2022 Audi R8 Reviews

Parking the Audi R8 is a pain. It has terrible visibility, sits worryingly close to the kerb, has heavy steering, does not have enough steering lock for tight turns, and costs far too much to chance on a bump-park.When you are driving the manu-matic model, with its computer-controlled clutch, you also park in fear of a slip and smack.So we have that out of the way.And that's about it for the CarsGuide complaints.The manu-matic can operate a bit suddenly in stop-start traffic, and the same lack of visibility that punishes when parking means you have to be careful with lane changes, but otherwise we think the new German speed machine is a ripper.It is fast, really fast, but still easy to drive and comfortable enough for everyday commuting and Sunday-morning fun runs. And it looks brilliant.I first drove the R8 almost a year ago in Las Vegas and marvelled at how Audi had taken a motor show concept car and made the dream a reality with so few compromises.It helps that Audi is also responsible for Lamborghini, which makes the R8-sized Gallardo supercar, but the Germany luxury brand did all the work itself and trumped BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the process.It has produced one of the best-looking cars on the road, from its signature bank of LED globes above the headlamps to the fat back tyres and cut-off tail. It looks Ferrari fast yet still sits easily in the Audi line-up alongside the A4, A8 and the rest.The R8 story just moved on a chapter with the unveiling in Detroit this week of a model powered by a V12 diesel engine. It will go into production, no question, and promises performance a little quicker than the regular V8 R8.The current car is fitted with the same engine as the RS4 sports sedan, which means 309kW and 430Nm of torque with quattro all-wheel drive, a six-speed gearbox — manual or robotised manual — and weight from 1565kg.The important numbers are 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 301km/h.Those figures, and prices that are a relative bargain (against a Porsche 911 or Ferrari F430) from $259,900, have created a two-year waiting list in Australia that will probably stay at the same level for a long time. And probably even after the V12 diesel, and the roadster and probably the much-rumoured V10 road rocket, join the R8 family.“The Audi R8 will be instrumental in further boosting our brand image and awareness in this market,” Audi Australia managing director Joerg Hofmann says. ON THE ROADThere is much to like about the R8, from the way it looks to the alloy body, the way it snaps away from lights and the way it eats up all sorts of roads.But, more importantly, you can happily take it on the daily grind or down to the beach for a weekend in the sun.As we said after our first drive in the R8 in the US last year, it's not a supercar, and we stand by that. It is very, very quick, but it's no Gallardo or F430.And that's not a bad thing because it's more than fast enough to scare most owners and lines up more than impressively against a Porsche 911, the real rival for the R8.It's as docile and comfortable as a Porsche, though there is that thing about the parking . . .We spent our R8 test time with a robotised manual gearbox, which lifted the car's price to $274,900, but most drivers will appreciate the strengths of the six-speed sequential R-tronic gearbox.To get the boring stuff out of the way, the R8 is comfortable and well equipped for two people. It also has reasonable luggage space for a car of its type. The driver's bucket is set a little high, but that's neither here nor there. All switches and knobs are beautifully finished and operate well, and the view over the dropaway nose is great.The R8 starts and runs smoothly, with a soft V8 burble that turns to a howl when you get close to the redline. We have used the engine before in the RS4, where it seemed wild and wicked, but in the R8 it feels as if it could handle much more, given the ultra-rigid chassis, quattro drive and brakes that defeat speed.We had only a few chances to really uncork the R8 during our run, but even a quick squirt in traffic is enough to make you smile. And draw admiring looks.Still, it feels so safe and planted that even a brisk attack on roundabouts is rewarding and enough to show the huge potential in the car.We have driven the R8 on a racetrack and know it's really, really fast in the right location at the right time. Few drivers could get the maximum from it, or even consistently run it up to the redline with a paddle-shift thump up through the gearbox.We rate it highly against the Porsche and it scores over the 911 on looks by a wide margin, which is why so many people are moving