100kmSafety: Four airbags, no safety rating (too expensive to crash)Warranty: Three years/unlimited kmCapped price servicing: NoWeight: 1570kgSpare wheel: None

Would you believe me if I said the new Audi R8 supercar had something in common with a Toyota HiLux ute -- apart from having four wheels?Well it does, kind of. Much like workhorses go on forever between new model updates, supercars also take an eternity before they get a makeover.This mid-life update of the Audi R8 has just arrived -- almost six years after it went on sale. Which means it’ll be close to 12 years old by the time a new model replaces it. Even a Toyota HiLux only gets a 10-year run. Luckily the Audi R8 is the result of one of the better automotive acquisitions in the modern era.It all started when German car maker Audi bought the Italian supercar firm in 1999. Audi’s first point of business was to develop an all-new model, the Gallardo, to help get the company back on its feet. That car, introduced in 2003, would become the best selling Lamborghini of all time and is still on sale today.But more importantly it gave Audi the perfect ingredients for a thoroughbred supercar of its own. The R8 was born in 2007 and now we’re about to find out what Audi has done to make it better over the past seven years.VALUEThat’s a relative term. With a starting price of $279,500 for the V8 model it could hardly be accused of being in the bargain basement. But it is cheaper than a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (at $289,400 the most powerful, non-turbo all-wheel-drive 911) and much cheaper than the Lamborghini Gallardo with which the Audi shares its genes ($455,000).But if you’re going to go this far you may as well buy the V10 version of the Audi R8 at $366,900, he says with indifference. Actually, let’s go the whole way: the new 5.2-litre all-wheel-drive R8 V10 Plus, at $408,200. It’s only money. But that premium price buys a car that’s 50kg lighter than the standard V10 and is 0.1 second faster to 100km/h (3.5 seconds). Could there ever be a better way to spend $42,000?That money also buys a more powerful engine and carbon-ceramic brakes (as found on Formula One cars, presumably ones with better reliability than Mark Webber’s Red Bull machine, whose clutch mechanism failure led to another awful start at the Australian F1 Grand Prix last weekend, and whose push-to-pass system didn’t work for the first half of the race. Sorry, I digress).TECHNOLOGYTiny magnetic particles in the suspension mean that, at the press of a button, the Audi R8 transforms from track weapon to kitty-cat. It’s a race car for the road that won’t break your back. But the big news is the new transmission. The Audi R8 originally had an old-school robotised manual. There was no clutch pedal (the car clutch engaged automatically) but it created a see-saw affect between gears.The new gearbox is a dual-clutch arrangement. Translated: it has faster and more seamless changes, and it’s more economical thanks to having seven gears instead of six. Oh that’s right: fuel economy. Yes, the new model is 0.9L/100km more efficient. So you’ll save about $150 off your annual fuel bill on your new $408,200 supercar.SAFETYAirbags? Check. Brakes? Check. Superb road-holding? Read the next bit.DRIVINGAudi bravely let journalists behind the wheel of all three models -- the V8, the V10 and the V10 Plus – on the Phillip Island race circuit earlier this week. The fastest Audi of all time on the fastest permanent race track in Australia. We have to say “permanent” because Mount Panorama Bathurst is quicker, but it’s a public road and a milk run most of the year.The V8 felt okay on the recently resurfaced track. The gearbox is a definite improvement and it feels less sluggish than before. And then you drive the V10, and all of a sudden the V8 feels pedestrian. It’s amazing what two extra cylinders can do, but this is probably the best use of them yet.The V10’s power is phenomenal, available from low revs and all the way up to what feels like infinity. The sounds are thrilling. The grip of the Pirelli tyres is superb (aided a little by the brand-new bitumen). It’s the closest responsiveness a car can get to a motorcycle. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, as I don’t have the guts to ride a high-powered motorcycle. But it’s what I’d imagine it to be like.VERDICTForget the V8. If ever you’re in a position to treat yourself to an Audi R8, wait until you can afford the V10 -- or wash windscreens at traffic lights to save the difference. Otherwise you’re just driving around in a muscle shirt without the muscles.Audi R8 V10 PlusPrice: $408,200Engine: 5.2-litre V10Power: 404kW/540NmTransmission: Seven-speed dual clutch, all-wheel-drive0 to 100km/h: 3.5 secondsEconomy: Who cares? Ok 12.9L/100kmSafety: Four airbags, no safety rating (too expensive to crash)Warranty: Three years/unlimited kmCapped price servicing: NoWeight: 1570kgSpare wheel: None

