There I was, having fun, fun auf die autobahn, when nature called. Somewhere southeast of Stuttgart, I took the wrong exit and found myself outside the gates of Audi’s Neckarsulm factory. A large sign proclaimed the brutally Bauhaus industrial complex ground zero for the German automaker’s R8 supercar. I was immediately convinced I was destined to park one in my garage. Of course, by then I’d been chasing R8 ownership for over three years. So, do good things come to those who wait?
Flash forward to Vegas. I'm looking at a row of carefully prepped aluminum-bodied R8’s shimmering in the desert heat, hunched low to the ground, looking distinctly sinister in the winter sun. The German coupe’s over-sized mal occhi stare out from a shape not entirely unlike a Ferrari F430, though obscured by all manner of bulges, strakes and intakes.
The R8’s “blades”– contrasting colored bands bisecting the R8’s profile like enormous pieces of duct tape– look just as jarring in real life as they do in the pictures. But the car’s back end is a thing of beauty; a synthesis of Italianate style and Germanic precision projecting pure power.
The R8’s interior shares too much family resemblance with the upcoming TT for my tastes, from its door pulls to the undersized sat nav screen to the dreaded Multi-Media Interruption device. Despite the haptic heaven– buttery leather, textured aluminum, carbon fiber accents, plush Alcantara– it’s a bit like sitting inside a Halliburton Zero.
Thanks to the R8’s panoramic front windshield, at least it feels like a BIG briefcase. For a mid-engined sports car, rearward visibility is better than expected– somewhere between horrendous and really bad. Backup sensors and camera come standard. Much obliged.
The 3439 lbs. R8 holsters Audi’s 4.2-liter FSI V8, good for 420 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque. To help well-heeled potential customers do the math, Audi’s product specialists laid out a 200 mile route through Nevada’s Valley of Fire, and provided access to the Las Vegas Raceway.
On the open road, the R8 is a serene machine. Despite low gearing, road and engine noise levels are subdued enough for the daily drudge. My tester was afflicted with a few squeaks and rattles; an indication of early build problems or journalists’ ability to abuse Audi’s horsepitality. Anyway, over any road surface, the R8’s ride quality is superb, even without the optional 'Audi magnetic ride' adaptive damper system.
When pressing on, the R8's exhaust note morphs from metallic rasp to barrel chested roar to banshee wail. The endless mechanical aria is a welcome alternative to the standard-issue sound system, which is no better than an A4’s ICE. And while we’re here, the R8’s armrests are poorly positioned for long term comfort and the cupholders are useless.
The Lamborghini Gallardo donated its paddle shift transmission to the R8. At low speeds, smooth shifts are fast unmöglich. While Audi's R-tronic system isn’t as bad as BMW’s SMG cog swapper (what is?), it's nowhere near as agreeable as Audi’s world class DSG. To make matters worse, the R8’s paddles are too small and made of nasty ass plastic. I briefly drove the six speed manual version and prefer it for extended civilian jaunts.
Cruisers note: storage space is notable by its absence. Audi will sell you a gorgeous seven piece set of fitted luggage for around 5000 Euros (which is nicer than anything else inside the car). But hey; long distance love isn’t the R8’s main mission.
The track is the R8’s true métier. Zero to sixty in 4.2 seconds says this sucker moves. Equally important, the coupe changes direction with sufficient panache to elicit a gleeful cackle from the most jaded track addict. Even with the ESP traction control disengaged, getting the Quattro-equipped mid-engined motor’s back end out of line is almost as hard as trying not to.
Too much speed in a corner? Back off the throttle and the nose tucks neatly into line. Composure through long sweepers at speeds at 100+ mph is equally exemplary. And the R8’s binders are phenomenal: an endlessly reassuring combination of power, feedback and measured modulation.
On the Vegas circuit, max attack e-gear shifts were swift yet smooth. Unfortunately, Audi put the e-gear indicator into the witness protection program. Even so, flogging the R8 around a track– and then driving it home– could become its new owner’s new favorite pastime.
The R8’s handlers claimed the R8 opens a new automotive segment: affordable exotica. Yes, well, as quick and conscientious as the car is, the R8 struggles to surpass the dynamic benchmark set by the similarly priced Porsche 911 Turbo.
While the rear-engined German is faster than the R8, the visually malevolent Audi definitely possess the X factor needed to present a suitable alternative to the Daddy of All Daily Supercars. In time, the battle lines will draw closer. Call me a speed-crazed fashion victim, but I can’t wait.
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I suspect this may be the world's first supercar where the aftermarket performance/bodykit crowd actually tune down the strakes, vents, dams, wings, spoilers, flanges, flounces and flip-ups.