to an R8. And it's so much more civilised than a Ferrari or Lamborghini, with resale values that are likely to stay high.There is so, so much to like about the R8, but we would always recommend finding a spot with valet parking. THE BOTTOM LINE86/100A wickedly fast car that is a dream to drive every day. ALL ANGLESFAST FACTOne of the options for the R8 is a lighting system for the engine bay INSIDE VIEWAUDI R8$274,900 (R-Tronic auto)ENGINE: 4.2-litre V8POWER: 309kW at 7800 revsTORQUE: 430Nm at 4500-6000 revsTRANSMISSION: Six-speed sequential auto, all-wheel driveBODY: Two-door coupeSEATS: TwoDIMENSIONS: Length 4431mm, width 1904mm, height 1252mm, wheelbase 2650mm, tracks 1632/1593mm front/rearSTEERING: Power-assisted rack-and-pinionFUEL TANK: 75 litresFUEL TYPE: Premium unleadedFUEL CONSUMPTION: Average on test 14.0 litres/100kmWEIGHT: 1565kgSPARE TYRE: SpacesaverBRAKES: Anti-skid four-wheel discsWHEELS: 19-inch alloysTYRES: 235x35 front/295x30 rearSAFETY GEAR: Front, side and head airbags, electronic stability control, anti-skid brakes, traction controlWARRANTY: Three years/100,000kmFEATURES:AirconditioningCruise controlAlloy wheelsClimate controlLeather seatsHeated seatsParking sensorsAutomatic wipers For ANCAP vehicle safety ratings, go to howsafeisyourcar.com.au HOW IT COMPARESAston Martin Vantage 81/100 (from $245,000)Ferrari F430 87/100 (from $389,000)Lamborghini Gallardo 86/100 (from $414,000)Porsche 911 86/100 (from $201,000)

The daily grind of peak-hour traffic is tedious, to say the least. The steam comes blowing out of your ears, the headache kicks in with force and the throbbing hangs around for the remainder of the day.Then it's time to hit the congestion once again.The brake lights of the never-ending line of cars in front of you light up like Christmas trees as you sit almost shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of other, equally frustrated motorists.Hitting the turmoil in an average passenger car will no doubt leave you angry and stressed.But after spending endless hours being part of the problem I have found a simple, although expensive solution to making your trip into work a whole lot more exciting.The answer is to drive a spanking new super car to work, and not just any fancy car, but the recently launched Audi R8.Yes, you still have the monotonous travel ahead of you, but getting behind the wheel of this stunner will brighten your and everyone else's morning and afternoon.With only 25 R8s on Australian roads, motorists took a liking to seeing one accompany them on their daily treks this week, kind of like the reaction you'd expect if Nicole Kidman walked into a smelly pub.Many people pulled out their mobile phones for a quick snap, others just taking the time to admire and take in the beauty piece by piece.From the huge 19-inch wheels, to the diamond-looking LED headlights, from the double exhausts to the striking appearance on the low-to the ground, glamorous, fiery red piece of machinery.And from the start, it was very clear that Sydney likes Audi's first attempt at a high-performance car.Super cars are fast and gorgeous, and are usually at home on the track.Sure, they can reach 300km/h, but stuck in stop-start traffic most require the effort associated with an-hour long uphill jog. You might look and feel good for doing it, but there's a lot of hard work in getting there.Audi's $259,900 R8, ($274,000 on the press model we tested with extra features), proved to be no outcast on public roads.Drawing on Audi's rally cars and the Le Mans prototype R8 race car, means the road R8 is impressive at fast speeds, sprinting to 100km/hour in just 4.6 seconds. But it's the lingering around that leaves a lasting impression.Apart from the roaring growl of the engine, the catwalk looks and super performance, the R8 feels like a normal car, one that can be driven in traffic without having to work too hard.Turn the key and you're instantly greeted with a growl from the 4.2-litre mid-mounted V8 engine, roaring over your shoulder. But it's not too loud, allowing you to enjoy the sound system at the same time.The free-revving V8 is the same as the one in Audi's remarkable RS4. And it's impossible to miss the engine's location, on display to passers-by through the back window.In traffic, you unfortunately don't get the full benefits of Audi's R8. The full 309kW doesn't arrive until way up the tacho at 7800rpm and there's no chance of getting there in bumper to bumper traffic. Under 40km/h, rarely going above 3000rpm is disappointing, the R8 just wanting to break free.But it's still impressive at all speeds, with the torque evenly distributed, the peak of 430Nm reached between 4500 and 6000rpm.With Audi's typical