I have never, ever been in a car that has garnered as many stares and whispers as this one. And to be honest, it's not a bad feeling to have a heap of admirers -- mainly men, skater teens and small boys -- staring at your back-end with smiles on their collective faces. Obviously, it's the R8's exposed (rear) engine that gets them in. As well as its smooth noise. And clean lines. And sleekness. Need I go on?This mighty fine specimen of A-list, hand-crafted aluminium was 'loaned' to me for a weekend, fulfilling one of my son Connor's (oh, and my) dreams. And sorry, son, we cannot afford one. The kid knew more about our R8 and was more protective of it than he would have been a pet python. That drew me to the conclusion that everyone should, at least once, drive – or even test drive -- a damn sexy sportscar. Which, in turn, led me to the next conclusion that my next car is going to be some/any kind of sportscar.The precisely put-together R8 is nowhere near as ubiquitous as my trusty ole VW Golf -- there are just a double digit amount of R8's in Australia. But after our acceleR8-ing experience (the son made that little term up) I have now been officially spoilt. It will be hard to go back now.The Audi R8 was designed as the German car company's city-drivable answer to a Porsche. And when it was unveiled in 2008 it had an engine based on the one in the Lamborghini Gallardo which -- like torque, downforce, kilowatts and ABS -- doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. All I know is that this car definitely has fire in its belly. It wants to go faaaast. And I could, quite possibly, have found a hot-wheeling husband with a passion for fast cars, IF I had continued driving it for the rest of my life.Audi says its R8 can go from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in around 3.9 seconds and 97 to 200 km/h in 8.1 seconds. Shame the zillion school zones and residential zones we found over the weekend didn't let any of us fulfil the latter potential. But a drive from Sydney up along the northern beaches gave me all the ammo I needed to know this vehicle was the crème de la crème of cars.There are all-LED headlights; a killer Bang & Olufsen 465 watt sound system and a body that oozes as much sex as a Victoria's secret fashion show. Or Mila Kunis. Simply, the R8 is an incredibly sexy car. Even sliding into it (and you verge on performing a limbo manoeuvre getting into the cabin) makes you feel like you have hurled yourself onto your wedding night hotel bed. If you get my drift.The V10 engine would probably chew through the fuel but hey, who’s worried about the price of petrol when you've forked out enough bucks on a car to buy an inner city bedsit?To be honest, the R8 is not an everyday car. You want to go full throttle but those pesky (ok, ok, much needed) 60km/h zones thwart that full teleporting acceleration experience. The B&O sound system is quite extraordinary. I felt like I was at a live gig each time my tunes were switched on. The transmission is S-tronic, which is chic Audi-speak for automated-manual, with the engine changing gears when it should. There are a number of ways you can ‘drive' the R8 but I opted keeping it in 'A' and it did all the gear-changing for me.Look, I could have put more effort into actually driving this magnificent specimen of car-hood, and experimenting with the auto gear change system. But I was much too busy enjoying having my rear end (with the magnificent engine exposed under a veil of glass) checked out -- and waving to appreciative car fans with that "this is my car" confidence that only comes with driving a pricey but shockingly chic set of wheels. Simply, I loved it.Footnote: a new Audi R8 will set you back well into the, gulp, $300k mark ... so get saving. Or find someone rich who'll buy it for you. As a gift. Let's wish.