This appears to be the closest thing to an unaltered concept car on pavement; still beautiful, even if overstated. How much? (looks at very large jar of change on kitchen table)
Prices aren't finalized. Expect it to cost not much over $100k (without a B&O stereo), without spitting distance of the 911 Turbo (when comparing cars of similar spec).
I happened to find myself in Henderson too, when the R8 was being unwrapped.
Sadly, I was there for day job stuff and couldn’t convince the Audi team to let me saddle up. Besides the engine note, the nicest touch on Audi’s supercar were the cat-eye LED light frames as they came and went… At least from an outsiders perspective.
I’ve entered a few less costly sports cars into my pride comparison database, but they rarely get researched.
My takeaway from this is that sports car shoppers know which one they want, they’re not going to go with an alternative to save a few grand.
http://www.truedelta.com
For a couple hundred of these supercars that are sold worldwide a year, they do get a lot of coverage. sheesh..
Give golf its props.. that car has made a difference. This R8 will go down as a hedonistic indulgence by some oafs paid for by golf owners.
Yeah Seth, isn’t it strange? People seem to be interested in stuff more expensive and outrageous than what is sitting in their own driveway! These people, don’t they know nothing is more fascinating than storys about Accords and Camrys?
It appears the 911 is safe on it’s throne.
The only thing this competitor is bringing to the table is basically styling over substance, and the Porsche is the king of substance in it’s bracket. I’d imagine the R8 is more of a threat to the “low end” (lol) Italian or “British” exotics than the faster, better handling P-car.
Very interesting review and car! The first line mish-mash of Beach Boys and Kraftwerk was outstanding, whether completely intentional or not :D
I’m curious about a couple of things. First, the HUGE chasm between hp and torque, which I guess I never noticed in previous versions of the 4.2 V8. Further, this is the same basic engine as used in several previous Audi, and the chassis is only slightly lighter, but the acceleration seems to be outstanding. Gearing?
From what I can tell, this is the new NSX. Corvette fanatics will be quick to call it a ripoff, but if you add the brand cachet and more genuine “supercar appeal,” it’s not even in the same arena as the Vette.
I’m curious to see if this thing becomes as common as the 911, since they’re in the same price bracket. As it stands (where I live), I see more 911s than ANY Audis, so I’m sure this thing will be even more esoteric.
so why does Audi have Lamborghini then?
One of the Audi bosses made a comment several months ago that “the Lambo is for you, the R8 is for your wife” or something to that effect. I guess that settles it. It’s an expensive chick car!
I saw an R8 recently at an auto show. It doesn’t look as spectacular in real life as it does in pictures with the carbon fiber side panel looking a bit odd in person, though, it has slightly more presence than a 911. I wouldn’t put it in the same league as a Carrera GT, Ferrari, Ford GT, Lambo or an Aston, in terms of exoticar street presence.
Meh…
I can’t understand what Volkswagen (Audi’s overlord) is up to these days.
They got Lambo, which undoubtedly helped to revive their Bugatti brand and bear fruit to world’s fastest production car, and now Audi is producing badge-engineered Gallardos -and even though Vdub is attacking their former ally Porsche from three angles, they still haven’t managed to dethrone them.
Admittedly, Audi was among the first to race mid-engine cars with their Silver Arrows back in the thirties, so I guess they have a claim to the terrirtory.
Overall, a great review…but I’d rather own a 3-Series.
How does it compare to the Ford GT?
A fully loaded R8 was auctioned in LA on Sunday and the esimtated MSRP was $136,000 (it sold for $210,000).
The R8 will undoubtedly give the 911 a run for its money, because the handling and performance is much more accessible and the look is exotic and new.
Compared with the Ford GT, I think the GT will outperform it in most respects although the R8 will easily work as a daily driver.
this rocks!
Anything, and I mean anything, with the RS4’s mighty V8 is a car worth stealing.
Too bad it is so damn ugly.
Those “blades” are almost as ostentatious as the Ferrari Testarossa. I’m not crazy about Audi having a supercar when Lambo makes one that looks way better.
But it’s nice to see another supercar that’s easy pickings for the Corvette Z06. (oh no he didn’t!)
wow
Super review!
I don’t quite get one thing, though. What’s in Audi’s selling proposition that tipped the scales versus the competition? What don’t you like about the Gallardo? And were you ever in the market for an NSX (nasty interior notwithstanding)?
I have no doubt this will be great car but if Audi is going to pitch it at the wives of lambo owners they are in for a shock because there is no room for shopping, the racers will buy the Porsche GT3 and you could pose in comfort in a loaded Benz (with a driver)or Bentley(without) (if that 210K figure is right) . Could it be that this is an Audi Phaeton?
