AUDI R8 COUPE REVIEW

Despite its age, the Audi R8 Coupé is still an object of desire for many, and no wonder; it looks great and goes like stink

It was in 2003 that the world first got to see what the Audi R8 would look like - although it wasn’t called R8 just yet. No, it was in fact the ‘Le Mans Quattro’, a concept car unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, which left jaws slack and many questioning whether Audi might just be feeling brave enough to turn this bona-fide mid-engined supercar into a production reality.

It was. And in 2007, the R8 arrived, barely changed aesthetically, and still as utterly head-turning as the concept had been.

That the R8 can still grab attention more than 15 years after that concept first broke cover proves how radical it was, and how dramatic its looks remain. And with as much a 543bhp to play with, there’s nothing old-fashioned about the way the R8 moves, either. 

Space 

Tight on all counts

The R8 is priced slightly above the Porsche 911, but the two are keen rivals - and it has to be said that the Porsche wins out on space, with two extra seats and a hefty bit of extra luggage space.

You’ll find four seats and a similarly large boot in BMW’s technologically advanced i8, too, and while the Ferrari 458 Italia only has two seats, it has more than double the luggage space of the R8.

In other words, the Audi is pretty pokey for anyone or anything except the driver and passenger themselves. And even for them, it’s a little on the tight side – taller drivers may find themselves bashing their left elbow on the hard plastic surrounding the cupholder, for example.

At least the R8 is easier to get into than the BMW i8. What’s more, once you’re inside, there’s a decent amount of storage around for smaller items, not to mention a handy shelf behind the front seats that can be used for extra baggage. 

Comfort 

Adequate, but not exactly soothing

There’s no doubting that the R8 is an out-and-out sports car from the way it rides. But while it is admittedly rather firm, it doesn’t crash unpleasantly through bumps or jostle you at high speed. It is, in other words, a well-damped but stiffly-sprung supercar.

The seats, meanwhile, are supportive enough, though they do feel rather firm and unyielding – again, perhaps in-keeping with the R8’s sporting ethos. Though together with the firm ride, they make the R8 feel functional and efficient rather than luxurious and cossetting.

Be prepared for a fair old bit of noise from those exhausts, too. In fact, every time you start the R8 from cold, it’ll emit a bark loud enough to wake anyone within a two-street radius; best make sure you’re on good terms with the neighbours before you take delivery, in other words.

On the move, things quieten down a bit, but the engine is still constantly audible; viscerally so if you stomp on the accelerator. That said, anyone with a sporting bent will enjoy the fantastic engine note, whether they choose the V8 or the V10 version, so whether this is actually a downside is somewhat debatable.

Dashboard layout 

Interior still looks and feels great

Anyone who’s familiar with modern Audis will instantly notice that there are a few areas in which the R8 is showing its age inside.

For example, the last-generation media interface, which is fiddly and can be confusing to use. The equivalent systems you’ll find in the BMW i8 and Porsche 911 are much newer and, consequently, slicker.

That said, the R8’s dash is still attractive, and it’s put together beautifully, with high-quality materials, softly-damped switches, and the sort of solidity we’ve come to expect from Audi.

The dials are clear and easy to read, too, and – with the exception of that media interface – all the controls are self-explanatory and, therefore, a doddle to use. 

Easy to drive 

Visibility makes life tricky

Whichever R8 you plump for, you can specify it with an automatic gearbox – though it should be said that the same is true for most of its rivals, and the BMW i8 even comes with one as standard.

The R8’s dual-clutch automatic gearbox can be a little slow to react, too, and if it hesitates, it can then get jerky as it tries to catch up.

Manoeuvring the R8 can be something of a pain, as there are some hefty blind spots over your shoulder thanks to the big expanses of metal there.

The front end also falls away sharply, which makes it quite hard to judge where it ends. It’s worth adding the optional parking sensors.

But it’s not all bad news. For example, the R8’s controls are light, simple and easy-going, which means you don’t have to deal with the snatchy throttle or stiff brakes of some supercars.

What’s more, no matter which engine you choose, you’ll have a monstrous amount of power at your disposal – more than enough to merge into even the fastest-moving traffic with ease

Fun to drive 

Breathtakingly fast and beautifully balanced

It might be getting on a bit, but the R8 is still every bit as enthralling to drive as when it was new.

