It isn't breaking news to say that the current automotive landscape is full of amazingly impressive supercars. In fact, we might just be living in the last, best, golden age of those incredibly powerful machines. But what some people may not realize is that not all supercars get created equally. Some supercars, have actual superpowers. Now, we aren't talking about x-ray vision or the ability to talk to fish. The superpower these cars have is the ability to highhandedly turn a non-car person into a car lover.
Over the years we have seen cars like the Lamborghini Countach in the '80s, or the Dodge Viper in the '90s, or the ridiculously fast Saleen S7 in the 2000s. Since the 2010s, the Audi R8 has carried that same super-torch, and continues to this day with the 2023 R8 Coupe.
2023 Audi R8
- Available Quattro All-Wheel Drive
- Optional Carbon-Ceramic Brakes
- 5.2-Liter V10
- Trim: RWD, AWD, GT Coupe
- Make: Array
- Model: R8
- Segment: Array
- Engine/Motor: 5.2-Liter Naturally-Aspirated V10
- Horsepower: 562-602
- Torque: 406-413 Pound-Feet
- Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Transmission: 7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
- MSRP: Starting at $158,600
- 0-60 MPH: 3.2-3.7 Seconds
- GT is the most powerful RWD Audi ever made
- 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds
- 8,700 RPM redline
- Only 333 GT models made worldwide
- Dismal fuel economy
- The last year for the R8
2023 Audi R8 Coupe Powertrain
When it first debuted in 2008, the R8 was first powered by a 4.2-liter V8, and then in 2011, was given possibly the greatest hand-me-down in history. Big brother Lamborghini lent the R8 its naturally-aspirated, DOHC, 5.2-liter V10, which is now the sole engine available for 2023. Thankfully there have been some enhancements over the years, and while the R8 isn't actually more powerful than a locomotive, it definitely will feel like it is. The latest engine of the R8 makes an incredible 562-horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque (up from the original V10's 525 and 391 respectively) for the rear-wheel drive Performance Coupe. Since this is the last year for this generation of R8, Audi is giving its halo car a super-sendoff, bringing back the special edition R8 GT, which bumps power up to Ferrari-fighting 602-horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Avid Audi fans will notice that the GT's peak is the same power available on the all-wheel drive version, but this marks the first time all 602 ponies are available on a rear-wheel drive-only setup. No matter which engine you go with, both come with Audi's S-Tronic seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
2023 Audi R8 Coupe Drivetrain
From there, you can have power routed to just the rear wheels or opt for Audi's famous Quattro all-wheel drive setup. The GT option is only available with rear-wheel drive. The R8 rides on a double wishbone suspension at both the front and rear, while huge 8-piston front/4-piston rear calipers clamp down on 14.4-inch front and 14.0-inch rear rotors on the "base" coupe, while the GT gets bigger and more powerful 15.0-inch front/14.0-inch rear carbon-ceramic brakes. Twenty-inch rims are shod in 245/30 R20 front and 305/30 R20 rear summer tires, which get upgraded to barely-street legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber if you opt for the GT.
2023 Audi R8 Coupe Performance And Handling Ability
While the R8 also isn't actually faster than a speeding bullet, it is definitely faster than a speeding Bullitt Mustang. According to Audi, the non-GT rear-wheel drive Performance Coupe can run from 0-60 mph in just 3.6-seconds, while the lesser-powered, but better gripping all-wheel drive model can make the same sprint in palpitation-causing 3.1-seconds. Opt for the carbon-fiber front sway bar for an additional $1,100 (standard on the GT), and the $1,400 Dynamitic Steering feature, which uses a speed-dependent, variable-ratio, and you'll have a car that can lap any road course with the best out there. The Quattro variant makes speed nearly foolproof, while the rear-wheel drive versions demand a bit more talent and practice to extract the same level of performance. The GT also comes with something called Torque Rear, which essentially is a drifting mode that Audi can't officially call "drifting mode".
Don't expect much performance at the pump however, as the R8's V10 is always thirsty. The rear-wheel drive model nets a best of 14/23/17 city/highway/combined MPG, while the more involved Quattro commands an even worse 13/18/15 city/highway/combined MPG. Of course, your driving style can dramatically reduce those already dismal numbers even further.
2023 Audi R8 Coupe Interior Space, Quality, And Technology
While the R8 is unequivocally a luxury car, its interior is somewhat sparse compared to something like the hyper-expensive Bugatti Chiron, it does offer up plenty of customization to make sure owners are happy. At first glance, one of the big questions is immediately some kind of inquiry as to the location of the infotainment system, as it is missing in the normal mid-dash location of most other Audi models. But fear not, as the digital gauge cluster actually does double-duty and controls all things infotainment as well as providing normal driving feedback.
You can check off the Premium Package option (a $5,900 up-charge), and you're treated to an Alcantara headliner, even more leather than the base interior, as well as an upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system and illuminated doorsill inlays. There is also the $3,400 Carbon Interior Package that, as expected, provides a significantly more amount of the rare material strewn about the cabin. If you want to step things up even further, there is the Diamond interior package, which is actually a nod to the stitch pattern of the seats and headliner rather than any sort of bedazzled fabric. On the Quattro models, this package also adds 18-way power seats with pneumatic bolsters. But no matter what interior package you choose, don't expect to be able to pack much more than one other person, as the R8 offers just about as much cargo space as the somewhat claustrophobic BMW i8.
2023 Audi R8 Coupe Pricing
As you might expect with an exotic-looking supercar like the R8, it isn't cheap. The base rear-wheel drive Performance Coupe starts at $158,600, while the Quattro upgrade will cost you a cool $209,700 at the very least. There will be only 333 R8 GT models made in this final year, with less than half of those headed for the US, so naturally, the GT commands a significant premium over the "normal" car. Before dealer markups, the R8 GT starts at a whopping $253,290, and that's if you can get your hands on one. For those arm-chair mathematicians, yes, that's nearly a hundred grand more than the base V10 rear-wheel drive coupe. But, if its any consolation, if you tack on all the extras the GT comes with to the bottom line of the base car, that price gap gets cut in half.
The V10 R8 has been around for more than a decade, and we will undoubtedly miss it when it's gone after this year. The R8 hasn't just been a supercar, but a supercar with superpowers. If you are lucky enough to drive or ride in one of these amazing machines, or even if you just happen to be around one, watch as the casual passerby and onlooker stops and stares. They will ask "what kind of car is that?!" and some of them will instantly become car aficionados in that very moment, and you will see the true power of the R8, even if it still can't talk to fish.