FARO, PORTUGAL – You can sense the pride in the room at the international launch of the new Audi R8 – after all, this is the German carmaker’s fastest production car to date. Outside, more than a dozen blue and red R8s bask in the 34-degree Celsius heat and, as expected, I can’t wait to receive the nod from Audi’s communications team that we can take the key and start that updated V10 engine.
Fortunately, we don’t have to wait too long, and after a drivers’ briefing, I eagerly climb behind the wheel and smile as the 5,2-litre V10 naturally aspirated engine barks to life and quickly settles into a delicate 10-cylinder idle.
On the road
Taking in the new R8’s exterior treatment, it’s clear that you’re looking at a subtle evolution of the outgoing model. Such an evolutionary approach is not necessarily a bad thing, as the first generation car was – and still is – such a modern design.
Bigger changes have been wrought inside, especially on the technology front. Carbon-fibre trim is classily applied throughout the cabin, while the single digital screen – first seen on the current TT – behind the steering wheel gives you all the relevant driving information. More importantly, you can select exactly what you want to see on the screen. Naturally, I elect to place the rev counter front and centre.
As we make our way through the Portuguese port town of Faro, I’m impressed with just how well the R8 rides. Bumps and ruts on the roads are absorbed with aplomb thanks to magnetorheological dampers – something that’s not a given in this segment.
We soon leave the highway and finally come across twisty roads where the upper reaches of the R8’s performance echelon can be tapped. Working hard behind my right shoulder is essentially the same V10 engine you’ll find in the Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4. As in the Italian car, this powerplant thrives on revs, even spinning at speeds quicker than 8 000 r/min. Contributing to the excitement is a green sector on the rev counter that illuminates as the V10 approaches the 6 500 r/min mark. It’s followed by an orange section and then, for a split-second, red. This bit of tech may sound like a gimmick, but when you are focused on the road ahead and thinking about the next set of corners, the indicator helps you to determine when best to tug on the downshift paddle, as these colours are always present in your periphery.
The R8′s sports-orientated all-wheel-drive system serves up limpet-like grip, but still endows the car with a directness that both excites and inspires confidence. Factor in the electrifying engine sound and the overall experience is deeply immersive. However, don’t expect too much feedback from the all-electric steering system.
Before we hit the smooth road surface of the Algarve International Circuit, I corner a few of Audi’s top engineers to ask them how the Huracán differs from the R8.
The car is all-new
They were quick to emphasise that this is a new car from the ground up. Granted, the engine is Huracán-based and has been retuned to 449 kW, but it’s undergone a raft for changes. More notable is the fact that the R8’s wheelbase is 30 mm longer than the Lamborghini’s. Meanwhile, the seating position is slightly more upright and higher, while there is also more headroom than in the Huracán. Although both cars share structures (in the case of both road and track-going variants), the Huracán’s suspension mounting points are different to that of the R8. The result? A more comfortable, forgiving supercar than the one that leaves Italy.
On the track
As I head onto track, I realise these changes have culminated in a car that will continue to appeal to a wide audience. Free from speed limits, traffic, stray animals and inquisitive villagers, there is no need to hesitate – I put my foot down and watch as the digital rev needle swings to within a hair’s breadth of 9 000 r/min. When set to dynamic mode on the drivetrain toggle system – as well as in the new dry mode – the V10 feels ready to burst through that figure.
Select the sports exhaust function and the R8′s fairly restrained timbre gains a harsher, more intense tone, while the carbon-ceramic brakes scrub off speed with confidence, especially as you enter slower, tighter corners.
Select the aforementioned dry mode via the steering wheel-mounted button and the electronic stability program’s software relaxes its hold, granting you greater freedom with which to truly experience the workings of the all-wheel-drive system.
During the following two laps, I’m stunned by how much more playful the R8 is when pressing on, especially in slower corners. Turn in, apply the throttle and you can sense moment that the Haldex AWD system starts pumping more torque toward the tail. The result is that you trust the car and know that it probably wouldn’t swop ends, as some powerful rear-wheel performance drive cars are wont to.
I didn’t expect the R8 to feel quite so neutral, and would go as far as saying that the new R8 is the least understeer-prone Quattro Audi I’ve ever driven.
Needless to say, I would not have driven the car anywhere near this hard on the road. But even on empty mountain passes, the R8 instils enough confidence in its driver to really explore the car close to its limit. Besides the all-wheel-drive Porsche 911 Turbo, the new R8 is quite possibly the easiest supercar to drive at speed.
Summary
Audi knows its customers well. Long chats with the development engineers revealed that the R8 will always remain the more useable supercar compared with its more expensive Italian sibling. That’s not to say its anodyne. It feels far different to a 911 GT3, McLaren 650S or Mercedes-AMG GT, but equally exciting – and that should be applauded.
Then there’s pricing to take into account. If the outgoing R8 is any indication, the new version will substantially undercut most of its direct rivals.
Audi will launch both this Plus example as well as the 397 kW/540 N.m standard derivative in South Africa. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until the middle of 2016 before we can savour that wonderful V10 on local soil when we compare it with its direct rivals.
*FAST FACTS
Model: Audi R8 V10 Plus
Price: TBC
Engine: 5,2-litre, V10 petrol
Power: 449 kW @ 8 250 r/min
Torque: 560 N.m @ 6 500 r/min
Trans: 7-spd dual-clutch
0-100 km/h: 3,2 secs
Top speed: 330 km/h
Fuel consumption: 12,3 L/100 km
CO2: 287 g/km
*Claimed figures
