Autocar first drive: Audi R8

What's it like?

In a word: great. In two words: really great. Despite the supercar underpinnings and the sight of the mid-mounted V8 under a Ferrari-alike glass cover, the R8 drives more like a sports car. It delivers agility and massive cornering grip, but matches this to impressive high-speed refinement and the sort of comfort necessary to devour trans-continental journeys at a sitting. (The 90-litre fuel tank even gives a decent 300-mile-plus range between filling station stops.)

The R8 likes to get its teeth into the twistier stuff, too, cornering with the sort of poise and precision that no road-going Audi has offered before. And, best of all, the four-wheel drive system’s rear-biased torque delivery means it can even be induced to deliver a bit of painlessly corrected power oversteer.
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EvoAudi - 1/18/2007 10:55:03 AM

+1 Boost

LOL a high end sports car gets better MPG than my dad's MB E-320

answer - 1/18/2007 11:05:26 AM

+1 Boost

I really, really want one.

Just don't know if I'll choose black or white.

answer - 1/18/2007 11:19:52 AM

+1 Boost

I think so, but we will see what the wife says.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/18/2007 10:19:31 PM

0 Boost

I agree.

Rupert - 1/18/2007 11:21:30 AM

0 Boost

76000 pounds eh? about the same as an SL500, but over 20000 pounds less than an SL55.
cool.

Flight152 - 1/18/2007 11:23:55 AM

-1 Boost

0-62mph in 4.6 seconds? The BMW 335i sedan can do it in 4.8 with 114 less Horsepower. Whats up Audi?

Heyhuub - 1/18/2007 12:30:01 PM

-1 Boost

The 335i does it officialy in 5.6 seconds, just as the RS4 does officially 0-60 in 4,8 seconds. But in numeroes tests it proved that it could do it in 4,4 or even 4,3 seconds.
This will do even better.

BMW_DRVR - 1/18/2007 12:44:53 PM

-2 Boost

So they failed to beat there competition (porshe 911). i thought they would have done better. Then again i would like to see an official comparison.

GermanNut - 1/18/2007 1:03:08 PM

-1 Boost

No other company besides Ferrari or Lamborghini beats Porsche. BMW doesn't beat Porsche, Audi still can't beat them and Mercedes-Benz will never beat them.

07mcs - 1/18/2007 7:08:07 PM

+1 Boost

Well said, for the price the 911 is the best sports car. That is why is still being made after more than 40 years.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/18/2007 10:20:52 PM

-1 Boost

Even Ferrari and Lambo can't beat the 911 for sheer driving pleasure. It's perfect, in almost every way.

But I like my cars with a bit of quirkiness... the R8's the ticket!

CarMad - 1/18/2007 1:09:49 PM

0 Boost

There is a review in the UK Car magazine for next month as well.

Give this a click for a flavour of the article.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=407&page=1

A few of the people on the tyresmoke.net forum have got them on order. They were in two minds at first as it will be eventually fitted with the V10 from the Gallardo. Now then it will fly.

I think its a great looking car. Well done Audi IMO.

Flight152 - 1/18/2007 2:00:20 PM

+3 Boost

<<The 335i does it officialy in 5.6 seconds>>
Manufacturer's numbers are always slower then average Car and Driver tested it to 4.8, so those are the numbers I use. The R8 better be faster then 4.6 at this price.

07mcs - 1/18/2007 7:11:44 PM

0 Boost

the 4.6 is 0-62mph not 0-60. for 0-60 you should take .1 to .2 seconds off the 0-62mph time. so 0-60 would be like 4.5 conservatively according to manucturer's data, but Road & Track can usually get the cars faster to 60mph by .5 sec. So then the 0-60 time is like 4.0 sec estimated. That is pretty good.

GermanNut - 1/18/2007 2:19:37 PM

+1 Boost

The R8 will undoubtedly be faster than 4.6 seconds. The RS4 is officially claimed by Audi as 0-60 in 4.8 seconds but has gotten as low as 4.2 and generally around 4.3 to 4.4

This means the R8 should go as low as 4 seconds flat and usually around 4.1-4.2 seconds.

Pretty damn fast.

Look for the R8 in V10 form to post mid 3's for 0-60.

trd1 - 1/18/2007 5:39:25 PM

-1 Boost

this is way to slow to how the car looks. i mean this car is beauty, it looks like it can do 0-60 in under 4 seconds easily. come on audi thats barlly faster then the rs4.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/18/2007 10:21:44 PM

+1 Boost

Oh my god, LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE BLOG THAT EVERYONE JUST POSTED, trd1, BEFORE YOU TALK.

trd1 - 1/19/2007 12:33:48 AM

+2 Boost

dude i dont have the time to read every single persons comment, i mean i go on this site like once a day for like 30 min. and what did i say that you getting all mad over. i said that the car looks like it can do 0-60 in less then 4 seconds, even though it does it in 4.6. i typed it kind of fast as you can see.

Heyhuub - 1/19/2007 4:13:10 AM

0 Boost

Well, 5 years ago the Ferrari Modena only managed a 0-60 in 4,5 seconds. So i don't think it does half bad.
And compared to the competition like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Porsche 911 it does pretty great actually.

chewy - 1/19/2007 4:36:46 AM

0 Boost

Looks to be one of the first reviews, or maybe they just got a ride.

Caps lock time.

AUDI RS 4 WITH THE SAME ENGINE BUT 400-500 MORE POUNDS DOES 0-60 IN AS LITTLE AS 4.2 SECONDS. THEREFORE THE R8 COULD DO IT UNDER 4 SECONDS, VERY LOW SECONDS WILL BE ACHIEVED ON A CONSISTENT BASIS AS WELL.

This should be good.

chewy - 1/19/2007 4:37:21 AM

0 Boost

very low 4s will be achieved on a consistant basis

theman - 1/19/2007 9:55:31 AM

0 Boost

I agree, the R8 should do it in 4 seconds easily..Although I never paid attention to the Audi brand, this might be the best overall car in existence, Luxury of a Bentley, Looks of a Mercedes, Performance of a BMW, and handling of a Porsche..Really people, this is the ultimate car..

GermanNut - 1/19/2007 12:30:34 PM

0 Boost

this is not the ultimate car. The V10 version will be the ultimate car. Luxury close to that of Bentley. Looks similar to a Lamborghini. Straight-line performance maybe even faster than that of a 65 AMG Benz and handling close to that of a Porsche.