2015 Audi R8 review

The second-generation of Audi's R8 supercar is upon us. We find out if it still retains the magic of the original. The second-generation of the R8, the car that proved Audi could make a world-class sports car. The first R8 arrived in 2007 with four-wheel-drive, an aluminium structure and a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that revved to the heavens. Even though at the time we’d just been assaulted by the excellence of the RS4, the R8 was revelatory. A V10 was added later, and that was superb too. This second-gen car, then, has a hefty amount to live up to, which might explain why Audi hasn’t opted to change the formula too much.There’s still an aluminium monocoque, only with carbonfibre-reinforced plastics in key places to increase rigidity by 40% and reduce weight by 15% over the old model’s. The V10 is back, too, though not the V8. Shame. We always though that the V8 was the marginally sweeter-handling car. The V10 is still here in 5.2-litre form but with more power than before. In its standard guise it receives 532bhp or, as tested here as the V10 Plus, it gets 601bhp. At 205mph and with 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, it’s the fastest ever production Audi. Cor. The V10 still drives through a four-wheel-drive transmission and exclusively through a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox – there is no manual option – while the four-wheel-drive system itself no longer has a viscous coupling to divert power around, but instead a multi-plate clutch that can divert 100% of power to either end. The observant among you will be aware that those mechanical elements sound remarkably similar to the Lamborghini Huracan’s, and that’s because they are. We’ve been left a touch cold by the blisteringly fast but numb-handling Huracan thus far. Let’s see if the R8 can go one better. 

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