Audi R8

Audi R8
Manufacturer	Audi Sport GmbH
Parent Company	Volkswagen Group
Production	2007–2015 (Type 42) 2015–Present (Type 4S)
Assembly	Neckarsulm, Germany
Layout	Mid Engined AWD RWD (Type 4S RWS)
Engine(s)	4.2L V8 5.2L V10

The Audi R8 is a supercar, produced by Audi Sport GmbH. It was Audi's first and only supercar, sharing most of its components and often seen as a much cheaper alternative to its cousins from Lamborghini. It's often been described as Audi's greatest car since the Quattro.

The first-gen R8 came with a V8 from the RS4, a six-speed manual gearbox and shared most it's components with the Lamborghini Gallardo. Later V10 engines were introduced and eventually a twin-clutch gearbox. Unlike its cousin, the R8 received uniform praise, for its sweet-handling, simple chassis and amazing AWD system.

The second-gen R8, was available with a V10 only and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It was based on the Lamborghini Huracan, sharing the same Engine, Gearbox, Chassis, and components. Unlike its predecessor, this R8 received mixed reviews, with many people believing it to be cut-price Lambo, while other believed to lack the magic of the original.

Appearances

• In Series 10, Episode 2, Jeremy tests the very first V8 R8, at the Top Gear Test Track. Despite a few criticisms, he praises the R8's speed, comfort, handling, refinement and ease. He is then interrupted by Richard driving his Porsche 911 Carrera S, who attempts to keep up with the R8, before the two compete in a straight-line drag race. The Stig then takes the R8, round a damp track, where he sets a time of 1:24.4.
• In Clarkson: Supercar Showdown, Jeremy tests the V8 R8 at the Ascari Race Track in Spain. Once again, he praises the cars speed, comfort, handling, refinement and ease, stating it was far better than he could ever expect. He then performs a comparison between Sabine Schmitz in the R8 and the Stig in a Porsche 911 GT3, which in both a drag race and speed laps, the latter wins. Despite this Jeremy, maintains the R8's brilliance, stating that in a real world, it knocks the Porsche into a back hat.
• In Series 11, Episode 2, the V8 R8 takes part in a supercar fuel tank race, where despite starting from the back, ends up winning the race with an incredible 5 miles per gallon. Jeremy concludes that if you've been affected by the fuel crisis, the R8, "is the supercar to buy".
• In Clarkson: Duel, Jeremy drives the new V10 powered R8, which despite criticizing its lack of soul, Jeremy praises, the car's handling, speed, comfort, refinement, practicality and huge drifts, with it passing the "apple on the apex, apple on the exit challenge" making it to the final three alongside a Jaguar XKR Cabriolet and a Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst S. Despite this, when F1 tester Anthony Davies attempts to drift the R8 in ski shoes, he fails miserably. Despite this Jeremy maintains that the R8 V10 is probably one of "the best cars he's ever driven".
• In Series 14, Episode 2, Jeremy tests the V10 R8, at the Top Gear Test Track, praising it's handling, speed, comfort, sound, refinement and practicality, though criticized it's price and lack of soul. He then compares it to the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, which he finds to be the complete opposite, fun but terrible. Despite the Corvette winning a drag race, the R8 proves to be much quicker round the track. Likewise, despite having a slight preference to the Corvette, Jeremy states the R8 to be a far superior car. The Stig then takes the V10 R8, round a damp track, where he sets a time of 1:21.6.
• In Top Gear: Uncovered, Richard tests the V10 R8, at the Top Gear Test Track in a dual comparison test against the Porsche 911 Turbo. He praises the cars engine, sound, speed, handling and capabalities, stating it could easily match the 911. Despite this, in a drag race, the R8 loses to the 911.
• In Series 15, Episode 2, Jeremy compares the R8 V10 Spyder to the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet at the Top Gear Test Track. Despite the praising the R8's speed, noise and improved character, he states, that it's less good than the coupe, arriving at a similar conclusion with the 911. After having several drag races, and a hair test, he concludes that both cars lose as they aren't as good as their coupe equivalents. The Stig then takes the V10 R8 Spyder, round the track, where he sets a time of 1:22.3.
• In Series 20, Episode 3, James chose the facelifted R8 V10 Spyder as his "budget" supercar convertible against Jeremy in the McLaren 12C Spider and Richard in the Ferrari 458 Spider, in a Spanish Supercar Road Trip. The R8 ends up winning most of the challenges of discretion, quietness, speed, build quality, economy and comfort.
• In Series 23, Episode 3, Evans tests the all-new V10 Plus second-gen R8 at the Top Gear Test Track, praising it's speed, handling, comfort and computers, before heading to Laguna Seca, where the R8 is handed to Sabine Schmitz who takes it for two laps of Seca, resulting in Evans throwing up. The Stig then takes the R8 around the track, where it sets a time of 1:15.7.
• In Oh, Canada, during his review of the Tesla Model X, at the Eboladrome, Clarkson drag races it against a V10 Plus R8, which the Tesla wins.