Teenage boys try to be cool, aloof and dis-interested, but all it takes is a German droptop sportscar to transform them into wide-eyed gawkers.  Blip the Audi R8 V10 Spider's throttle and they jump a little before returning to filling their smart phones with pics.  It might well be similar in outlay to the median house price in Adelaide, but these boys would probably ignore the capital gain and take the keys.VALUENext please. You do pay for the blue sky privileges of the R8 Spyder V10, which asks $392,200 for the R-Tronic automated manual - a $16,100 ask over the six-speed manual that's probably not money well spent, but more on that later.The features list goes some way towards offsetting the mortgage-sized pricetag - standard in the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro are the power mirrors, auto LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an alarm, a Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker sound system (that spent most of its time dormant while I had the car).There's also Bluetooth phone link (which regularly argued with my iPhone) satnav, power-adjustable and heated Nappa leather seats with special coating to reduce heat absorption, parking sensors, a  rear-view camera and the auto-dipping high-beam assist.TECHNOLOGYAlmost everything about this car says high-tech - starting with the light-emitting diode (LED) lights for both beams, the daytime running lights and the indicators.  Built on the Audi Space Frame, which consists of aluminium and carbon-fibre composite materials, the R8's body panels also made using the strong lightweight materials to keep weight increases to a minimum.The soft top's mechanism adds 42kg to the scales but the roofless and reinforced body alone is just 6kg more than the Coupe.  The work has had an effect as the open-topped car has little movement or shake over bumps or through dips; overall the Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro weighs only 1725kg - 100kg more than the hardtop.The Spyder's 5.2-litre V10 is an Audi powerplant (says Audi) shared with Lamborghini (who do a Lambo-specific top end), but in the German machine produces 386kW and 530Nm - enough to hit 100km/h in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h.DESIGNStill an eye-catcher of epic proportions, the convertible's styling has held up to the sands of time.  Unlike the coupe, the R8 Spyder has vents in lieu of the "sideblades" just aft of the doors are functional, with the convertible tonneau (made from carbon-fibre composite) giving the rear-end attractive proportions, although the pop-up rear-spoiler ruin the lines a little.The roof is an insulated soft-top that opens and closes within 19 seconds, at speeds up to 50 km/h, with a heated glass rear window that doubles as a wind-blocker to good effect.  Storage space is limited - a couple of cubby holes in the cabin and a luggage compartment in the snout thatclaims a capacity of 100 litres.SAFETYThe R8 Spyder not short on safety gear, with dual front and side airbags, stability control, tyre pressure monitoring and roll-over protection in the form of two spring-loaded aluminium sections within the bulkhead.Magnetic switches release the bars within 0.2 of a second of the system detecting an airbag or seatbelt pre-tensioner firing.It stops in a similarly staggering fashion to its departures - massive drilled and ventilated brakes with eight-piston front and four-piston rear calipers will bring things to a halt in short order.DRIVINGViolent forward motion - with a banshee at your shoulder - sums up the R8 V10 Spyder, of which Audi have sold 10 in Australia since its September launch last year.  Even with the roof up, you can drop the back window and keep the shrieking soundtrack - at least that's what I think my passenger called it, I could be wrong.In full-monty sport mode, the sharpened drivetrain smashes your senses, with the only interruption being the (admittedly old-school) single-clutch automated manual swapping cogs.  