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 It's precisely what you think it is The Audi R8 is the state of the art in German supercar technology. It’s got 420 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque pumped out of a normally-aspirated direct injection 4.2-liter DOHC V8 engine. Power is delivered to all four wheels through Audi’s advanced R-Tronic 6-speed “clutchless manual” transmission and legendary Quattro all wheel drive system. The car will do 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, and has a top speed governed to 187 MPH. The least expensive R8 comes in at $109,000, and the R8 we tested is priced at $137,000 - that’s what it costs to take home the finest engineering that European automakers can provide.
The 4.2-liter dry sump engine in the R8 behaves like a cross-breed between a high-torque domestic V8 and a high-revving Italian power plant. Which makes sense, since Audi collaborated with Lamborghini on the project. With a redline at 8,000 and peak torque starting around 3,000 rpm, the R8 will pull strongly from about 2,000 rpm right up to the rev limiter. Surprisingly, the R8 has a forgiving throttle. Unlike some exotics, you can drive the R8 around town in perfect decorum, but if you put the spurs to her, she’ll pin your head to the seatback. Of course, the R8 is a true sports car, so Audi biases the power 90% to the rear wheels.  Fast, great handling, comfortable
To achieve the kind of balance that lets you put that power to the ground and still go where you point the car, the engine is mounted in the middle, right behind your head. Rear tires are 295/30-19, and the fronts are 235/35-19, so it’s got some serious footprint for traction. The brakes are as big around as most cars’ wheels, with 6-pot calipers in front and 4-pots in the rear.
The R-Tronic transmission takes a bit of getting used to, but when you’ve got the knack you won’t miss that third pedal. Forget about Automatic mode - shifts are balky until you hit 50 MPH or so. But if you modulate your throttle like a manual, you can paddle or rachet-shift the R8 as smooth as you please. Of course, Audi will sell you an R8 with a 6-speed manual box as well. Since the R-Tronic transmission costs an extra $9,000 before you add leather or anything else, we like that option.  James Bond would drive one
Inside, the Audi is as comfortable as your living room. The widebody design gives ample elbow room for driver and passenger, and the mid-engine design (and miniscule trunk) offer plenty of legroom in the cab. Audi builds its seats for real normal-sized men, so the side bolster is not bruising your kidneys as you drive. Your seats are leather, heated, and offer excellent side support for vigorous driving. Our particular R8 came equipped with all the goodies, so we had satellite radio and navigation to entertain us on our drive - not that we needed it!
The R8 is a pure joy, and easy to drive. The fact is, it just goes where you point it. In a week of brisk driving, the R8 never put a toe out of line. The Quattro system just eats up gravel and wet and whatever you drive on. Even with the 10/90 front/rear torque split, the R8 drives like it’s painted on the asphalt. The paddle shifters mean you never take your hands off the wheel, and visibility is better than you’d expect when you look at the car. Handling at the limit is neutral - neither pushing nor developing any oversteer.  Great driving environment
Of course, you will get a lot of attention when you’re out with this car. Men and women alike will come up and want to talk about the R8. If you’re shy, this car is not for you. Every time we parked, we’d notice people taking pictures with their cell phones. As you drive along, everyone - and we mean everyone - takes a moment to look at the R8.
The weight on the Audi is about 3500 pounds. That’s more than I expected for a car of this size with an all-aluminum body, space frame, and mostly aluminum drivetrain, but it’s an Audi, so you know it’s going to be safe. The car comes with traction control, antilock brakes, and of course several airbags. Of course, it also comes with a “sport mode” button and a button that tightens up the shocks - the R8 is a car for all reasons!  Even stopped, it's blazing fast
Just don’t think you’re going to pack a big suitcase - there’s space for a pair of overnight bags, but that’s all. The R8 is not your grocery getter unless you need a quart of milk and you need it fast.
The R8 gets better fuel mileage than you expect. Audi claims 13/18, but in real world combination driving, we got 16 to 17 MPG consistently. Of course, you do have to use Premium fuel.
Looking at the window sticker, the base price with the R-Tronic transmission is $118,000, or $109,000 with the 6-speed manual. The leather package costs a whopping $5,500, but that includes the dash and many interior surfaces as well as the seats. $3,500 buys you the premium package, with beeping parking assist (nice to have with a spendy ride), 6-disc CD changer, universal garage door opener, and Bluetooth hands-free phone system. The satellite navigation system costs $2,000 - about average across all brands and price ranges.
The Federal Government will ding you for $2100 for the gas guzzler tax if you buy an R8, but that’s just a cost of doing business north of 150 MPH. And there’s a $995 destination fee.
The bottom line on the R8 I tested came to $132,745. That’s tall money, but if you’re in the market for a supercar, it’s not at all out of line. In fact, it’s half the price of a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti or a Spyker whatchamacallit. It’s almost $100,000 less than a Lamborghini Gallardo. It’s only marginally more than a Porsche Carrera 4S and the same as a Porsche GT-3. So if you’re shopping that market, you owe it to yourself to test drive the Audi R8.
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