For starters, there’s the manic shriek of the engine just behind your head as the car smashes its way brutally down the road – an instant adrenaline hit for even the most seasoned of performance car drivers.

Then there’s the way the front end of the car changes direction; crisp, taut and precise, without a hint of lean.

Of course, because it has four-wheel-drive, there’s lots of grip – but if you have the space and the talent, you can push the throttle harder which, thanks to the rear bias, will swing the tail wide in an adrenaline-inducing drift.

It isn’t quite as easy to gather this up as it could be thanks to slightly sluggish steering, but that’s the only real fly in the ointment, and it’s compensated for by the R8’s many strengths. This is a truly exciting car to drive quickly. 

Reliability 

Hard to pinpoint, but warranty average

As you might expect, Audi doesn’t really sell enough R8s for the model to feature in customer satisfaction surveys. But other Audi models don’t tend to fare too well, so it’s reasonable to expect that the R8, too, might have its fair share of problems.

What’s more, the R8 comes with a 3-year, 60,000-mile warranty – whereas the BMW i8’s warranty is for three years, with unlimited mileage.

That said, at least the R8’s warranty is better than that of the Porsche 911, which only has two years’ worth.

Fuel economy 

Pretty thirsty, even in its least powerful form

Of course, you’re not going to be thinking about buying an R8 if fuel consumption is your top priority. But even so, you’ll find the R8 a pretty thirsty beast.

There’s little to choose between the entry-level V8 model and the frantic V10 Plus, which sits at the top of the range, in terms of the way they consume fuel.

That doesn’t mean the V10 is particularly economical – on the contrary, it makes the V8 seem like a bit of a guzzler for the sort of performance it delivers.

In fact, no matter which R8 you choose, you’ll struggle to get it to achieve better than 22mpg, on average. 

Affordability 

Not the cheapest, but not hideously costly either

 The Audi R8 is priced roughly on a par with the equivalent four-wheel-drive Porsche 911. That makes it a little on the pricey side, as the 911 is a much newer design with more space and more incisive handling.

It should also be noted that you can buy a two-wheel-drive 911 for quite a bit less, an option you don’t get with the R8.

What’s more, the 911 is considerably cheaper to run, with lower emissions and, therefore, lower tax. The same is true to an even greater extent of the BMW i8, although the i8 will cost quite a bit more to buy than the R8.

That said, the R8 does look like better value than the Ferrari 458 Italia, with similar performance for quite a bit less cash.

An R8 will hold its value better than a Porsche 911, too, though a Ferrari 458 Italia is likely to be worth considerably more second-hand. 

Safety 

Missing some of the latest tech

Crash testing institution Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the R8 because it simply doesn’t sell in a high enough volume.

But the R8 doesn’t look as though it’d be quite as safe as some of its rivals in a smash, simply because its technology is so dated. For example, you only get four airbags, where a 911 buyer gets six.

What’s more, while you get stability control and anti-lock brakes, there’s no option to add accident alert, prevention or mitigation systems, which detect when a prang is imminent and flash up a warning or apply the brakes. 

That said, the R8's standard four-wheel drive should make it more stable in slippery conditions, which could help prevent you from getting into an accident in the first place.

Standard spec 

Most of what you'll need is there

The entry-level Audi R8 V8 comes with climate control, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, LED headlamps, heated sports seats, satellite navigation, hill-hold assist, and leather upholstery.

From there you can choose one of two versions. The R8 V10 comes with magnetically-adjustable suspension dampers, a high-spec Bang & Olufsen sound system, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, metallic or pearl-effect paint, and electrically-adjustable seats.

Or if you fancy a sportier R8, you can pick the R8 V10 Plus, which gives you bucket seats, stiffer suspension, ceramic brakes, and a generous helping of carbon fibre trim, over and above the base V8. 

On the whole, the R8 comes slightly better-specified than the Porsche 911, though it’s worth noting that you can’t get dual-zone climate control on any model, and that while cruise control is available as an option, it isn’t adaptive.

We’d choose the V10 if we could stretch to it - not only does it come with that exhilarating engine, but it's the best all-round package, too.

Source : telegraph[dot]co[dot]uk