2016 Audi R8 V10 Plus review

In much the same way it revolutionised sports car racing at Le Mans, Audi's first crack at a genuine road-going supercar, the R8, was an instant success.

The mid-engined, all-wheel drive machine didn't necessarily beat its well-established rivals on outright performance, but it was quickly recognised as a no-compromise machine that could be enjoyed more often and appealed to a broader set of buyers. It also stood out from the pack with its futuristic Blade Runner-esque style.

The second-generation R8, which landed in Australia earlier this year, follows much the same high-performance yet user-friendly formula but has been improved in almost every conceivable dimension.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

The second-generation R8 has climbed-up a rung on the sports car ladder - both in terms of price and performance - as it is now exclusively offered with the Lamborghini-sourced 5.2-litre V10. The previous model's high-revving V8 option was discontinued late in its lifecycle, but rumours persist Audi will replace its entry-level model with a twin-turbo V6 variant soon.

Until then, the R8 is offered in two distinct models, the standard V10 which costs $354,900 (plus on-road costs) or the flagship V10 Plus we're testing here which adds more power and more gear for its $389,900 (plus on-roads) asking price.

As you'd expect for that kind of money, standard equipment in both variants includes a Nappa leather-lined cockpit, dual-zone climate control and Audi's virtual cockpit digital instrument display which incorporates sat nav and a reverse camera as well as a high-end Bang and Olufsen audio system with digital radio and hard drive music storage.

The V10 Plus adds carbon ceramic brakes, lightweight 20-inch alloys, tighter-fitting sports seats, an even sportier suspension tune within the magnetic dampers, a performance mode that unleashes launch control for maximum acceleration and additional carbon fibre exterior elements.

Our test car was fitted with a myriad of optional extras that tallied more than $50k, including LED headlights with laser high beams, additional Nappa leather and carbon fibre interior trim and more of the lightweight material adorning in the engine bay.

WHAT'S INSIDE?

While it is debatable whether the R8 has taken a step backwards in the futuristic style of its exterior design (personally I think it has and losing its unique 'Side Blades' is a travesty), but the same cannot be said about the two-seater cabin, which is now even more dramatic.

It fuses the quality and luxury you'd expect from a flagship sports car that nudges half a million dollars with surprisingly accessible practicality and an overall design that is light years ahead of some of its rivals, to the point where slipping behind the wheel feels as though you've been transported into the not-to-distant future.

It's not just the fully digital instrument panel (which is cool, but not unique to the R8) or the collection of racecar-like buttons on the steering wheel, including a big red one that fires the engine to life, but it's thoughtful touches like the air conditioning system which is all controlled from three dials that appear to be hanging from the dash and creates a useable storage space in the centre section.

As for the rest of the cabin, the seats are snug and both passengers sit nice and low with an expansive view out of the front windscreen and there's room for a couple of day bags behind the seats, making the R8 more practical than most of its mid-engined rivals.

The one, admittedly small, gripe we did have with it was the heartbeat that sounds each time you enter and exit the car. It's cool the first few times, and probably something you can choose to turn off in the vehicle menu settings, but it was little clich?d and annoying after a couple of days.

UNDER THE BONNET

As mentioned previously, the second-generation R8 is exclusively available with a mid-mounted 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 also used in the related Lamborghini Huracan.

In the Audi, it produces 397kW and 540Nm in the standard R8 V10 and 449kW and 560Nm in the V10 Plus we're testing - an identical output to the flagship Huracan LP610-4.

Both models utilise an all-wheel drive transmission with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, with the standard R8 bolting to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 320km/h while the extra power and Performance Mode helps the V10 Plus lower the acceleration to triple figures to 3.2 seconds and raises its top speed to 330km/h - making it the fastest production car Audi has ever produced.

In both configurations, the engine now features cylinder-on-demand technology that can shut down one bank of five cylinders while cruising under light throttle applications to reduce fuel consumption, with claimed averages of 11.4L/100km and 12.3L/100km respectively.

ON THE ROAD

Make no mistake, the R8 is a genuine supercar that is an equal against the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, Lamborghini and Porsche.

It is blistering fast when you want it to be, with a beautifully linear power delivery from its wailing and warbling V10, a seamless gearbox and the confidence of all-paw traction working in concert to make the R8 less intimidating to drive quickly than some other mid-engined machines.

The steering is razor sharp and, with the magnetic suspension switched on to its sportiest settings, the R8 has phenomenal cornering abilities. Push too hard and it never feels as though it is going to bite, as the front-end will gently understeer if you slice through a bend too quickly. It can get a bit squirelly when you back off quickly (as most mid-engined cars will tend to do) but the electronic safety net intervenes nicely. It's certainly a confidence-inspiring machine at speed.

What's best about the R8 though is just how useable it is in everyday situations. While the ride is firm when the suspension is backed-off, it never crashes and jars over rough surfaces and tramlining (where the car follows the camber of the road) is less prevalent than in some other supercars fitted with wide tyres.

The gearbox doesn't hesitate in getting away either and shifts smoothly when on the move, and the engine, while lacking the kind of low-down pulling power now offered by turbo charged engines, feels equally as flexible and as fluid in the real world. Plus it sounds glorious at any speed with a crisp yet deep-chested exhaust note that is totally unique (with the exception of the Lamborghini of course).

The carbon ceramic brakes in the V10 Plus have a fairly numb feel through the pedal at pedestrian speeds, but still manage to pull-up swiftly. At the other end of the driving spectrum, they feel amazingly strong and consistent when at peak operating temperatures, like on a race track for example.

VERDICT

While, on the surface, the second-generation Audi R8 seems like an evolutionary update of the original, scratch a little deeper and it becomes obvious there is more to it than that.

Yes, it builds on all the strengths of its predecessor in terms of its performance and practicality. And, yes, it remains more on the friendly side of ferocious than some of its competitors. But that doesn't make it any less of a supercar.

In fact, the incremental improvements introduced with this generation make the R8 a much better supercar, particularly one that you'll enjoy sitting in for more than just a Sunday blast.

2016 Audi R8 V10 Plus price and specifications

Price: from $389,900 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 5.2-litre V10 petrol

Power: 449kW at 8250rpm

Torque: 560Nm at 6500rpm

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, AWD

Fuel use: 12.3L/100km