Audi R8 European first drive
We drive Audi's new supercar in the south of France
It makes me suspicious, for we like the R8’s engine. At least, we like it in the RS4. So the prospect of something which looks this good with that 4.2-litre V8 mid-mounted has made us quite excited; impatient, even. I hand back the Archos box and resign myself to another hour of waiting.
This is our first chance to sample Audi’s supercar on European terrain, and the deserted D- and N-roads around Le Castellet are a pretty fair representation of what a British B would throw at the R8. There are bumps, broken asphalt, even Irish-style gravel at junctions.
This would normally pose a problem for Audi, because while it has a fair history of making belting engines, its chassis have frequently fallen short of their potential. The S-Line range, in particular, seems to be devoted to people with no liking for suspension whatsoever. So if the R8 is to succeed – if it is to stand any chance against Porsche’s 911 (at which it is squarely aimed, let’s face it) – then Audi has to prove that it can produce a chassis that’s both pliable and exploitable.
The engine certainly deserves that. Barely an hour and five seconds after my mid-flight drama, I get the chance to open up that V8 and the result is… just a little underwhelming. Cue another panic attack: I’m not saying the in-cabin sounds aren’t delightful, it’s just that they’re a little, well, refined. And we don’t want refinement, in that area at least. We want the R8 to be the defining moment of this engine. We want kids in the Bogota School for the Hard of Hearing to ask what all the noise is when you find a stretch of empty road. In Yorkshire.
It’s time to open the windows, then feel the noise. And it works. Somehow, a bit of exhaust reverb makes all the difference here. There’s no doubt that Audi has made the V8 a little peaky to extract that 414bhp, and the engine– aurally and in performance terms – feels a tad sleepy beneath 4000rpm. Thereafter, however, it becomes visceral - a thudding, angry brute screaming for the red line with force, but never losing the oily smoothness its cutting edge technology affords it. It’s great, in other words.
And the handling? Think ‘safe’ and you won’t go far wrong. I guess that while the 911 has a history of being a bit of an animal, and therefore has to deliver at least part of that to live up to its reputation and to excite its core fans, the R8 can fall back on Audi’s motorsport history, which to most of us is based on Quattros running rings around two-wheel-drive cars. Accordingly, don’t expect to squeeze the throttle and bring the rear around to aid turn-in, because this is a car that prefers to grip solidly – mightily in fact - and simply go where it’s pointed. The steering is direct and the R8 certainly finds apexes better than any front-engined Audi (perish the thought that it wouldn’t) but it doesn’t offer much in the way of genuine feel as to what’s happening down at road-level. Overall, the interaction and sense of adjustability found in the most exploitable and rewarding sportscars is not quite there, but at the same time, what considerable fun there is to be had is easily accessible.
Is that a problem? For the 1200 people who’ve pre-ordered the R8, clearly not. At least the ride is on a par with the RS4: even with the magnetic ride option set to ‘sport’, it’s comfortable enough to cruise along on motorways, yet agile and pliable enough for fairly bumpy B-roads.
The whole process is helped by a decent manual ‘gate’ six-speed gearbox which is a little notchy, perhaps, but quick enough, once you get your bearings. And if the thought of heeling and toeing fills you with dread (and a warning, the Audi’s brake pedal is so aggressively servo-ed that even a mid-eighties F1 driver would struggle), the R-tronic sequential automatic gearbox will make equally rapid (if slightly more brutal) upchanges, then blip for you on the way back down.
Does that sound like a kop-out? Perhaps it is. And yet, an ‘easy’ way of looking good is exactly what this car is all about. The R8 is a creation that successfully breaches the gap between head-turning, street-stopping supercar looks, and the usability and dependability of the 911. Which is no small achievement. Combine that with an exquisite interior which feels like it could survive an assault from the Brentford ASBO Society, and the case for the R8 gets ever stronger.
When all’s said and done, this is probably the best Audi since the original ur-Quattro, which means ever. Does it match a 911 for tactile driving brilliance? Probably not. But it runs in a damn close second, and the rest of the package – those looks, a bizarre amount of practicality and an interior that Stuttgart simply can’t match – make a very persuasive argument over the old stager. It surprises me not one jot that Audi cannot keep up with initial demand.
