Brilliant combo of sense and sensation. One of our favourite

Brilliant combo of sense and sensation. One of our favourite

A thorough re-do for the car that up-ended the way we think about mid-engined supercars. The original Audi R8 was useable, secure in the wet, beautifully built and untempramental – but still mad-fast and super-exciting. The new one has dropped the ‘basic’ V8 option. Now there are two V10 outputs, 540 and 610bhp. The body is lighter and stiffer, thanks to substititution of several large aluminium parts in the shell by carbonfibre. Extra electronics in the chassis extend the secure-versus-exciting contradiction outward in both directions. The cabin gets the TT’s ‘Virtual Cockpit’ fairy dust, but with a supercar’s driving position.Natural aspiration and multiple cylinders make the classic supercar formula. This magical V10 spins to 8700rpm, and its high-rev reactions are tack-sharp, epically forceful, and sounds like the opera of the Gods. Because it has no turbos, the mid-range torque isn’t so great, but hardly feeble. Besides, you should never be in the wrong gear because the 7-speed paddleshift is ultra-alert. The Quattro chassis feels sharper compared to the old Audi R8. The centre diff is electronically controlled, ensuring it’s a rear-drive car for agility unless it needs a dose of front-drive for security. An optional active steering system varies the ratio according to zillions of parameters. Configure all these systems into their sportiest modes and the R8 gets super-reactive. It’s not a car you slide extravagantly, but you feel the small tyre-slip angles in vivid detail. Who says Audis are dull to drive? INTERIOR-Audi’s digital instruments make another appearance, meaning the main display pod can do all sorts of duties, including a supercar layout with big tacho and shift dials, or a setup with a huge map for touring navigation. You sit low in an embracing sports seat, and realise the ride is decently supple. The dash itself wraps around you like a single-seater cockpit. The build quality and finish is all you’d expect from an Audi, and a top-end one at that. WHAT is IT to own it - For a supercar, it’s a handy daily-use prospect: only the broad girth makes it a pain in a city. It’s no surprise that the V10 drinks more in daily use than a turbo’d flat-six, and it needs more scheduled maintenance than other everyday supercars. But the R8’s residual value looks like being on a par with a 911 Turbo.