2008 Audi R8: Audi's Super-(gorgeous)-car

By Don Ellis

reated for Le Mans and now tamed for public life, the new-for-2008, all-wheel-drive, 420-hp, mid-engine V8 is an icon in the making. The breathtaking R8, which is the fastest production car Audi has ever produced, is destined to become so rare that you may never see one on the streets; the limited production numbers have long been sold and the lengthy waiting list continues to grow.

It's easy to see why; the mid-engine, two-seater, which is put together by hand, has the potential to turn heads even when stationary. This is aggressive styling to the core and looks like no other machine on the road. The designers combined many Audi design characteristics with those of a supercar - populated by the likes of the Aston Martin Vantage, the Jaguar XK and even the Ferrari F430 - producing a machine of elegance with simple but strong flowing lines.

The high-performance car looks amazing from every angle. Best viewed from the rear, with the steeply raked glass tailgate exposing the mid-mounted V8, the large finned rear air intakes rise arrogantly above two twin tailpipes. Equally imposing, the front features the distinguished Audi grille flanked by two more large air intakes, just above the front sill. Strong design-lines flow rearward over the wings, following the pronounced front wheel arches with broad, innovative side panels.

The running lights are composed of 48 individual LEDs up front, a massive "side blade" of carbon fibre over the side intakes (a $5200 option), and an engine that sits under a transparent cover (it's actually illuminated at night). The R8's cabin is totally driver-focused, with an arc that Audi calls a "monoposto" that sweeps around the instruments.

Most of the other interior finishes are superb: soft leather, Alcantara suede, and brushed aluminum accents. The 4.2-litre V8 engine employs direct-injection FSI (Fuel Stratified Ignition) technology, originally used in Volkswagen models, a Quattro, all-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual transmission. A paddle-shifted clutch-pedal-less manual is on the option sheet.

The R8 sprints from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 301km/h. The R8 is indeed a proper supercar, with accurate steering, a beautifully balanced chassis, and a drivetrain that feeds more power to the rear than the front. It's not as engaging as, say, the Porsche 911 GT3, but for pin-sharp responses and cornering neutrality, it is never dull.

The six-speed manual retails at $139,000 and the six-speed R-Tronic clocks in at $150,500. Aside from the exclusivity contention (Porsche, for example, sells about 2,000 911s a month in North America, while Audi plans to sell only 300 or 400 in an entire year), the R8 satisfies the core demands of response, stability, tactility and handling. - D.E.