After putting the R8 through its paces at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and in the surrounding desert roads, we found the car's stirring performance and stand-alone style do justify the price — at least for buyers who can look beyond the logo on the hood.
The R8 shares some components — and its mid-engine, aluminum-intensive structure — with the Audi-based Lamborghini Gallardo. The car's 425-hp V8 puts up solid numbers: 4.6 seconds from zero to 60 mph and a 186-mph top speed.
But the R8's most impressive qualities may be how effortless it is to drive fast, and how well it will work as a daily commuter. That's certainly true of the R8's main rival, the all-wheel-drive Porsche 911 Carrera 4 S, but not so true for some other sports cars with this kind of performance.
Of course not everyone shopping in this lofty price range is buying on performance alone. Aside from the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Porsche 911, some people will surely cross-shop the R8 against powerful luxury coupes like the BMW M6, Jaguar XKR or the Mercedes SL550 hardtop convertible.
Audi execs acknowledged that some people who aspire to those high-prestige brands may not give an Audi a second glance. In the US company has been ramping up major publicity efforts, including recently opening its first Audi Forum — a brand showcase of sorts — in Manhattan, and giving R8s to celebrities and high-profile high rollers like Donald Trump to help generate buzz and clout.
The company plans to offer about 1,000 R8s in the U.S. each year; Porsche sold 12 times that many 911s in 2006. Certainly, there are enthusiasts who want nothing more than to stand out from the herds of Benzes, Bimmers and Porsches. Those independent-minded types may find that the Audi makes exactly the statement they're looking for.
Exterior
The R8's styling was heralded by the Le Mans Quattro concept shown way back in 2003. And we'll allow that the R8, at first glance, looked awkward from some angles, drawing comparisons to a stretched, exotically styled TT. Its signature design feature — the so-called "side blade" panel in a contrasting shade — seemed incongruous, especially paired with certain body colors.
But during our Nevada test-drive, the car's low-slung presence became more convincing. In a pack of journalists, none dared to call the R8 beautiful, preferring words like striking, high-tech and dramatic. And to the average person, the R8 did prove a literal traffic-stopper, with car after car pulling off the road to snap photos whenever we stopped for a break.
In true Audi fashion, there's terrific detailing here. The engine is exotically exposed under glass, surrounded by optional carbon-fiber trim and ambient lighting. An element inside the headlamps looks like a high-tech dentist's mirror, and naturally there's Audi's jaunty front grille. Most dramatically, a cool row of LED lights, like silvery eyeliner drawn around the headlamps, makes the R8 a ghostly, unmistakable presence in one's rearview mirror.
The side blade in carbon fiber (silver and black metal are also available) looked best on an R8 with dark gray paint, while a silver blade contrasted nicely with paler shades. But for buyers who just can't abide the two-tone effect, Audi will offer the panel in a matching body color.
Interior
No quibbles with the interior: The R8's cabin is minimalist and no-nonsense, yet it's comfortable and exquisitely finished. A generous selection of interior leathers, colors and trims lets owners add a bespoke touch.
The feel is intimate yet airy, with especially good headroom for a slinky two-seat coupe. During our test, a 6-foot-5-inch driver fit comfortably behind the wheel. Generous side mirrors offered excellent visibility, though the small back glass produces three-quarter blind spots. The Audi navigation system, with its relatively easy programming and scalable views, remains notably superior to frustrating systems from its German rivals at BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
Audi claims that two golf bags can fit behind the seats, but they're certainly not talking the fat bags seen on pro golf tours. Give Porsche the advantage here, with its two jump seats that can even hold small humans in an emergency.
Performance
On that crucial sports-car question — "Is it fun to drive?" — the R8 roars in the affirmative. The Audi was lively, direct and confidence-inspiring, whether at triple-digit speeds in the Nevada desert or through a tight handling course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Like the Audi-related Lamborghini Gallardo, the R8 features a weight-saving aluminum space frame, a mid-engine layout and all-wheel drive. The stout structure and all-wheel drive, however, still produce a roughly 3,450-pound sports car, heavier than either a Chevrolet Corvette or a Porsche 911.
Where the pricier Rupees 2 Crore (ex showroom Delhi) Gallardo gets a 493-hp 5.0-liter V10, the Audi makes do with a V8 of 4.2 liters and 425 hp. (Audi is expected to offer a V10 R8 model sometime next year.) Still, this is one magnificent V8, transplanted from the RS 4 sport sedan, and it sounds a glorious, exotic note all the way to its 8,200-rpm redline.
The six-speed manual transmission features the old-school metal gates like you'd find on Ferraris and Lamborghinis. It shifts solidly, but not as smoothly as, say, a 911's stick shift. If there's a slight letdown, it's the R Tronic automated manual transmission. Unlike the acclaimed dual-clutch, S Tronic gearbox found on the TT and other Audis but not available on the R8 (engineers said it would've required significant and expensive modification to handle 425 hp), the single-clutch R Tronic — with shifts available via steering-wheel paddles or the console lever — tended to lurch and hiccup a bit, mostly in relaxed, around-town driving. However, it worked better the harder we drove it, and we had to admit that R8s equipped with the R Tronic transmission felt quickest around the handling course.
An optional adaptive suspension incorporates the magnetically charged shock absorbers pioneered by the Chevy Corvette, and also used in the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (Buicks, Cadillacs and other more mundane General Motors vehicles also have this technology). That suspension features a sport setting that firms up the ride and limits body roll in fast turns. Owners who like to take their sports cars on racetracks or simply want the ultimate in handling will appreciate the optional adaptive suspension. Ceramic brakes are another option — one that all but truly hardcore enthusiasts or spendthrifts will probably do fine without.
See photos of the Audi R8
The welcome surprise was how easily the R8 could be coaxed into balanced, controllable slides — not what you expect from all-wheel-drive cars, known for their tendency to understeer with the front tires losing traction before the rear tires do.
Certainly, Rs. 48,82,325 (excluding import duty and taxes) is a lot of money for an Audi, any Audi. But owners who take the plunge will get a legitimate, near-exotic sports car — and a prime spot in any valet line.
Did You Know …
The Audi R8 gets its name from Audi's R8 sports prototype race cars that have dominated endurance racing — including the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans — in recent years. But the non-racing R8's basic layout traces back a bit further to the company's famed Auto Union race cars of the 1930s. Their mid-engine design, revolutionary at the time, was the brainchild of Professor Ferdinand Porsche, who saw it as the best way to achieve stable handling at high speeds.
Is the R8 for You?
| Buy this Vehicle if |
You want a hot-performing, high-profile sports car that you can drive everyday; you want something new, different and exclusive — a ride that will attract more looks than most competitors. |
| Keep Looking if |
You don't see an Audi sports car in the same six-figure league as an Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz or Porsche; you're obsessed with horsepower and want more than 425 hp for this lofty price. |
| Who Fits? |
Two adults, with notable headroom for a sports car; a cargo well under the hood is about the same size as the Porsche 911's, big enough for one good-sized wheeled carry-on or a couple of soft-sided bags; there’s also modest cargo room behind the seats. |
| Options Worth Splurging on |
Adaptive suspension; carbon-fiber engine-bay trim; 465-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system. |
| Closest Competitors |
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