classy interior and the comfortable ride, you blend in with other cars, although standing out like a sore thumb at the same time, if that's possible.The car tested was the six-speed manual, which sounded a little clunky with each shift, but felt great to drive the open-gated gearshift. The clutch isn't too heavy, which can be the case in other cars of this kind, and while the brakes are touchy, it doesn't take long to get used to.Featuring quattro permanent four-wheel drive, with a weight distribution split of 44 per cent to 56 per cent, the R8 grips to the pothole-filled roads and attacks corners and bends with confidence and grace, hugging tightly.Flick sports suspension on and you really feel the blemishes on rough roads, a little hard to tolerate on longer journeys. Turning it off improves the comfort of your ride.And, inside the cabin, cramped is one word that won't even enter your mind in the R8. Instead, cosy and spacious make an appearance, with surprisingly good head and leg room. For the task of slipping into the cockpit-like cabin, dresses and skirts are not advised for those females; or even those males wanting to maintain their dignity.That said, most people won't be paying attention to what you look like, instead gobsmacked by the car.For this daily driver, the six-stacker CD system, the satellite navigation and reversing camera all came in handy, but get used to expensive trips to the service station. The R8 has a claimed 14.6-litres per 100km and, with a 75-litre tank, it cost more than $80 to fill just over half a tank.There's little storage room in the boot or inside.So the cure to peak hour traffic may not be the most practical or affordable way of getting to work, but it's definitely one of the most enjoyable, attention-grabbing, thrilling rides to get you there.You'll be on cloud nine for the rest of the day.But if the Audi R8's outside of your budget, I guess there's always the train, where you can close your eyes and dream.  Snapshot Audi R8Price: $259,900Engine: 4.2L/V8, 308kW/420NmTransmission: 6-speed manualEconomy: 14.6L/100km

Audi's first crack at a mid-engine exotic sportscar; the province of legends like its stablemates Porsche and Lamborghini; is a stunner that performs even better than it looks.Hardly surprising, given its genes, with donations of basic underpinnings from the Lambo Gallardo and a whole slew of ideas from Audi’s Le-Mans blitzing race car.It’s also nicked the RS4’s amazing 4.2-litre V8 engine, mated to a six-speed manual for $259,900 or a six-speed 'R-Tronic’ sequential for $274,900, putting the energy to all four corners with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive.The German carmaker prides itself on its understated styling, and for the R8, head designer Walter de’Silva has delivered a body that is delicious from every angle, without screaming for attention.Which is not to say that it melts into the traffic. But drive one without the contrasting side panels, and the looks you get are generally a double-take as the car takes a second to lodge in the cortex. Once you do register it, though, it’s hard to tear the gaze away. And with this being one of the few designs around that is even more attractive from the rear, the R8 risks picking up a trail of fans every time it ventures out.The car is also one of the very few that we think looks best in white, accentuating the sculpture of air intakes and swelling haunches, and the jewelry of LED lights, quad exhausts, black gills, honeycomb mesh grille and spoiler and those air-deflecting sideblades.In the cabin, everything is focused so much on the driver that one passenger complained that he had nothing to play with except the window. However he declined the offer to pull over so he could get out and walk.The driver sits ensconced in a cockpit area created by the high transmission tunnel and delineated by the `monoposto’ arc that sweeps around the instruments. The arc is available in tasty piano black or carbon fibre, and most of the other interior finishes are superb; soft leathers and Alcantara suedes, and brushed aluminium accents; but the test car had a nastily silvered hard plastic for the bezel around the satnav cluster and inserts on the doors.Despite the jazzy flat-bottomed steering wheel giving greater clearance to jack up the seat height, plus the multiple adjustment of driver’s seat and column, we couldn’t easily find a perfect position, although this may just need spending more time fiddling with the combinations.The fit is sports-car snug, but despite the fast roof line there’s enough headroom unless you’re very tall. However we can’t agree with Audi’s claim that you can get two golf bags behind the rear seats unless