ROAD TEST
Audi R8 – Test Drive
We got into the latest supercar from Audi – yes it's the awesome looking R8. The R8 stands out from the crowd and not many other road cars can attract as much attention as the R8 does. The German maker was inspired to make the r8 by the reaction that the 2003 Le Mans concept car had when it was displayed to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003.
LOOKS
Stunning – the R8 has certainly got the wow factor. It has a menacing presence on the road but at the same time looks athletic. The R8 comes in at just under £80,000 and with the attention our test car has received it looks worth every penny. Even in the current economic climate the Audi should fare well on residual values as those of you with the money are bound to snap up this magnificent supercar.
INTERIOR
Built with passion - the Audi R8 has been hand crafted and only 15 models are built per day at the Audi factory in Neckarsulm. Step inside and you can see the quality of the workmanship – it is stunning. The interior of the R8 is first class, the switch-gear is within close proximity of the driver and it is soft but solid to touch.
PRACTICALITY
Getting in and out of the R8 is close to an art form and may take some time to perfect especially if you're taller than average as the R8 is only 1,252mm in height. However, once positioned in the cockpit, you'll find that the cabin is roomy and airy. Due to the nature of the car luggage room is at a premium, so traveling light is a must. The R8 is a mid-mounted engined supercar meaning that the luggage space is up front and there is a capacity of 100-litres. There is a little load space behind the front seats but you'll find that only a soft bag or two depending on size will only fit in here.
There was plenty of safety kit on the R8, the supercar has four airbags, xenon headlights and ESP all as standard. Need more? Then you could add carbon ceramic brakes as an option, the boffins claim these should offer fade free braking for the life of the car, a reassuring thought. To keep our test car scratch free and in pristine condition Audi equipped the model with front and rear parking aids and there was also an anti-theft device on the car.
ON TEST
One of the best car's we've ever driven – the mid-engined R8 is an excellent driver's car. Set-up is pretty much perfect as the car has exceptional weight distribution and the power comes from a 4.2-litre V8 engine, it has a power output of 414bhp – a feast of power on tap for any driver. Performance is breath-taking , the R8 will get from zero to 60mph in 4.6 seconds and the top speed is 187mph. there's no need for a CD player as the V8 power plant has an amazing soundtrackof its own.
Drive it enthusiastically and you'll fall in love with this supercar. The four-wheel drive set-up offers tonnes of grip while the steering is direct and perfectly weighted. Audi has produced masterpiece with the R8, the gated six-speed manual gearbox is a mechanical joy as each time you change gear the lever, it clicks into place with ease. To enhance the handling you can add the excellent Magnetic Ride – it improves body control even further, without damaging ride comfort.
AT A GLANCE
| Name/Price: | Audi R8/From £79,075 |
| Engine/power: | 4.2-litre /414BHP |
| Co2 emissions: | 349g/km |
| Official Combined fuel economy: | 19.3mpg |
IMN VERDICT
The Audi R8 is one of the finest cars we've ever driven, it has the V8 soundtrack, and it has the pace and a remarkable top end speed of 187mph. Our test car was priced at just under £90,000 mark as it had a host of options on it. We fared really well on the combined cycle as our car read 22.9mpg on the menu – that's higher than the official figures. Less impressive are the R8's CO2 emissions. Despite its lightweight aluminum construction and a hi-tech direct injection motor, the supercar emits 349g/km of C02.
However, the R8 is a cracking supercar and if you're buying it then high Co2 emissions and low fuel economy figures probably won't deter you and nor should they. Just ENJOY it.
Simon McBride