Audi R8: Delivery Miles

The first RHD second-gen R8s arrive this week and, wouldn't you know, there's already a premium...

By Chris Rees / Thursday, 5 November 2015 / Loading comments

Was it really eight years ago that Audi launched the first R8? Touted as a Porsche 911 beater, it's done pretty well by supercar standards: no fewer than 3,908 Gen 1 R8s were sold in the UK between 2007 and 2015.

We've already driven the all-new second-generation R8 in LHD form in Portugal but this week I've been in France piloting it in UK spec.

Yes it's the new one smartypants

The headlines: still no turbos (hooray!), V10 only (ditto), some structural carbon underneath (yum), Lambo-style 12.3in TFT screen (nice). And, er, auto only (not so much of a hooray - but then only one per cent of R8 buyers in its final three years have gone for manual - go figure).

The new R8's styling could be criticised as a little generic - the distinctive first-gen 'sideblades' have been much muted - but in the metal I'd say it does have a very strong visual presence, especially from behind.

£45K more than in 2007
Back in 2007, the R8 cost what seems like a bargain by today's standards - just £76,825. The second-generation R8 is on a different plane, costing almost £45K more - just shy of £120,000 in fact, with the 'Plus' version at £134,500.

Fixed wing standard on V10 Plus

But hey, you are getting a lot more car here, including Audi's fabulous V10 engine as standard - 540hp in the regular version, and a Huracan-equalling 610hp in the V10 Plus, which also gets standard ceramic brakes and a big fixed rear wing. In Plus form, expect 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds, 0-124mph in 9.9 seconds and 205mph top whack.

The first deposits were accepted back in 2014, but the first deliveries are only arriving with UK customers this weekend.

In terms of spec, the sound and comfort pack option sounds like something every R8 owner should tick: Bang and Olufsen audio, extended leather, pneumatic seat adjustment and illuminated sills, all for £3,450. The driver assistance pack (cruise control and rear view camera) looks a snip at £600, but I'd skip the carbon engine bay at an eye-watering £2,950.

I also personally wouldn't go for the Sport Plus pack (£3,500) which combines magnetic ride, dynamic steering and a louder sport exhaust. Why? Because the dynamic steering delivers unpredictably variable steering ratios, with the result that it often feels snatchy. And nor does the sport exhaust add very much to the standard sound (which is lovely, by the way). Better to have just magnetic ride (£1,600) and stick with the standard, very direct steering feel.

Four to five months wait, or pay a premium...

What price immediate delivery?

Only 15 R8s are built each day, pretty much by hand. So it's no surprise that, if you order one now, you'll be waiting four to five months for it to arrive. Good news, though, if you've missed the boat. Several examples in the classifieds are being offered with immediate delivery. For instance, a

Mythos Black example

with black Nappa leather will cost you £130,969. The R8 Plus model is set to be the more popular in the UK by a margin of 60 to 40. A

Suzuka Grey example

with black Nappa perforated trim is up for £144,469.

One broker is asking for a premium of £5,000, but on a much higher spec car with extras such as the sound and comfort pack, sport exhaust, carbon package, magnetic ride, driver assistance pack, laser headlamps and 20-inch gloss anthracite alloys. The ad says the list price with options is £146,350, so with the premium you're looking at over £151,000.

Yes, that's a heck of a sum for an Audi, even an R8. The Lamborghini Huracan isn't a huge leap up from this (£180K) - and delivery-mileage Lambos with loads of options are currently going for under £200K. High-spec R8 or standard Huracan? It's a tough choice, but as a car to live with every day, the R8 scores pretty darned highly.