FARO, PORTUGAL – A handful of laps of the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve racetrack near Faro in Portugal are all it takes to convince you that the new Audi R8 V10 Plus is a very serious performance machine. Its 5.2 liter normally-aspirated V10 engine now develops 602 horsepower – as much as the Lamborghini Huracan – and it sings all the way to a glorious 8700 RPM redline.
The new R8 is lighter, stiffer and more rewarding to drive than the outgoing model, delivering outstanding levels of grip in the corners where it is capable of consistently achieving over 1 G in lateral acceleration as relayed by the G-force meter on the car’s performance display. Full power and torque come in very high in the rev range; with maximum torque at 6,500 rpm and max power at 8,250, throttle response is nothing short of superb and the soundtrack from the V10 is just as exhilarating when the revs climb as when you brake and downshift for a corner.
The 2017 Audi R8.
Handout, Audi
As expected, the carbon-ceramic discs brakes are stellar with rapid deceleration and very good pedal feel. There is a touch of understeer early on corner entry but all you have to do is to trail the brakes a little into the corner and the car points neatly to the apex where you start feeding the power for quick corner exits. In a few words, the R18 V10 Plus is a blast to drive at speed on the Portimao racetrack and the driving experience is now more than ever on a supercar level.
Also read: Our review of the blindingly fast Lamborghini Huracan
The fact that the new R8 was developed simultaneously with the R8 LMS racecar and that the two cars share about 50 per cent of their parts might have something to do with that. Indeed, the 5.2 liter V10 engine actually puts out more power on the R8 V10 Plus than it does in the racing car, where peak power is limited to 585 by series regulations. This makes the top-dog “street” R8 the most powerful series production car Audi has ever produced.
Under the hood, the 2017 R8 is now available exclusively with a V10 engine.
Handout, Audi
A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is the only transmission – no manual gearbox being offered this time around – and it’s worth noting that the new R8’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system now features a multi-plate clutch that can send up to 100 per cent of the power to either axle as opposed to the previous car’s viscous coupling system, which was more limited in this regard.
Yet, for all it’s power and speed, the R8 V10 Plus is very easy to drive on public roads. Unlike some supercars, getting in and out of the car doesn’t require you to have the flexibility of a Cirque du Soleil performer and, while the virtual cockpit display and the steering-wheel mounted buttons are reminiscent of what you would find on an actual racecar, everything else is right where you expect it to be. The level of fit and finish, as always a hallmark of Audi cars, is outstanding and the visibility is very good. You will even find a small binnacle, complete with two USB slots, to stow and charge your smartphone on the go.
You don’t need to be a contortionist to access the Audi R8’s cabin. That’s a very good thing.
Handout, Audi
On public roads, the R8 V10 Plus is quite content to be driven around at legal speeds and, with the Audi Drive Select system set to Comfort mode, the ride is actually quite good. There is also an Individual mode on the Drive Select system, which means you can select multiple modes for the car’s components, such as the Comfort setting for the suspension and the Dynamic setting for the engine and gearbox, effectively giving you the best of both worlds on less than billiard-table smooth pavement.
The V10 engine features an automatic start/stop system, cylinder deactivation and a “coasting” mode, similar to the one developed over at Porsche, where the engine is effectively disengaged and runs at idle speed when the driver backs out of the throttle on public roads. The end result is that the fuel consumption of the R8 V10 Plus is rated at 12.3L/100 kilometres on the very optimistic European test standards.
Sure, you could get the “base” Audi R8 with a V10 that pumps out “only” 533 horsepower. But where’s the fun in that?
Handout, Audi
The look of the new car is sharper and somehow more purposeful, especially on the R8 V10 Plus on which the carbon rear wing is better integrated than on the outgoing model. The “base” R8 is not quite as striking as the V10 Plus and it’s engine delivers “only” 533 horsepower, which is more than the previous model. If you’re going to pull the trigger and actually buy an R8, the V10 Plus will be more satisfying and will give you some serious bragging rights. My advice? Go big or stay on the farm …
The 2017 Audi R8 is expected to arrive in Canadian dealerships in early 2016. No pricing information was revealed on the occasion of the car’s launch but you can expect it will be similar to the outgoing model, the current V10-powered coupe starts at $170,500. A roadster model is sure to bow in the near future, too.
With more power and more technology, the second-generation Audi R8 is a marked improvement over the outgoing model. It delivers everyday usability and supercar levels of performance without sacrificing comfort. Audi has shown once again that it is a force to be reckoned with on the supercar scene and the R8 delivers outstanding value for money with performance on par with more expensive machinery. The smart man’s supercar? That’s the new R8 V10 Plus.
Think of the Audi R8 as the “everyday” supercar.
Handout, Audi
