German Car Zone

Ingolstadt fixes the R8’s one true flaw.

Building the R8 has been one of the best decisions Audi has ever made. As launched, Audi did almost everything right. Indeed, avant-garde styling, light weight from an all-aluminum body and structure, and near-perfect handling with a standard all-wheel-drive system all contribute to the car’s special nature. Alas, one thing was missing from the package: Brute force.

It’s true that tuners such as MTM in Wettstetten, Germany, have squeezed extra power out of the R8’s standard 420-hp, 4.2-liter V-8, bringing it into supercar territory. But it has been a poorly kept secret for some time that Audi was planning its own, more-powerful version of the R8, with a V-10 installed behind the driver’s head. And now it’s arrived.

Simple to Accomplish

Audi didn’t have to re-engineer the car or even develop a new engine for the R8 5.2 FSI Quattro, as the new V-10 model is officially designated. This is the very engine launched in the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 last year, including the cylinder head. "The only difference lies in the intake and exhaust system, as well as the electronics," an Audi engineer told us at the launch of the R8 V-10 in Marbella, Spain. The engine is equipped with a dry-sump lubrication system, as well.

In deference to the Volkswagen Group's internal pecking order, the R8 V-10 is rated at 525 hp, 27 less than the Gallardo. It is also noticeably quieter than the super-loud Lambo, although it sacrifices little in the character department. The engine’s tone is unmistakable as being racing-bred, whereas the regular R8's V-8 timbre possesses less fullness.


Full Review: Car and Driver - First Drive Review: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI Quattro


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