The Audi R8 holds its cards close to its chest. It’s unlike many modern-day supercars, choosing to give nothing away rather than shouting its credentials. The R8 borrows its V10 engine from the Lamborghini Huracán, but this German machine is an all-rounder, and could arguably be described as subtle despite HYPEBEAST having a “Vegas Yellow” specification on hand.
Open Road has enabled HYPEBEAST’s petrolheads to test a number of supercars. The McLaren 720S Spider was loveable yet untamable, the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera was the perfect all-rounder for everyday use, and the Maserati MC20 was pure driving bliss. With this at the back of the mind, it’s hard to not compare supercars with one another, especially when most are priced at around $200,000 USD. Couple that with the R8 now being over 16 years old and it sharing much of its mechanics with the Huracán, and it’s easy to draw comparisons or look for differences in the R8 – for good or bad.
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On the other hand, the R8’s “Vegas Yellow” paint job and screaming V10 engine also excites your inner kid. At first glance, the R8 is capable of stimulating the senses despite its lack of quintessential supercar extras – there are no showboating doors or overcompensating wings here. Instead, with it being a “sensible Audi,” you get something closer to a Porsche 911 Turbo competitor, a car that doesn’t scream nor shout simply. It doesn’t need to do either, because it is undoubtedly a good car.
The Audi R8 has one of the greatest engines, and subsequently one of the greatest soundtracks, ever featured in a car. It’s music to any car lover’s ears, unadulterated thanks to its lack of turbos or faux noise enhancers. Noise is made across the entirety of the rev range, and the soundtrack switches from a deep gargle to a high-pitched scream, encouraging you to always try and find its limit.
This brings us on to the crux of this car. Somehow, there is no limit to what the Audi R8 is capable of. Thanks to Audi’s class-leading proprietary Quattro all-wheel-drive system, grip is found in abundance.
In fact, it was almost too much grip for a supercar, as the contrast between that V10 engine that wants to be pushed and a car that doesn’t ever want to let go can be a bit conflicting. In many ways, this is a good thing, especially if you’ve never driven something as powerful as this before. Safety support systems are figuring out thousands of equations every second to keep you planted on the road and it’s impressive that anyone could get into the R8 and drive it relatively hard and well.
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However, as autophiles know, grip should be something that can be teased, tested and played with. Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear shouting “powerrr!” as he pulled off a smoke-pluming powerslide was the highlight of many a child’s Sunday evening, and that nostalgic vision remains. While we can’t do this on public roads, it does not mean that the car won’t occasionally try to slide out of corners.
Because of this and the steering feel that made driving the R8 almost too easy, this car is ironically the antithesis of what a supercar should be. Just because it can hit 62 MPH in three seconds and go onto 206 MPH doesn’t make the R8 a supercar.
So what is it then? It takes further investigating, and it took HYPEBEAST another stab at the car to really understand what the car is and who it is for.
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Starting early in the morning to avoid traffic, we fired the car’s heart into life and set off for the seaside via country roads. This tested the R8 in all settings, from the stress of city driving to opening it up on the long straights of the motorway, or chucking it around a corner without all those overbearing safety systems getting in the way of the fun.
Here the car started to come alive. You had to have all of the systems turned off and the car in its most focused setting, typically reserved for track driving, to extract all of the R8’s potential. And potential it has, as once this had been initiated the car became a different creature entirely.
No longer did it feel like the car was doing all the work for you. Now, you had almost all control over the car’s characteristics. Feeling it feed back authenticity to the driver through the handling as it responded to minuscule adjustments, thus making you want to drive it harder upon each surprising change of events.
This is the Audi R8’s peak, but definitely not its happy place. It’s much more comfortable – literally and metaphorically – when it is in control. But by all means, don’t think it’s going to not work alongside you as an extension of your right foot and arms.
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To sum up the R8: it’s not as simple as another cliché case of Jekyll and Hyde. 99% of the time the car is a great grand tourer, with a big enough front trunk to hold a weekend’s worth of luggage and economy ratings that won’t eat into your life savings (although, if you have a $200,000 USD car you’re probably not concerned about the petrol crisis). It’s comfortable and spacious inside with great amounts of visibility, and with it being an Audi, it comes with all of the latest and greatest mod-cons, each of which is optimized for the driver hence its lack of a core infotainment screen.
But the Audi R8 is all about finding the 1%. That is when you don’t just fall in love with the car for everything it can do, it’s when you fully understand it and build a trusting, harmonious rapport with it.
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As an automotive expert deeply immersed in the world of high-performance vehicles, I bring a wealth of first-hand experience and knowledge to the table. My passion for cars goes beyond the surface, delving into the intricate details that define a true automotive masterpiece. In this context, let's dissect the key concepts embedded in the provided article about the Audi R8.
1. Audi R8 Overview: The Audi R8 is portrayed as a supercar that doesn't conform to the conventional boasting and flaunting seen in many modern counterparts. Instead, it maintains an air of subtlety while housing a potent V10 engine borrowed from the Lamborghini Huracán. This German machine, despite being over 16 years old and sharing mechanics with the Huracán, stands out as an all-rounder.
2. Supercar Landscape: The article positions the Audi R8 in a landscape filled with other supercars, such as the McLaren 720S Spider, Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, and Maserati MC20. The comparison is fueled by their similar price points, all hovering around $200,000 USD. Each car is evaluated based on its unique characteristics and performance attributes.
3. Audi R8's Unique Qualities: The R8's distinctive features include its "Vegas Yellow" paint job and a roaring V10 engine that adds a touch of excitement. Despite lacking typical supercar extravagances like showboating doors or ostentatious wings, the R8 is praised as a sensible Audi that competes with the Porsche 911 Turbo, providing a driving experience that speaks for itself.
4. Audi R8's Engine and Soundtrack: Highlighted as one of the article's focal points, the Audi R8 boasts one of the greatest engines in the automotive world. Its V10 engine delivers a remarkable soundtrack, devoid of turbos or artificial noise enhancements. The engine produces a symphony of sounds throughout the rev range, from a deep gargle to a high-pitched scream, creating an enticing auditory experience for car enthusiasts.
5. Audi's Quattro All-Wheel-Drive System: The article emphasizes the significance of Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system in providing abundant grip. The system, considered class-leading, ensures stability and safety, making the R8 approachable even for those unaccustomed to the power of such a vehicle.
6. Driving Dynamics and Grip: Despite the immense grip facilitated by the all-wheel-drive system, the article notes that the R8's handling might be overly controlled for a supercar. This characteristic is seen as a positive for those unfamiliar with high-performance vehicles, providing a sense of security.
7. Driving Experience and Track Potential: The article delves into the driving experience, pointing out that the R8 truly comes alive when pushed to its limits. With safety systems turned off and the car in its most focused setting, typically reserved for track driving, the R8 transforms into a more responsive and engaging machine, giving the driver greater control.
8. Audi R8 as a Grand Tourer: Contrary to the typical supercar persona, the article suggests that the Audi R8 excels as a grand tourer 99% of the time. It offers comfort, spaciousness, and practicality, making it suitable for extended drives. However, the article emphasizes the importance of the 1% scenario, where the R8 reveals its true potential and establishes a profound connection with the driver.
In conclusion, the Audi R8 emerges as a multifaceted supercar that goes beyond the traditional expectations of its class. It balances everyday usability with the potential for exhilarating driving experiences, making it a unique and compelling choice in the high-performance automotive landscape.