you stack them high enough to completely wipe out rear vision.At this level you expect a lot of equipment, and you expect it to be first class. And the R8 doesn’t disappoint, with a list that includes rear parking camera, six-stacker CD audio system, electric adjustment on both sports seats, DVD satnav with colour screen and Bluetooth.Safety is covered with dual-stage twin front and head/thorax airbags, and stability program with traction control, electronic differential lock and anti-skid brakes with brake assist.But there’s a lengthy options list; and some of the things on it are features that you might think would be standard at this price. A pack of storage nets and compartments will set you back an extra $800, hill hold assist is $300 and tyre pressure monitoring is $950. Once you’ve ticked all those, you can move on to the carbon sideblades at $5050, matching engine compartment cover at $7850, upgraded bucket seats with width adjustment; presumably in case you spend so much time in them that your derriere starts spreading for $10,700, Nappa leather pack for $13,450 … and much, much more.You don’t have to have it all, of course, but it would be very easy to bounce the price tag over the $300,000 mark. None of which is going to deter the kind of buyer this car is aimed at, or lessen the already healthy bank of orders for it. Waiting lists are likely with the factory building and some of it hand-building only 20 cars per day.Audi Australia will get just 25 of those by the end of this year, and has confirmed 80 for 2008, with 70 per cent of those expected to be the R-Tronic version.On the roadThe R8’s widespread stance, coupled with the rigid, weight-saving Audi Space Frame alone would give the car fantastic poise. But adding the body’s airflow downforce helped by automatically extending spoiler; and the thing is virtually suctioned to the bitumen.And while there’s been quite a bit of recent comment from another German marque about whether an all-wheel system can be the basis of a truly sporting drive, sceptics should try the R8’s version with its viscous coupling splitting the torque to deliver a rear bias from 65:35 up to 90:10.This means that, especially with the ESP switched off, you’re able to dial up enough oversteer to emulate the agility of a classic rear-wheel drive going into corners, but the R8 never threatens to get out of control.There’s an entrail-stirring snarl from behind your ears as the powerplant delivers its 309kW of power at 7800rpm and 430Nm of torque between 4500 and 6000rpm. And if those revs seems high, it’s because this engine loves and almost encourages the upper end of the tacho, and is happy to rev right up to the 8000 line with seemingly little effort.Performance is posted at 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 301, 200km/h in 14.9 and a top speed of 301km/h.The sequential transmission was a smart bit of tech, with well-placed F1-style paddle shifters on the wheel as well as the conventional stick on the centre bump. But even though Audi says the system changes `faster than a practised driver’ our high expectations were dashed with an exasperating lag that you’d forgive in the mechanics of a manual.And it was the six-speed manual that won our hearts, with its retro open gate. Although we found it notchy and during the early part of the test drive, it didn’t take too long for us to work out how it wanted to be treated and we settled into a relationship that was marked by satisfying `snicks’ at each slot change.But during the day we never quite came to terms with the grabby brakes. The test car had done about 1000km, so they must have been well seated in, but still needed a featherlight touch; although undeniably able to pull the R8 in very short order.The steering was direct and more communicative than in any Audi we’d driven; (as you’d expect for its new hero) but there was still the nagging impression that it could offer even more feel if the engineers put their minds to it.However one aspect we couldn’t fault was the capability offered by the magnetic damping system, with switchable modes that effectively turned the R8 into two distinct cars.Set it for normal and you get a firm but compliant ride for cruising around town. But change to sport and the result is a very noticeable stiffening that on rough surfaces will tell you the shape of each individual piece of blue metal embedded in the bitumen, but also give you the kind of serious handling skills that will do you proud on a track day.And it’s this split personality that apart from all its other good points, will be the main lure of the R8. This is a true exotic without the temper tantrums and intractable nature.See this car at the Australian International Motor Show 