With 530Nm of torque at 6500rpm and 386kW arriving at a hysterical 8000rpm, the Spyder lays claim to a 313km/h top speed and a sprint to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds - nothing about the R8's demeanour suggests these are optimistic.But it's the mundane mooching on main roads where the R8 is surprising - the magnetic dampers (which would only ever need Sport mode on a racetrack) offer a good ride - firm but with more compliance than many vehicles with vastly inferior cornering ability.That list of cars is toilet-roll long - the rear-biased all-wheel drive system, meaty steering and grip levels that make a leech look lazy all team up to give the Spyder prowess in corners that re-arranges your internal organs.The cabin noise levels are well below average for a convertible and, if you use the paddles and change manually in Normal mode, the drivetrain is far more pleasant - save the $16,000 Audi charges for the R-Tronic and spend it on other options.Sadly the droptop doesn't provide the same delicious powerplant view on offer in the coupe, but the open-air experience - with none of the body weakness and creaking that sullies other soft-tops - makes the peak-a-boo view of the V10 easier to take.VERDICTA potent drive of epic proportions, the R8 Spyder is a supercar that could easily be driven every day without complaint from car or driver - I'll live in a swag and take the car.AUDI R8 V10 SPYDER ****1/2 Price: $392,000Warranty: 3 years, unlimited  kmResale: 85% Service Interval: 15,000km or 12-monthsEconomy: 13.9 l/100km, 98 RON PULP, on test 20.5; 332g/km CO2, tank 80 litresSAFETY  Equipment: four airbags, stability control, ABS, EBD.Crash rating: n/a star TECHNICAL Engine: 386kW/530Nm 5.2-litre DOHC direct-injection 40-valve V10Transmission: six-speed R-Tronic automated manual, all-wheel driveBody: 2-door, 2 seats convertibleDimensions: 4434mm (L); 1904mm (W); 1244mm (H); 2650mm (WB)Weight: 1725kgTyre size: 235/35 fr, 295/30 rr, 19inSpare tyre:Tyre mobility system 

The fastest car to ever wear an Audi badge has hit Australia.The V10-powered Audi R8 is officially good for 317km/h and qualifies as a paid-up member of the supercar club with a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.9 seconds. It is fast in every gear, all the time.But it will take a cashed-up buyer to put one in the garage, with a starting price of $351,000, or $366,900 with the R-tronic manu-matic gearbox.The other bad news is just as blunt: Audi Australia is only expecting 10 cars and it has names against all of them."We want to attract customers who are intrigued by the R8 … but were waiting for the V10," says Immo Buschmann, marketing chief of Audi Australia. "The R8 V10 is already a very good car, but it's good to refresh the R8 and introduce a new level. "That level comes thanks to a 5.2-litre V10 engine with a romping 386 kiloWatts and 530 Newton-metres of torque.It's a huge increase over the 4.2-litre V8, which was snitched from the S4 for use in the mid-engined rocket. It's a similar engine to the one used in the Lamborghini Gallardo, although not as tautly tuned as the Italian car.Still, it has huge grunt from the time you turn the key and a fantastic engine note which is unique to the car.Car nuts will pick the V10 by its all-LED front lamps, a slightly different grille and oval exhaust pipes − which replace the four-pipe exhaust on the V8.DrivingThe new R8 is a genuine road rocket that confirms all the promise of the V8. It is more muscular where it counts, with instant urge in every gear, as the V10 lifts the package from fast to superfast.Accelerate from 80km/h and it's easy to get the traction-control light blinking, even on dry bitumen. It's that sort of car. The sound is terrific, too, with a guttural bark that reaches its peak as the tacho needle twists past 7000 revs on the way to the 8700 redline.Audi Australia is previewing the R8 V10 today at Lakeside Raceway in Queensland, where its speed is far beyond the ability of ordinary drivers. It easily tops 210km/h down the front straight and tips 200 again at another spot at the back of the swooping, curving course.Driven back-to-back with the regular R8 − with only a V8 − it is up to 20km/h faster at some points and never seems to run out of puff and push.The single test car is a six-speed manual, and would probably be quicker and easier to drive with the R-Tronic, but that's a minor point unless you're buying.The real shock comes when you drop back to the pocket-rocket S3, which has 188 kiloWatts on its own.It is swift and fun on the road, but compared to the R8 V10 at Lakeside it is slow and ponderous and unresponsive. Yes, the V10 makes the R8 just that good. 