I think calling this a badge-engineered Lambo is a little lazy. Certainly Audi engineering and building this car without having access to Lambo bits would be financially unfeasible, it is it’s own car, with a real Audi in it.
It seems to fit in that space of style-concious (fashion victims) that won’t buy a Corvette, but think that the Porsche 911 isn’t ostentatious enough. I’m sure it’s a great budget supercar, but it seems like the market would be burgeoning Russian tycoons, rappers, and EU/UK footballers. Which isn’t exactly desirable company for anyone who genuinely likes this car. (I’m indifferent, but glad Audi is trying something new)
I think if you start at the rear and walk around it the car looks great until you get to the 1/4 front profile, where it suddenly acquires some kind of sperm whale high forehead issue, and it’s only downhill from there.
Great review, especially since it’s written from a prospective owner as opposed to just an auto journalist that could never afford it.
The R8 to me looks like a fine machine. It says I want really good performance and look really good doing it while not be completely ostentatious by owing a Lambo. Given the choice between a front, mid, or rear engined car I’ll take mid every time. There is just something about having the engine in the center of mass, not just weight balance that makes it feel so flickable. It’s probably why even if I had the money I’d take a Cayman S over a 911. You don’t have to be a racecar driver to get the most out of the car and when you do something stupid it doesn’t slap you by throwing you off into the bushes.
I like this car for it’s courageous styling. I mean the Aztek had courageous styling but with this one I actually like the look. Obviously with a style thats so dramatically different from anything else in production it will turn off a lot of people. I am glad that someone finally made a “real” version of this concept style we’ve been seeing for years.
Shoemaker:
I’m jealous of you beyond words. The review is fantastic, and the car sounds just right. It has stunning performance, but most of all, it’s a truly usable exotic car. Other manufacturers usually can claim only one of those (performance, usable, or exotic), two at best.
So sir, I raise my can of Sofia to you.
“While Audi’s R-tronic system isn’t as bad as BMW’s SMG cog swapper (what is?)”
Everytime I read something like this, only one thought pops in my mind — dumb journalist blaming the equipment rather than his skill. Just like my 2-year old nephew blaming that his toy is broken because he didn’t know how to turn it on.
Before jumping on the bandwagon and dismiss all sequential manuals, ask yourself this: do I drive a stick differently from an auto? When you drive a stick, do you blip when downshifting to make it smooother? Do you lift when upshifting to make it smoother? If so, drive an e-gear (Lambo, Audi), F-1 (Ferrari, Maserati), or SMG (BMW) in the same way with blips and lifts. They are manual transmissions at heart, not slushboxes. If you drive them like slushboxes, you will get the jerkiness and hiccups, just as you would if you drive a stick as if it’s an auto.
Learn to drive properly and your experience with these sequential MANUALS should be as smooth, if not smoother than a stick. Whether you prfer one over the other is up to you, but don’t blame the equipment until you learn how to operate it properly.
Alright, just had to get that out of my system…
Otherwise, your review is great, just like many of the articles and reviews on this site.
Back to the topic at hand, why would anyone want to spend $130K+ on this supped-up Audi TT when there are Astons, 911TTs, Maseratis, and even year-old Gallardos & F430s available for the same money, not to mention the upcoming GTRs and NSXs?
souped up TT? Surely you jest.
TeeKay,
I’ve driven all the gearboxes you mention, and man, are they great on a track.
But, they are all MISERABLE in real life.
Farago has long called BMW’s SMG the worst transmission in the world. But he’s wrong. The flappy-paddles on Maseratis are far worse. So much so that they just added a autobox.
Also, go spend some time with that V8. Then tell me any car with it is a souped up TT
Compare the images above with these from the same lineage:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=9&article_id=3458
I agree, though, that the same 4.2 in the RS4 is a great engine. Also, the look of it in the R8’s engine bay is a thing of beauty too.
I don’t think this is as far off the mark as this first round of comments seems to think. “Affordable” exotics are a burgeoning niche, and far more palatable than the seeming plethora of quarter million dollar machines. While not nearly as beautiful as the baby Aston, or even the Lambo it shares so much with, the Audi is likely to be better put together and easier to repair. Quattro makes it a year round toy, and with some luggage space it could even be close to practical (still shy of the Porsche, though).
While I like the blades more when early reports had them pegged as exposed frame members (form following function), I appreciate that it won’t be mistaken for anything else. And while the possibility of a twin turbo v-10 stuck in the middle of the R8 leaves me salivating, the v-8 is a glorious thing that probably would suit me better. Kudos to Audi on their first supercar attempt.
