Everyday useability isn't something you typically associate with supercars. It's often the opposite, really. You think of cars geared towards weekend use, with comfort and useability generally somewhat of an afterthought.
But that's not the case when it comes to the Audi R8. Here you have a vehicle that boasts all the credentials of an all-out supercar — a V10, exotic styling, and insane performance — but doesn't sacrifice on refinement, build quality, or useability.
All of this comes as little surprise, really, when you take into account the team behind Audi's R8: Audi Sport GmbH, or Quattro GmbH, as it was formerly named. For those that aren't aware, that's Audi's specialist performance subsidiary, the same one responsible for creating all of those brilliant vehicles that can, for the most part, go toe to toe with the very best performance cars out there.
Since it began in 1983 — and went on to develop its first car in 1991, the Audi S2 — the division has fused performance and refinement in a way few others have come close to. And arguably, the car that represents the very pinnacle of the subsidiary's work is the Audi R8 V10.
So, on that note, here's everything you should know about the Audi R8 V10.
A Detailed Look At The History Behind The Audi R8 V10
It's pretty difficult to think of a time in Audi history when the R8 wasn't present. But, in the grand scheme of things, the car hasn't actually been around all that long. 2006 marked the first year we saw the R8, though hints at the car's impending launch were given with the RSQ at the Geneva Motor Show in '03 and then the Le Mans Quattro at the Frankfurt Motor Show shortly afterward.
It was the latter that resembled the R8 the most — it was virtually identical, with subtle differences with the wheels and exhausts — and it would, in many ways, set the tone for the V10 R8 that would later arrive. The concept did, however, come with a 5.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V10, rather than one that was naturally aspirated like in the production car.
The first-generation model was a hit. And it isn't difficult to see why. You had a car that had revolutionary styling — that still looks striking and contemporary today — brilliant performance and excellent build quality. It was a car of firsts for Audi, too, given it marked the company's step into the world of mid-engined supercars.
Here's Why The Audi R8 V10 Can Do 0-60 In 3.4 Seconds
The V10 variant of the Audi R8 wouldn't arrive until 2008, though. It came with the same engine as the Lamborghini Gallardo, though it was slightly detuned — so it wasn't in direct competition with it — delivering 525 HP and 391 lb-ft. of torque. The second-generation R8 arrived in 2015, and, unlike the first-gen car, the only engine you could have was a V10 mated to an automatic transmission, with no manual option available.
Really, having this as the sole engine option isn't such a bad thing, especially when you take into consideration that it delivers 532 HP in its standard form and 614 with the Performance variant — formally known as the Plus. The standard car, then, will take you from zero to sixty in 3.4 seconds, while the Performance model will deal with it in 3.1.
According to Evo, both are proper 200 MPH+ cars, with a top speed of 201 for the slower variant and 205 for the Plus. You can have the Audi R8 V10 with two different types of drivetrain: one being Audi's no-nonsense, four-wheel-drive Quattro system, the other a rear-wheel drive set up, named the RWS.
Here's How Much It Could Cost You To Own An Audi R8 V10
In terms of cost, the Audi R8 V10 is just about the most affordable supercar you can buy — if you can even call $143,000 affordable — especially when you consider how much car you get for the money. It comes with a naturally-aspirated, mid-mounted V10, for starters — something which is becoming increasingly rare, given the justified focus on smaller, cleaner engines — has styling that can arguably compete with the very best and, according to sources, has just about the best interior of any supercar available.
If you're interested in the Plus version — and 532 HP just isn't enough for you — then you can expect to pay around $20,000 more. For the convertible Spyder version, then you're looking at an additional cost of around $12,250 on top of both variants.
Buying secondhand is always an option, too, and if you aren't too concerned with having the latest variant, then first-gen models can be picked up for around $64,000. A second-generation model, meanwhile, in both the standard and Plus trim, begin at around $113,000.