Then there's its classic race-style mechanical layout and the best technology in the Audi arsenal, including quattro all-wheel-drive.The R8 is beautifully built and has a thumping V8 engine fitted right behind the driver's shoulders that will snap it to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds and on to a top of 301km/h.And yet, to be honest, Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini have almost nothing to fear from the R8. As good as it is and as great as it looks, the R8 falls short of supercar pace and does not have the sizzle that is so essential for the meatiest sports car steak.That should be bad news for Audi and a punishing penalty for the R8, but it is not.How? Why? Because Audi hit every target it set for the R8 and is confident its approach, which concentrated on building an everyday sports car and not just a supercar boy's toy, will pay off far more successfully than going all-out against Ferrari and Porsche in a battle it cannot win."You cannot attack Ferrari. It cannot be done. Just as you cannot attack Harley-Davidson," the head of technical development at Audi's quattro division, Jens Steingraber, says."We decided to make a daily sports car. Audi is not a brand for exotic cars that are not able to run every day or at a high-quality level."Nobody has built such a concept for daily use in high quality. The R8 is noisy, but not too loud. You can stay with it and be comfortable and quick."This is a new German sports car. If you want a car for daily use, to take to play golf or drive for more than 25,000km a year, this is the right choice."We decided not to make a Ferrari Enzo, but to have a new philosophy. It was a position that was empty and we decided to fill it."But there is something else . . . Audi is part of the same Volkswagen carmaking conglomerate that includes Lamborghini, which meant the R8 was never going to be fully loaded.After all, why would Audi bother to build an R8 supercar if it would end up going head-to-head with the Lamborghini Gallardo in a fight that would hurt both cars and brands?So the R8 is effectively capped by the Gallardo, as even Steingraber admits."When the Gallardo moves, we can also move," he says.Even so, there is no doubt the R8 is a mover. And a shaker.The press preview in Las Vegas last week rocked a city that is packed with high rollers and superstars, as well as highlighting — on road, track and city streets — that the R8 does most everything pretty well.It is going to be costly, with a price on the far side of $250,000, but Audi Australia has already been overwhelmed with orders and worldwide demand means there will be a waiting list.The cost of the R8 is reflected in everything from its gorgeous alloy skeleton to hand assembly of many parts, a leather-trimmed cabin — with optional Bang & Olufsen sound — and a mechanical package that runs to a 309kW V8 that cranks to 8250 revs with either a six-speed manual or six-speed R-tronic automated sequential manual gearbox.But Audi did take an easy shortcut for the R8, installing the V8 it already uses in the RS4 super sedan. It is very good, but it would have been better by far to take the 383kW V10 used in the Gallardo. If only . . .The R8's suspension is fully independent, as you would expect, but Audi has picked up the same magnetic ride control used in the Ferrari F599, Chevrolet Corvette and the latest HSV Commodore with such stunning success.It also touts a dry-sumped engine layout, a 44:56 weight distribution and a pop-up rear spoiler.But most people are more likely to notice the distinctive LEDs used in the headlights — which will switch from xenon globes to an optional full LED system at the end of the year — and tail-lights.Golfers will appreciate luggage space that includes room for two bags behind the twin sports bucket seats.Customers can choose a carbon-fibre "sideblade" and a carbon dress-up package for the engine bay, which is also available with a separate lighting package.Audi Australia is still working on the price and specification for the R8, but the equipment is expected to run to the magnetic-ride suspension and 19-inch alloy wheels, as well as both transmission choices."The price will be closer to $250,000 than $300,000. We expect most of the cars for Australia will be manuals," Audi Australia spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf says."We have sold 32 cars and we think our allocation will be 60 cars a year."That means only three days' production at Audi's Neckarsulm factory, which has been set for a lot of hand-finishing work on everything from the Audi space-frame chassis — which cuts the weight of the body shell to 210kg — to