The R8 was Audi's first mid-engined production car, launched in 2007 and built around the aluminium Audi Space Frame. From the start it shared its bones and much of its hardware with Lamborghini: the first cars drew on Gallardo engineering, and the V10 versions use the same 5.2-litre naturally aspirated ten-cylinder that later powered the Huracan. This car is a V10, quoted in the specifications below at 570 hp.
The engine is the reason the R8 has become collectable. It is naturally aspirated, dry-sumped so that it can sit low in the chassis, happy past 8,000 rpm, and assembled by hand at Audi's Neckarsulm operation rather than on a normal line. Depending on the generation and version, drive reaches the road through a six-speed manual, the early single-clutch R tronic or a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic, always via a rear-biased quattro all-wheel-drive system. Kerb weight stays a little over 1,600 kg despite two driveshafts, a full interior and ten cylinders, which is what the aluminium structure buys. Audi built the R8 across two generations and stopped in 2024 without a direct replacement.
Why the Naturally Aspirated V10 Makes the R8 a Keeper
With the R8 out of production, the list of new road cars combining ten cylinders, no turbochargers and a factory warranty has closed. The nearest reference point in our Legends section is the Porsche Carrera GT, a race-derived V10 from a different era and a far less forgiving car, while the Lamborghini side of the family tree runs on through the Aventador and its V12. Audi's own performance future looks nothing like this: the Nuvolari is a hybrid V8, and even the brand's large SUVs, such as the SQ9, make their case with turbocharging.
In the Batman Garage collection the R8 is the most usable mid-engined car in the garage. All-wheel drive, sensible visibility and an Audi cabin make it the one you can drive in any weather, and the V10 above 5,000 rpm is the reason you would. The gallery below covers the car inside and out, with the full specification underneath.
Specifications
| Make | Audi |
| Model | R8 V10 |
| Engine | 5.2L V10 |
| Power | 570 hp |
| Type | Mid-Engine Supercar |
