The first-generation Audi R8’s blistering pace and fine handling made it a worthy rival of the legendary Porsche 911 sports car. But would Audi really be able to top that?
Behold the second-generation R8 which, according to the car maker, is the most racing-car-like road car it has ever built.
The car seems as ground-hugging as a slug, and all the elements of the design come together superbly. The R8 is cleaner, crisper, tighter and even more “compact” than the earlier one. But the best part is that it retains the personality of the R8.
Slide into the driver’s seat, and chances are you will be completely blown away by the cabin around you. It looks fresh and new and there’s a real sporty element here. The highlights include the aircraft-throttle-like gear selector, air-conditioning controls that have mini screens in them, and a big, 12.3-inch, high-definition “virtual cockpit” screen that replaces the instrument panel (as on the Audi TT, for example). It allows you to toggle between several settings and option modes and screens, the best of which happens to be a large rpm meter, which redlines at a crazy 8,600 rpm.
The real highlight, however, is the big red starter button—press it, and the large 5.2-litre, V10 engine springs to life.
Tap the foot throttle gently and try and inch ahead, and the R8 will jolt forward and strain at the leash. Somewhat, perhaps, like a Doberman that has just spotted a cat. As we try and control the bucking bronco, a tall car we can’t immediately identify passes by on the left. It turns out to be a Maruti Dzire, a small sedan—but you’re seated so low in the Audi that regular cars just tower over you.
The Audi’s seats aren’t really focused on comfort; they feel like buckets fixed to hold you in place, as in a racing car. You can’t recline the backrest, and most of the seat-adjustment controls are manual. You can lift up the driver’s seat, and that is electrically powered, but that’s about it. So it’s a bit tough initially to find a comfortable driving position.
Although the seats aren’t uncomfortable, what probably is, especially on bad sections of the road, is the ride quality. You hear the thud-thud over every sharp ridge, and even on the smoother sections, the R8 hops up and down a fair bit. It will clear every speed breaker you’ll encounter, but you will need to be really gentle with the car while driving over one.
The R8 really comes into its own on open roads. The ride improves once you’re past 80 or 90 kmph, and then you witness the absurd amount of performance. That’s due to the 610 hp V10 engine.
The flat-out performance is unreal. It does 0-100 kmph in 3.5 seconds and 0-200 kmph in 11.32 seconds. These are big-league supercar numbers. For comparison’s sake, the mighty Lamborghini Aventador has a 0-100 time of 3.2 seconds and a 0-200 time of 10.08 seconds.
This car, however, isn’t just built for straight-line thrills; the way to exploit it fully is to show it a nice set of corners. The R8 goes corner after corner, faster, harder, balancing itself so beautifully that it eggs you on to add more power with every bend you pass.
The low stance gives you a feel of the road rushing as you drive along, the explosive V10 engine propelling the car forward. The powerful brakes and excellent levels of grip are inspiring.
It may not have the most alluring badge around, it may not be the fastest, and it’s a bit uncomfortable around town, but there are few cars that can beat the Audi at delivering the all-round supercar experience. It delivers explosive performance, loves to be driven hard and looks stunning. At Rs.2.47 crore (ex-showroom, New Delhi), it’s decent value when compared to, say, a Lamborghini Huracán, which starts at Rs.3.10 crore (ex-showroom, New Delhi).
So, does the new R8 have what it takes to lead the pack of supercars in India? The answer is a resounding yes.
