Audi R8 V10 plus 2016 Quick Spin

Audi R8 V10 plus
Quick Spin

What’s it all about?
Audi’s lone entry in the supercar league has entered its second generation. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to its predecessor the R8 is in fact all-new; its lighter (-10kg) Lamborghini Huracan-derived carbon fibre and aluminium body has been completely redesigned.

Stronger and stiffer than the outgoing model, the R8 V10 range is now offered exclusively with Audi’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive, meaning no more manual transmission.

Magnetic ride control, carbon ceramic brakes and forged aluminium wheels improve dynamism and balance, while performance also gets an upgrade – Audi claiming a 0-100km/h time of 3.2sec and top speed of 330km/h.

Audi has ditched the V8 engine from the range, meaning the R8 is now offered exclusively with the Lamborghini-sourced 5.2-litre V10 engine. Presented in two states of engine tune (397kW/540Nm and 449kW/560Nm) the ‘V10’ and ‘V10 plus’ variants – separated by $35,000 – the ‘regular’ variant starting from $354,900 (plus ORCs).

Of course myriad options are available. Tick every box and the R8’s price tag soon climbs north a cool half-million. Fancy diamond-stitched leather? That’ll be $17,950. Magnetic Ride Control? $4100. And what about LED Laser Light headlights? Try $7700 on for size...

No, it isn’t cheap. But name a supercar that is! Besides, when viewed against some of its nearest and dearest competitors the R8’s build quality, incorporated technology and generous after-sales support make it something of a bargain in relative terms.

Why should I buy it?
The usual supercar reasons come into play, of course. The R8 is fast, capable and something of a status symbol. But it’s also surprisingly liveable, and is more practical than you’d believe.

There’s no denying the R8’s on-track ability. As demonstrated in our recent video it’s a package that is as quick as it claims to be, and one with balance much improved over the outgoing model's. But the real revelation is how the R8 handles rough country roads, suburban chicanes, speed humps, driveways and even the supermarket car park.

It’s a supercar that’s easier to see out of, and one that’s even easier to place. The suspension copes amazingly well with mottled road surfaces, and the cabin is quiet – actually quiet, not just by supercar standards. It’s also quite practical, for a dedicated two-seater, and well thought-out. Dare we say it? The R8 is an ‘everyday supercar’.

The R8, in both guises, is on sale now. At the time of writing this article R8 availability is good, with dealers estimating a delivery time of “three to four months” from the time of ordering. That’s around a sixth of the waiting time for a Ferrari 488 GTB!

Who will it appeal to?
Collectors, track-day enthusiasts, well-heeled petrol heads and those chasing something outside the ‘normal’ supercar mould are certain to take a shine to the R8. It’s the sort of vehicle that appeals as much for its specifications and performance as it does for its exclusivity and technology.

That said, we’re at a loss to explain why a car equipped with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit (which we might add could dim further at night), incredible driveline management electronics and a kick-ass audio system doesn’t offer the driver assistance technologies included in models like the A4, Q2 or Q7. As Audi’s flagship model, we’d have expected these as standard.

We also think the R8 could do with a rear wiper, and that the action of the cylinder deactivation, and coasting technology used to save fuel when cruising could be a fraction less intrusive. Otherwise, it’s a pretty hard car to fault.

Where does it fit?
The R8 is Audi’s flagship model and sits atop the four-ringed brand’s local portfolio.

In the local market, the model places in exclusive company, competing with the likes of the Ferrari 488 GTB, twin-under-the-skin Lamborghini Huracan and Porsche 911 Turbo S.

For the price, you could also consider rivals including Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage S, BMW’s i8 hybrid, McLaren 570S and Mercedes-AMG GT S, or even the new, and rather exxy Honda NSX.

Realistically, the placement of the engine and intended purpose of the R8 narrows its focus. Considering just how easy the car is to live with, however, we’d recommend taking a test drive long before shopping elsewhere.

Supercars are never going to score well against our judging criteria. Practicality and pricing considerations pretty much take care of that! So don’t let the point score dissuade you. The R8 is a brilliant machine that combines the civility of a prestige car with the performance of a bona fide supercar.

It’s properly fast, entirely predictable, beautifully balanced and offers incredible braking performance. In short it’s a car that engages all of the senses – and it's not trying to kill you every time you point the nose out of the driveway.

In fact, excusing the omission of a handful of driver-assistance technologies and a light niggle in the cylinder deactivation/reactivation process, the R8 V10 is plus a most compelling German-Italian collaboration.

Price: $389,900 (MRLP plus ORCs) / $397,600 (as tested, plus ORCs)
Engine: 5.2-litre ten-cylinder petrol
Output: 449kW/560Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 12.3L/100km (ADR Combined) / 20.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 287g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A

Also consider:
>> Ferrari 488GTB (from $469,888 plus ORCs)
>> Lamborghini Huracan (from $378,900 plus ORCs)
>> Porsche 911 Turbo S (from $456,200 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
>> Audi R8 2016 Review
>> Audi R8 Local Pricing and Specification News