Out of all the cars we get to drive here at AutoSpies, we have to say that the Audi R8 is one of the tops. There may be vehicles that are more fun and more exotic looking but the Audi has one of the best mixes out there.
That's because it brings a little bit of everything all together in one place.
It looks drop dead gorgeous, drives remarkably well, and it does what a lot of other high performance autos have a hard time doing — it's comfortable. And, of course, because it is equipped with Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system, you can take it out in the snow provided you have the right tires.
Just one thing. Like all modern cars, it could be lighter. With the R8 V10 Plus clocking in at over 3,600 pounds, it seems like there's got to be room for improvement. AND, according to Motor Trend, there is.
It recently talked to Audi's head of technical development and he noted that the next-gen R8 will benefit from a diet. This doesn't come as much of a surprise given Audi's commitment to its products losing weight as evidenced a couple of years ago when Agent 001 attended an event hosted by the four rings. This will be a critical differentiator for the marque going forward.
According to the Audi employee, expect weight savings totaling more than 100 pounds in the next-gen R8.
At the 2013 Los Angeles auto show, we attended a roundtable discussion with Audi’s head of technical development Ulrich Hackenberg, where we covered everything from the new 2015 Audi A3 and the next-generation R8. Hackenberg also assured us that the new R8 and the upcoming Lamborghini Gallardo replacement will provide completely unique driving experiences, despite sharing a number of components like the new aluminum and carbon fiber frame.
With the current R8 chassis constructed of aluminum, Hackenberg admits that the new frame won’t be significantly lighter. He estimates a weight savings of about 110-130 pounds, thanks to carbon fiber bits used for the floorboard and center tunnel. We recently tested a 2014 R8 Spyder that tipped the scales at 3907 pounds, while an R8 V10 Plus weighed in at 3678 pounds. Meanwhile, the Lamborghini Gallardo carries a curb weight of 3109 pounds in the LP 560-4 variant...
2014 Audi R8 Photo Gallery
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