Audi has for decades showcased its automaking capabilities and cemented its claim as a top brand that knows its way around mashing together technology and style with performance and that trademark Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Many have loved Audi and everything they have built. From rally homologation specials, such as the rally championship-winning Audi Quattro to the capable Q-series SUVs, the performance-focused RS models, and the future-ready e-Tron models.

The Audi R8 has been Audi's top dog for a while now. The flagship supercar that goes head-to-head with the exotic Lamborghini's, Ferraris, and Porsches of the world and still bags a couple of wins as a reliable and affordable supercar. If still in doubt, the R8 is Iron Man's favorite car, and it shares an engine with the mighty Lamborghini Huracán. You would struggle to find a reason not to love it, but here is why we love the Audi R8.

10 A Practical Everyday Supercar

Audi R8 E-Tron 2015
Via Audi

As much as we love supercars for their speedy, nimble, light, and fun character, most are simply poor choices for a daily driven car. Few are capable daily drivers, including the Audi R8, which has remained one of the easiest supercars to live with since its debut.

Audi R8 E-Tron 2015
Via Audi

The Audi R8 is so smooth that you can take a drive around town. It also has sufficient ground clearance, so you don't have to worry about speed bumps and potholes, and good visibility, making it easy to navigate around town. It also has a bigger trunk space than most supercars, with the addition of extra decent storage space in the back.

RELATED: The Best Features Of The 2018 Audi R8

9 Stunningly Beautiful Exotic Car

Audi R8 2022 yellow
Via: Audi

The Audi R8 offers more than a pretty face and is a stunning machine all around. Its silhouette looks more like a jet plane than a road car, with a clean, sharp, and desirable design. And not as complicated or fussy compared to other supercars.

Grey 2022 Audi R8
Via Audi Media Center

Recent models have been more angular with a more aggressive front grille, which fits right at home with its performance nature. It is a hot car that will leave everyone smiling, giving you thumps up and asking for selfies.

8 The V10 Is A Tamable Monster

Audi R8 2022 rear view
Via Audi

Supercars are simply defined by their high performance. It is easy to get lost in the adrenaline rush when you hop into one. Most are just untamable, and there aren't two ways about them. But the V10 engine in the Audi R8 is like a beast with two heads, which makes it one of a kind. The R8 lets you put a leash around its neck and drive it smoothly, or you can take your chances and risk having it bite your head off.

2018 Audi R8 Engine
via: Flickr

Playing with the modes in the Audi R8 helps you use the 600hp+ power bandwidth the way you see fit. The car is very easy to drive slowly, with smooth power delivery in comfort mode. But switch to Dynamic or Sport mode, and things get exciting. Flooring the accelerator helps the R8 launch to 60mph in just 2.8 seconds.

7 Excellent Virtual Dash

Audi R8 Instrument Cluster
Via Audi

The whole Audi R8 interior is driver-focused, and you will struggle to find better driver-focused interiors. All controls are easily reachable, and there is even a large red start/stop button right on the steering wheel. But the highlight has to be the virtual dash, which is one of the best you will find in a car.

2021 Audi R8
Audi 

Audi calls it the 'virtual cockpit,' It comes optional in most of its new cars like the Audi TT, Q7, and more. It comes standard in the R8, and it lets you effortlessly customize your cockpit and move around various features the way you see fit.

RELATED: How Audi Is Turning Its Cars Into Virtual Reality Experiences

6 Solid And Reliable Exotic Car

Audi R8 2022 parking lot
Via Audi

Audi is famed for consistently producing quality and reliable components for its cars, and with the R8 being the German Automaker's flagship, you would expect nothing less. The R8 feels well-built and robust. Also, Audi has adopted a minimal approach to change with the R8, which means the model doesn't have a high rate of problems across the model years.

Audi R8 2022 interior tan
Via Audi

Copilot Search's advice is to avoid the 2008 model, the first model year, as it is the only one to have reported a few more issues. Also, bear in mind that replacement parts will be costly, but reliability is high, and regardless of age, you can purchase a 12-month warranty from Audi for cars with less than 100k miles on the odometer.

5 World’s First Diesel Supercar

Audi R8
via Audi

Production diesel cars have been around since Citroën brought us the Rosalie in 1933, which came with a 1766cc diesel engine in the Familiale station wagon model. But it took several decades before anyone thought of using a diesel engine in a high-performance supercar. That honor goes to the Audi R8. Audi slapped a twin-turbo V12 TDI engine on the R8, and it was not only spectacular, but historic.

Audi R8 2007
via audi

With a six-liter displacement, the diesel-powered supercar was good for 500hp and 737lb-ft of torque. Although the few examples made were pretty rapid, it remained a concept car and never went into production.

RELATED: Here's Why The 2022 Audi RS6 Is The Best All-Round Performance Car Ever Made

4 Used First Gen Audi R8 Cars Are Affordable

Audi R8 (2006)
Via Audi

Even when new, the Audi R8 is quite a bargain. The standard R8 V10 Plus starts at less than $180k. Not cheap, but the Lamborghini Huracán, which shares the same engine, starts at $213k. Things get juicier on the used car market, where you can scoop up a used V8 R8 for about $45k. That represents fantastic value for money, and we appreciate the depreciation.

Audi-R8_TDI_Le_Mans_Concept-2008-1280-06
via audi

The Audi R8 is also relatively economical, returning 24.8 MPG and about 272 grams of CO2. Now, this is far from cheap in the Hyundai Insight world, but it isn't bad compared to its exotic supercar rivals.

3 Driving The Audi R8 Provides Instant Gratification

Audi R8 2022 parked near office
Via Audi

First, it's an Audi, and then it's the car Tony Start likes to drive to work; it doesn't get cooler than that. A used Audi R8 can be obtained at a bargain-basement price, so it is possible to feel like Iron Man on your way to work on a budget below $50,000. Plus, many underrate the R8, so it is almost strange how it's possible to fly under the radar in this beast. It is great to enjoy your car without attracting too much unwanted attention, as you would in a Ferrari or a Lambo.

Audi R8 2022 center console
Via Audi

Also, the Spyder trim of the Audi adds an enjoyable open-air driving experience while retaining the practical supercar traits. Instead of diluting the experience of the coupe, the Spyder makes the R8 one of the most desirable supercars to own.

2 Three Models To Pick From

Audi R8 V10 Spyder
Audi

There are three model levels for the Audi R8, the Audi R8 V10 Quattro, Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro, and the rear-wheel-drive R8 V10 RWD. Since 2015, all these models can be had in the R8 Coupe or the open-top R8 Spyder, both featuring a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

An Audi R8 going up a hill on the tarmac road.
Via: audi

The base Quattro model offers 532 horsepower, with the performance trim bringing 602 horsepower to the table. The rear-wheel-drive trim is all thanks to the engine sharing with Lamborghini. In 2018 RWD was optional, but now it comes standard in the Coupe and Spyder.

RELATED: Battle Of The Spyders: Audi R8 Vs Lamborghini Huracán

1 The Audi R8 Won’t Be Here For Long

Audi-R8_GT_Spyder-2012-1280-0f
via audi

Good things don't last forever. We choose to love and appreciate the Audi R8 while it is still with us. Audi plans to end production of the R8 and TT models by 2023. Low sales and evolving engine trends are mostly to blame.

2022 Audi R8 Rear
Via: Audi

The German automaker needs to save around $15 billion to invest in electric cars, autonomous driving, and digitization. Sadly, we will soon have to say goodbye to one of the most revered supercars of the past decade. There will be no more V10 power; the expectation is that the R8's successor as Audi's supercar will be fully electric.