The Audi R8 has come a long way, as this latest video shows.
It’s sometimes hard to measure vehicular progress. Sure, the numbers might get higher (or lower, depending on the number), but what does this mean in the real world?
To find out, Carwow decided to get four different Audi R8s from throughout the ages and compare them in a series of races.
The Audi R8 has been around since 2006, and although it seems to finally be running out of steam, Audi still hasn’t officially announced the R8’s demise (unlike the TT, which was given the ax last month).
When the R8 was first born in 2006, it came with a 4.2-L naturally aspirated V8 engine with 414 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Zero to sixty was done in a respectable 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 187 miles per hour. A 6-speed manual provided power to all four wheels with a rear bias of about 70%.
That R8 would live on until 2012, with the R8 GT Spyder arriving that year. Now the standard engine was a 5.2-L V10 with 552 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. Zero to sixty was done in just 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 197 mph. Power now went through a 6-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels.
After that, the last of the first-gen R8s was the LMX V10. The same engine as the Spyder now made 562 hp and the same amount of torque but was paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This dropped zero to sixty times down to 3.1 seconds and top speed rose to 199 mph.
And finally we arrive at the second-gen, Audi R8 V10 Performance. This time the V10 engine makes 602 hp with 413 lb-ft torque. Zero to sixty takes 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 205 mph. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is retained from the previous-gen model along with additional refinements to the chassis and suspension.
Obviously, the V10 Performance will be the winner, but it doesn’t win by quite as much as you’d expect. Find out just how much in the video above.