Indeed, my only real gripe is that the R8 suffers from a bit of a self-consciousness complex, as if someone in Ingolstadt felt it had a little too much going for it in the looks department and decided not to make 100 per cent use of that engine’s aural brilliance, so as not to appear cocky.
Personally, I think it should stand up and shout about it. Something this good deserves to be seen and heard. By everyone, if possible.
Plus, we've some technical images for you too:
That driver centric swoopy look worked ok in the NSX but only just. Here it looks really naff next to the nice form of the S8 and RS4 interiors for example...
Dave
When reading about the design philosphy off the R8, the resemblance with that of the Honda NSX is striking. Aluminum body, mid-engined, naturally aspirated engine with high specific output, double wishbone suspension, easy to drive and use, high daily practicality. And even dimensionally, the R8 is very close to the NSX. However, whereas the NSX set new marks in exotic sportscar upon its introduction, the R8 seems to fall short. Despite its aluminum body, the R8 is quite heavy and the V8 engine simply is needed to get the required performance.
So in the end, the R8 for me doesn't really show 15 years of development of automative technology. It certainly is a nice addition to the current line of high-performance sportscars but also nothing more.
I also have to say I don't know why PH bother with these 'Reviews' they always seem lightweight and leave me wondering if the guy actually drove the car. They're not helped by being accompanied by Audi press shots rather than actual pictures of the supposed test either. IMO they read like the sort of thing you get in the 'motoring section' of one of the tabloids. Much better to read about it in one of the heavyweight car mags IMO.
Looks pretty though apart from the panel in front of the rear wheels. I would think about buying a V10 version, but for the moment I will stick with the 997 C2S...
I agree. Also creates a bad association with the product placement in the film 'I, Robot', both of which I really didn't like. The R8 seems to divide opinion, wonder where it'll settle. It wouldn't be the first car to get rave reviews at press launch and then sink when faced with a wet British B road...
I also have to say I don't know why PH bother with these 'Reviews' they always seem lightweight and leave me wondering if the guy actually drove the car. They're not helped by being accompanied by Audi press shots rather than actual pictures of the supposed test either. IMO they read like the sort of thing you get in the 'motoring section' of one of the tabloids. Much better to read about it in one of the heavyweight car mags IMO.
Sorry to hear you weren't a fan of the test Pugsey. To be fair, the piece was billed as a 'first drive' and not a full 'road test', and therefore the 1000 word type article you read here is typical of what most mags/websites will generate from a launch event. I can assure you we did drive the car in France . Sadly, it's not always possible for us to take our own photographs.
Interesting comments though. As the new Editor, I'm reviewing everything we do, so I'd love to hear any thoughts you - or anyone else out there for that matter - have on how we can improve what we offer. Just PM me and tell me what you'd like to see.
best regards,
AT
Ed
It's too tame and compromised to be knocking at the enthusiasts door but probably too expensive for someone looking to move on from their TT.
I bet the deposits are largely misplaced speculators and can't see there being a deep rooted demand for this car.
David
Anyway thanks for that mate - although I guess a few people other than me might read it though!
er, since posting above your write up seems to have disappeared - perhaps the original writer DID take offence!
I also have to say I don't know why PH bother with these 'Reviews' they always seem lightweight and leave me wondering if the guy actually drove the car. They're not helped by being accompanied by Audi press shots rather than actual pictures of the supposed test either. IMO they read like the sort of thing you get in the 'motoring section' of one of the tabloids. Much better to read about it in one of the heavyweight car mags IMO.
Sorry to hear you weren't a fan of the test Pugsey. To be fair, the piece was billed as a 'first drive' and not a full 'road test', and therefore the 1000 word type article you read here is typical of what most mags/websites will generate from a launch event. I can assure you we did drive the car in France . Sadly, it's not always possible for us to take our own photographs.
Interesting comments though. As the new Editor, I'm reviewing everything we do, so I'd love to hear any thoughts you - or anyone else out there for that matter - have on how we can improve what we offer. Just PM me and tell me what you'd like to see.
best regards,
AT
Ed
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