AUDI claims its second generation R8 supercar is the closest link to the company's motorsport activity and high-performance heritage. They have achieved this by using the R8 LMS racer's components in the new R8 road car. The R8 V10 Plus flagship is Audi's fastest production road car to date and can accelerate to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds, 200kmph in 9.9s and on to a top speed of 330kmph.Power is sent to all four corners via Audi's now illustrious quattro four-wheel-drive system. The mid-mounted engine delivers torque to the front axle via a water-cooled electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch, which can divert 100 per cent of torque to either end.

The motorsport DNA of the new Audi R8 also expresses itself with its aluminum double wishbone suspensions. On the V10 plus, the tuning is very sporty, and electronically controlled shock absorbers (Audi magnetic ride). At the core of the two-seater's construction is a 79 per cent aluminium and 13 per cent carbon-fibre space-frame that shares 95 per cent of its construction across both road and track models and weighs in at 200kg when underpinning the road car.

The new electromechanical power steering system gives drivers finely differentiated road feedback. As an alternative, Audi can install dynamic steering, which adapts its steering gear ratio to the vehicle’s driving speed. Besides integrating the quattro drive system, the Audi drive select system also integrates other systems into its four basic modes: the accelerator pedal, steering, S tronic, damper control (optional), dynamic steering (optional) and the flaps of the exhaust system. In the dry, wet and snow performance modes, the Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) system is also managed. There are other notable differences such as the kerb weight – 1225kg versus 1454kg dry, the racer uses a six-speed pneumatically-controlled sequential transmission in place of the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch for the road car, while the LMS is significantly more expensive.

At the controls of the new Audi R8, the driver feels like a race car driver. All important functions can be controlled without drivers taking their hands off the steering wheel or looking away from the road. The R8 sport leather steering wheel with multifunction plus, which is standard on the R8 V10, integrates two satellite buttons for starting and stopping the engine and for Audi drive select. The R8 performance leather steering wheel with four control satellites offers one additional push-button with a turn wheel for the performance mode and another for controlling the exhaust system. The digital display is also reminiscent of a race car: The Audi virtual cockpit, a TFT monitor with a 12.3-inch screen, presents all information in intricately rendered, high-resolution graphics. The driver can choose between three views. In the performance view, the rev counter is centrally located, and other indicators and gages are arranged around it – such as for torque, power, oil temperature, tire temperature, g-forces and lap times on the race track. Drivers can individually configure the gages around the speedometer and rev counter according to their needs and uses.