Scintillating, mind-bending and eye-watering - quite literally - the Audi R8 is on another plane when it comes to scorching through a favoured back road.First impressions of this car were from behind the wheel of a left-hand-drive car at Phillip Island, followed by a brief road drive in unfamiliar territory.Now it has been sampled on the challenging, familiar, sometimes-rough but always entertaining roads through the Adelaide Hills.Suggesting it has passed the test is a little like saying Einstein was a bright bloke with potential to do OK.This little two-seater is quite simply one of the most awesome vehicles I have driven, a list which includes plenty of high-performance brands.There are more than a few fast Audis within that list but none has impressed in so many ways.First, the looks of this low-slung machine pass the bus-stop test unanimously - young or old, male of female, the R8 turns heads and gets the camera phones firing.It's wider than a Commodore, only a little longer than a Barina sedan and you look up at the little Holden's driver.The brand makes good use of LED running lights and indicators in its super coupe, with xenon headlights also making an impression on those ahead.What isn't on offer is a lot of luggage space, with a small compartment in the nose and a small amount of space behind the two seats.You'll have to take something else from the garage to course if you need to take your golf partner and both bags. Or you could take up a different sort of driving.Firing up the V8 engine, which cranks out the same 309kW and 430Nm as the RS4 from the same stable, the noise is enticing, yet subtle. A razor-sharp throttle and a somewhat lifeless clutch can make take-offs a little haphazard, something that can also be said for the gated six-speed manual.Once accustomed to the shift, there's less chance of mutilating the gear change, but the tactile mechanical nature of the change might not be to all tastes. The close-set pedal box is not ideal for size 12 feet but careful application is rewarded.An automatic transmission is available, for an additional $15,000. While it might make the day-to-day drudgery a little easier to deal with, the loss of the metallic soundtrack to the gear changes might be missed.Dribbling through traffic, the R8 is remarkably docile, with a broad torque band helping to make progress unfussed. At 1560kg, the aluminium spaceframe body with plastic panels feels taut, light and strong.Tipping into a corner at pace for the first time is an enlightening experience. Whereas Audis of older days suffered numb steering and a weighty snout, the mid-engined all-wheel drive is biased both in weight and drive to the rear.It works a treat. As the pace quickens, there are no complaints from the Pirelli P-Zero rubber.Even without the tricky Audi Magnetic Ride magnetic-fluid suspension in Sport mode, the R8 sits flat, turns, grips and fires out of most corners with delicious disdain for the bend.Even tighter turns fail to induce major understeer and any front-wheel scrubbing is easily remedied with the wheel and the right-hand pedal.The ride quality is remarkably good given the intended duties of such a machine, and even when pressing ahead hard into corners the Sport suspension button is not required.Track days on a billiard table surface might warrant the tighter suspension settings, but it is by no means required.Of course, at $260,000 for the manual, it's not on too many shopping lists, but given the price tag of some of the other Euro hyper-cars required to keep up, it's a bargain. Small torqueAudi R8 4.2 FSI QUATTROPrice: $259,900Engine: 4.2-litre 90-degree dry-sump direct-injection 32-valve DOHC V8.Transmission: Six-speed manual, quattro all-wheel drive, electronic differential lock, traction and stability control.Power: 309kW at 7800rpm.Torque: 430Nm between 4500rpm and 6000rpm.Performance: 0-100km/h 4.6 seconds. Top speed 301km/h (governed).Fuel consumption: 14.6 litres/100km, on test 17 litres/100km, tank 75 litres, 98RONEmissions: 349g/km.Suspension: Front and rear double-wishbones.Brakes: four-wheel ventilated and cross-drilled discs, with ABS and EBD.Dimensions: Length 4431mm, width 1904mm, height 1252mm, wheelbase 2650mm, track fr/rr 1632/1593mm, cargo volume 100 litres, weight 1560kg.Wheels:19in alloys.In its class:Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, from $243,000Aston Martin V8 Vantage, from $245,000Ferrari F430, from $416,850Lamborghini Gallardo, from $414,993

