Practicality 2.5/ 5
WHEN it comes to everyday usability, the Porsche is hard to beat. There’s plenty of space up front for two, plus the larger glass area creates a greater feeling of space and delivers far better visibility than in its rivals. The front boot has 115 litres of space – fractionally more than in the Audi. Elsewhere, the glovebox is big, but storage isn’t as good as in either the R8 or the 570S.
However, the Porsche’s party trick is the addition of a pair of rear seats. They’re not big, but provide enough room for small children to sit comfortably, while adults will be able to squeeze in for short journeys. On top of that, when the seatbacks aren’t in use they can be folded to create a large shelf that will accommodate large bags and suitcases.
Road tests
THE R8 hit the headlines when it debuted in 2007. With supercar looks, a mid-engined layout, exotic aluminium construction and four-wheel drive, the wild two-seater helped inject some serious glamour into Audi’s line-up.
An all-new, second-generation model was launched late last year, featuring more power and even sharper looks. Buyers now have a choice of standard V10 and more powerful V10 Plus trims, which are currently available only in coupé guise. Here we test the flagship Plus model, which costs £134,500 and boasts a muscular 602bhp.
Styling 4.8/ 5
THE original R8’s dramatic styling was a such a hit, it came as no surprise that Audi didn’t mess with the winning formula for the latest car. In fact, at a glance you might struggle to tell it apart from its predecessor.
Look more closely, however, and you’ll find that the R8 has been subtly enhanced in all areas. As with the brand’s latest models, such as the TT, the shape of this mid-engined flagship is defined by sharp creases and a bold angular grille at the front. The contrasting colour ‘blade’ air intakes behind the doors are smaller than before, while our range-topping Plus has extra visual impact courtesy of its carbon-fibre bodywork additions that include a fixed tailgate spoiler, mirror housings and rear diffuser. The Audi can’t quite match the swoopy Mclaren for head-turning appeal, but it puts the 911 firmly in the shade.
This cutting-edge design continues inside, where the sweeping, wraparound dashboard puts the driver right at the centre of the action. Hi-tech additions such as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, with its configurable TFT screen instrument layout, also help mark out the R8 as something special. Another highlight is the three-spoke steering wheel, which houses a red starter button, plus the Drive Select switch and the controls for the sports exhaust and Performance modes. It gives the car a real racer-for-the-road feel.
The top-notch fit and finish is more than a match for that in the 911 Turbo S, even if the cabin isn’t quite so easy to live with day-to-day; the minimalist dash means you have to access various sub menus on the Virtual Cockpit to enter a sat-nav destination or retune the radio. Still, Audi’s Exclusive customisation service lets you select unique colours and finishes for the seats and trim inserts.
Driving 4.4/ 5
EXTENSIVE use of aluminium in the R8’s structure has allowed engineers to reduce weight by around 15 per cent over the old car, while the familiar, naturally aspirated 5.2-litre engine has been tweaked to deliver an astonishing 602bhp – 40bhp more than the twinturbocharged Mclaren. This powerplant is paired with a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox that drives all four wheels via a new quattro transmission.
Press the starter button, and the V10 barks into life with enough noisy violence to set off car alarms and startle passers-by. The engine’s 560Nm torque figure means it can’t match its rivals here for mid-range muscle, but it’s got them well beaten for drama.
From its deep growl at low revs through to the thrilling metallic howl as you close in on the 8,500rpm red line, it sounds every bit as exciting as you’d expect from a supercar. Our model’s £1,800 optional Sports exhaust added even more volume to the glorious mechanical orchestra. At the track, the R8 rocketed from 0-60mph in a mere 2.9 seconds – that’s three-tenths quicker than Audi’s claimed time and two-tenths faster than the 570S’s. The Audi’s shorter ratios also meant it was able to match, or beat, its turbocharged rivals during our in-gear tests.
With its razor-sharp throttle response, the R8 surges relentlessly forward no matter what gear you’re in, while the twin-clutch box rips through upshifts and delivers delicious blips on the way down. And while it doesn’t have the Mclaren’s ferocious top-end bite, the Audi is still sensationally quick.
Drive Select allows you to choose between Normal, Comfort, Individual and Dynamic modes, and Plus models add a Performance setting that can tweak the stability control’s intervention to suit the road conditions. Even in its sportiest setting, the R8’s steering lacks the 570S’s beautifully weighted feel, but it’s extremely fast to react and lets you place the car with laser-guided accuracy. There’s also loads of grip, great body control and strong traction. However, switch off the electronic safety net, and the four-wheeldrive system can shuffle 100 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels for lurid powerslides.
Visibility isn’t as good as in the Audi’s rivals, plus the car feels a little cumbersome around town. On the motorway the engine spins at a heady 2,900rpm at 70mph, plus there’s a fair amount of tyre roar. Still, the £1,600 adaptive dampers deliver a similarly composed ride to the 911’s – although both models have to give best to the supple Mclaren here.
Ownership 2.9/ 5
WITH its hand-crafted production process and hefty price, the R8 should deliver a blemish-free ownership experience. However, Audi finished a disappointing 21st in our Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey, while its franchised network came 25th out of 32 in our most recent dealer poll. The car hasn’t been rated by Euro NCAP, but it gets four airbags, multi-stage stability control and carbon-ceramic brakes. There’s no option to add hi-tech features such as autonomous emergency braking or blind-spot monitoring, though.
Running costs 2.2/ 5
RUNNING costs won’t be that important to R8 buyers, but the fact that the Audi is the cheapest car here is a welcome surprise. A lower list price also means it will cost business users less, despite its CO2 emissions of 287g/km. Our experts predict it’ll retain more of its value after three years than the Porsche. We returned a creditable 23.1mpg at the pumps, but three services on the Audi will set you back an eye-watering £3,481.