I think Audi could have gone farther by either:
a. fitting a V-10 in the R8, a la S8 and S6, or
b. maintaining the high-revving 4.2 V8 but trimming it down to below 3000lbs.
It’s hardly a SUPERcar when the next M3 or GT-R will outperform it.
Everytime I look at the R8 in profile, it looks reminds me of seeing Air Force C-141 transports after their fuselage was stretched: a band of dark-colored composite between the original aluminum skin. I keep thinking what the R8 would look like if it hadn’t been “stretched”.
Like a TT?
Another great review, Jay. Can I come up to Napa and have a ride? ;-)
TeeKay,
All sequential manuals are not created equal. I recently sampled an F1 equipped F430, and it’s much smoother in the city slog than any BMW SMG, even version III from the new E60/E63 cars.
Also, if you can find a year old F430 for anywhere near the price of an R8, please buy it, because you could flip it and make over 50 grand easily.
ash78,
The “chasm” you speak of between hp and torque can be summed up in one word…RPM. (or is that three?)
Anyway, this iteration of Audi’s V8 (shared with JL’s favorite car, the RS4) can rev to over 8000 rpm…hence it delivers more HP for a given amount of torque, since HP is merely torque x rpm/5252.
doctorv8
Good call…I had no idea this was a high-revving V8, which aren’t that common in the world of passenger cars. I’ve seen the big hp/tq gaps with cars like the S2000, obviously, but didn’t draw the same connection with this car.
This is without a doubt one of those cases where the engine is more attractive than the car.
….I’d still rather have a Gallardo though.
My friend who owns a Gallardo and an RS4 prefers the RS4.
Gorgeous!
A BMW M1 for the new millenium. Maybe an Audi that doesn’t understeer too…
I love this car as well. It handles beautifully.
im jealous! i cant believe you got to drive it. this car (the pictures at least) give me eyegasms.
>I think Audi could have gone farther by either:
>a. fitting a V-10 in the R8, a la S8 and S6, or
There are numerous reports (incl in Car in Dec; didn’t really drive it, they just sat next to an Audi engineer) that next up will be a 520bhp 5.2l V10 (poss from the S8, which already spews 450 horses), and maybe even the V12 TDI diesel — not impossible since Audi won with the R10 at Le Mans, and would likely be keen to make marketing capital from having a “diesel supercar”. They just got to get it to fit under the hood. Maybe a few panels to stretch it a bit more?
I saw the R8 at the Paris show, and without the silly black carbonwhatever panels it looks a lot more classy than the pics above. I would honestly not mind some rich chick driving me around in it. Mmmmmhm.
But I liked the “is this an Audi Phaeton” quote. You are paying $120k for a damn Audi. Maybe they just did it to piss off Porsche.
~R
Roger,
Trouble is, the Phaeton when new was the very best car in the entire world.
So, if that analogy holds true, the R8 will rule.
I wonder if somebody in Ingolstadt resents Lambo being the halo car.
the R8 will not rule – well my money’s on the GT3. Anyone know of test times at the ‘Ring?
The shape in profile looks very similar to a G35 coupe. In fact, the R8 could pass as a tuner version of the same.
I happen to think the G35 coupe is a very nice looking car, so I happen to like the R8. A little less bling would be preferable.
Nice car. How much do I save by just buying the RS4 instead?
Okay then, now how much will I save on tickets?
….even year-old Gallardos & F430s available for the same money,
Year old F430s are going anywhere from $200,000 on up to $330,000 for an F1 F430 Spider.
But if you happen to find a year old F430 (that actually runs) for the estimated $120,000 of the Audi R8, please give me a call.
Not a true supercar. Only purpouse of this car is to strengthen the image of Audi. Today all the Luxury car manufacturers are introducing so called “image builders”-Infiniti GTR, Lexus LF-A, Acura NSX etc. Sadest thing about R8 is it’s enigne, it is not revolutionary, it doesn’t contain any new previously unseen technologies, the power output is average and hp/per litre output is also average. ALL true supercars have legendary engines that offered technologies and/or hp figures that were groundbreaking and unimaginable in an ordinary production car. This engine has been in production over a year in a four door mass produced sedan. Technology in this Audi is dull, boring – no flash, pizzaz :) Supercars are about ground breaking performance/handling, design, revolutionary technology and foremost the engine. Audi has only on part covered – design. R8 is kind of a futuristic poser-mobile with a barbie doll feel to it. For example the 1.8t weighing M5 is 10 times more supercar than the R8.
are you kidding? A V8 with considerable low end torque that revs out to 8250 rpms and sounds like god playing a saxophone isn’t impressive?
You need to adjust your standards.
My point is that it has been done before and in 2007 it is nothing special by supercar standards.