Let us say up front that the Audi R8 had been one of the most anticipated drives of the year. First seen as the Le Mans Concept at the 2003 Frankfurt motor show, the production R8 had been talked up to a degree only a true superstar could live up to.Reports from the launch drive were mixed; good but not great, a bit of a show pony held back so as not to embarrass its Lamborghini stablemates, stylish but tries too hard.It all added to the anticipation and, more than usual, first impressions were going to be everything.Talk about getting off on the right foot. The test car was the six-speed manual with a solid body colour of brilliant red. The absence of the optional carbon-fibre ($5050) or silver ($2600) side air-intake panels immediately sent the spirits soaring.The R8 doesn't need gimmickry to draw attention. Even the glass show-off panel over the mid-mounted engine is unnecessary. In its most basic form the R8 is an attention magnet.It just looks the business. From the gaping front airdams, LED underscored headlights and no-nonsense stance through to the oversized TT-like rear the R8 speaks of getting on with it. Still, nobody had ever criticised it for being ugly.Slip into the cabin and you are in for a very pleasant surprise.You get the distinct feeling that those practical Germans have taken a long hard look at the captains of industry who are likely to be able to afford the R8 and — in the nicest possible way — made concessions for the regular boardroom lunch or three.There is room to spare and comfort to burn. Even the basic sports seats are nicely styled to hug a larger frame rather than just the pencil-thin F1 driver on his day off.If you want to step up to the creme-de-la-creme of sports seats, has Audi got a deal for you. For a mere $10,700 you can get the same carbon-fibre saddles as seen in the TT — and they come with the same compromises, a whopping price premium and the loss of the side airbags.The instrument binnacle is deeply-cowled and concentrated high in front of the driver. The flat-bottomed steering wheel has a nice meaty feel to it, with easy-to-use audio controls on the cross-arms.The open-gated six-speed manual shifter is a nice piece of art in a cabin that leans towards the minimalist and, more to the point, is well placed to come easily to hand.Storage space is not excessive but by supercar standards it is generous. There was also the optional storage package ($800) on the test car. There is a reasonable parcel shelf behind the seats and enough room for a phone and wallet in the centre console.The test car interior was standard and pretty good for all that. If you have a bit of pocket change left after purchase you could always option up to the $13,450 Napa leather treatment with sensuous-to-the-touch hide stretched across the dash, door trims, handbrake lever and further.So much for looks, how about ability? Straight up, the performance parameters of the R8 are not about being a supercar.Make no mistake, 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 301km/h are nothing to be sneered at, but neither are they in true supercar territory. A Mercedes SL600, Porsche 911 GT3, BMW M6 and a few others can match it and nobody thinks of them as supercars. Think mid-three seconds if you want to wear that tag.The upside of the R8's performance is that it has been set up as a car you can live with every day and shake the cobwebs out any time you like.It doesn't feel harsh and super-sharp, neither in the throttle, suspension nor steering.They are all at the better end of the sportscar scale but are still enjoyable without being tiring.Fire up the 4.2-litre V8 and wonder where it went. The isolation from the engine, sitting behind you, is such that the initial cabin noise is sedan-like.Wind down the window, find a tunnel and then jab the throttle.That will give some idea of how good this thing sounds to those merely looking on. From the driver's seat you are going to have to be satisfied with a far more subtle experience.The free-revving V8 is the same as the one in Audi's glorious RS4 — and while it shares the same magic it suffers from the same frustrations.At urban pace the benefits of a 309kW powerplant that spins up to 7800rpm remain largely untapped.Even the 430Nm of torque — which peaks at 4500rpm and hangs around until 6000rpm — rarely gets the chance to contribute.It is also keen for a drink. Feather-throttle driving is not something the R8 encourages so be prepared to accept that the official 14.6litre per 100km economy rating is an ambit claim. It is going to be quite a bit higher than that.Drive for the R8 is through Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system, tuned in the R8 to give serious bias to the rear and not spoil all the fun.Adjustable sports suspension has its benefits but apart from the rare smooth section of sweeping highway and a trip to the track the comfort setting will be more than adequate.News from the New York Motor Show this week  the R8 had plucked two of the four World Car of The Year awards — Performance Car Of The Year and Design Of The Year — will only add to the R8's lustre.The bottom lineSuperstar, not supercar.  Snapshot Audi R8Price: $259,900Engine: 4.2L/V8, 308kW/420NmTransmission: 6-speed manualPerformance: 0-100km/h 4.6secs The rivalsPorsche 911 Carrera SPrice: $233,100Engine: 3.6L/6cyl, 261kW/400NmTransmission: 5-speed tiptronicPerformance: 0-100km/h 4.8secs  BMW M6 coupePrice: $276,400Engine: 5.0L/V10, 373kW/520NmTransmission: 7-speed sequential manualPerformance: 0-100km/h 4.6secs Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMGPrice: $382,974Engine: 6.2L/V8, 385kW/630NmTransmission: 7-speed automatic with manual modePerformance: 0-100km/h 4.6secs