ensure the best quality because it builds only 20 cars a day.Steingraber says: "This is an elite car. It is the peak. It demonstrates that Audi can do this car and the customer can believe in Audi at that range."ON THE ROADTHE first few minutes in the R8 are same-same, but different.The flat-bottom steering wheel and a lot of the switches are familiar from the Audi RS4 and so is the engine, though it is more muted inside and more grumpy outside. The final finishing work is up to the usual Audi standard.But the R8 has supercar looks that hit you hard as you approach and draw more admiring looks than anything that has worn an Audi badge.Every R8 tester in Las Vegas wanted to put the pedal to the floor, but there was frustration for the first 90 minutes because nanny speed limits and road works reduced all running to a 90km/h convoy behind a Q7 four-wheel drive.It was like running the first four hours of the Le Mans 24-hour race with full-course yellow flags, when the only danger is the drivers falling asleep . . . so we quickly found the flaws.The seats are a touch too high, because they need clearance for electric motors; the automated manual shift is set the "wrong" and non-sporty way, to match the rest of the Audi range; and our first test car, an automated manual with magnetic ride suspension, had a tappet rattle in the engine.But then the road cleared, the limits rose and it was time to go for it in the R8. And what a go.The R8 is taut and responsive, yet still comfortable and refined. It copes easily with humps and bumps and the sound system is great.The steering has great feel, the quattro drive provides great grip and the engine . . . well, the engine is good but not great.It is a riot in the RS4 but cannot give the R8 the sort of punch and presence to rival a V8 Ferrari or V10 Lamborghini.Switch the engine and transmission settings to "sport" and it thumps through the gears and gets along quickly, but it does not have the scream or sharpness of a supercar.It is just as Audi says, a sports car but not a supercar. A long way beyond the TT coupe and yet . . .Running back towards town after a brisk blast through the desert, the R8 becomes a nice freeway cruise and, after switching to a six-speed manual car — with a great, involving shift and terrific-looking alloy shift gate — it also made easy work of Las Vegas commuter traffic.The clutch is light, visibility is good, the engine does not grump or run rough and it would be fine for any real-world nine-to-five work.The R8 is a high-end sports car that will satisfy most drivers without compromising everyday driving.It is more than fast enough to snap your neck from the lights and blast past slow-moving traffic, but it is not the ultimate. It is naughty, but not nasty.It will probably be shopped against a Porsche and, even though it is less responsive and involving, a lot of people will go for the R8's brilliant looks and its easy driving. It will satisfy them without challenging them, which is just what Audi wants.ON THE TRACKTHE R8 comes alive on a closed road course.That is when you can run it right to the redline, push the limit in curves and really feel the good work that has gone into the Audi.Audi set up a short course on the Las Vegas Raceway infield, where Marcos Ambrose was running his Nascar on the oval this week, and put no limits on the same R8s that had run through the road loop earlier in the preview day.Their new star came on strong as the V8 engine was run right to the redline and proved it can deliver the numbers and the response its owners will want.It still doesn't have the sound or top-end thrust of an Italian exotic, but it is very good.The launch control in the "manu-matic" kicks in from the line and the paddle-shift change is sharp. The manual gearbox has a direct, metallic shift, which suits the look and feel of the R8 .The chassis is a little dull and has too much push at the nose, but the brakes — optional ceramic discs on most cars — are brilliant and the car is more than quick enough for most drivers.I enjoyed the chance to push the limit and even stepped over the edge after switching from a tied-down magnetic ride car to a slightly softer car with regular suspension.The scuffs from the witches hats were easy to buff away . . . but the R8 did not have me drooling or dreaming about extra laps. It is a sharp road car but does not feel like a racer.At the end of a long and varied day, the R8 had delivered on all of Audi's promises — except one.For all its strengths, the body itself over-promises a supercar package that is not delivered. The R8 looks to be a road racer that should throw out a direct German challenge to Ferrari and Lamborghini, but it does not.