It stopped making its NSX a couple of years ago and, as yet, hasn't produced another. Honda's sole supercar contender was a watershed though, as it finally forced Ferrari, Lamborghini and the rest to lift their game. On reliability. On ergonomics. On build quality. The NSX was usable every day because it didn't chuck tantrums like the highly-strung Italians.Now there's another contender raising the bar on supercars, and not from Italy.Audi's first attempt at the genre won't go down as the fastest, best-sounding, most beautiful or most desirable supercar you can buy. And despite limiting production to just 20 R8s a day, Audi could still learn a lot about exclusivity from Ferrari or Aston Martin.But the R8 is a landmark nonetheless, both for the supercar genre and for the brand.I stepped from an R8 into a Q7, Audi's gargantuan SUV. It was a lesson in contrasts, and not just for the obvious reasons. The Q7 has enormous cushiony tyres and because it's so tall, there's plenty of room for the suspension to do its stuff. But the more comfortable, better riding car was the R8.That was quite a surprise, and now I'm afraid all other supercars will feel like go-karts.Happily, the R8's ride quality doesn't come at the expense of handling, and you can put that down to its fancy magnetic dampers. The chassis feels very alert, hugs the tarmac like a clam and lacks obvious flaws such as the understeer that can blight some all-wheel drives. Instead, it's very disciplined but with an emphasis on the carrot rather than the stick.This supremely competent car’s very easy to drive. There's no lack of character here either, and to me it felt like a Lotus might feel if it had been built by Germans.Another departure from the supercar norm is the R8's design. Audi has been treading a fine line with some of the exterior detailing lately and is in danger of overdoing it. Any more LED lights and the cars will twinkle like a department store at Christmas.There's no doubting the drama of the R8 shape though, emphasised by some daring features such as the contrasting “blades” behind the doors. A clear engine-cover displays the V8 to advantage behind the cabin, in typical show-off supercar fashion.To my eyes it was taller than expected at first sight and the front overhang seemed a bit long. To other roads users, it was a cause for cheer.Inside, it's the driver's turn to applaud. Audi takes its usual detailing to a new exquisite level. The knurled metal gear shifter and its slotted metal plate were a special favourite, but the seats and pedals are also very pleasing. Even the flat-bottomed steering wheel, which looks cheap and plasticky in some Audis, is splendid here. It's just the right size, and perfectly trimmed in leather.In fact the whole cabin has Audi's typically clean and well-organised air. If there's a criticism, it's the contrived sweep of styling that's designed to impart a sense of being in a “cockpit” by partly enclosing the driver.A lesser sin, considering the limitations of mid-engined supercar design, is the lack of vision. It's restricted rearwards (and the rear glass needs a wiper) and forwards, with a very wide base to the A-pillars.But the controls mark a big step forward in Audi's bid for driver appeal. They all have a directness and subtlety that's closer to Porsche in quality than regular Audi stuff. The gearshift is terrifically satisfying to use as you double-clunk into the next slot against the weight of the spring. The clutch and throttle are nicely weighted, and between them they connect the driver directly to the responsive, torquey V8.This unit revs brilliantly and while it doesn't soar like a Ferrari, there's plenty to love in the soundtrack.The car is quick and there's a generous, torquey mid-range, which means you can leave the R8 in sixth and trundle around with the engine barely turning over. The brake pedal can be a bit numb at first, although it's miles ahead of the usual, over-sensitive Audi set-ups. A bit of kickback through the steering wheel over bumps isn't desirable, but demonstrates a lot more connection to the road than Audis can usually muster.All told, this is an Audi any driver will relish.However, before soccer mums descend on Audi dealerships hoping to trade in their Q7s for something a little more comfortable, it should be pointed out that Audi hasn't dodged the usual supercar space and cargo compromises. There's a front bin under the bonnet, akin to the Porsche 911. But not a lot else.There's little doubt Audi has leveraged its ownership of Lamborghini to build this car and along the way there's been a wholesale borrowing of parts. But Audi insists that was just the starting point, and that rings true.The R8 doesn't feel like a Lamborghini and is all the better for not feeling much like an Audi, either. Let's hope the R8 isn't a one-off like the Honda NSX threatens to be. Need to knowAudi R8Engine: 4.2-litre V8Outputs: 309kW at 7800rpm; 430Nm at 4500rpmTransmission: Six-speed manual, all-wheel drivePrice: $259,900On sale: Now