In the evening, when you unlock the R8, two small lights illuminate the engine that's entirely visible through the rear window. The LED driving lights provide an easy indication that an Audi creeping up on you.
However, piloting an R8 demands concentration in light traffic; unsafe drivers pull up beside you holding their cell phone in the air and trying to take a picture of the car. But they're not looking where they're going and swerving dangerously in the lane beside you.
Notably, a kid in a decomposing Honda Civic that was about to sideswipe the R8 just so he can get close enough to take a blurry low-res snapshot of it. Another time a Ford Cutaway cargo truck was following me at an unsafe distance; sure enough, the driver had one hand on the wheel and his damn cell phone in the other.
Adrenaline-pumping performance
Stomp on the gas pedal and the 420-horsepower, 4.2-litre V8 roars like a lion while channelling its power through all four wheels for instant forward thrust. 100 km/h is yours in 5.4 seconds. Fuel consumption, if that's important to you, is around 14 L/100 km in normal driving, but if you have a heavy right foot, you average will increase accordingly.
The car's brakes are very powerful and stop the car with a force we've rarely experienced in a roadgoing vehicle. In the R8, every twisty road is a rollercoaster ride, but you'll quickly realize that, like with any supercar, you can't exploit its performance potential on public roads, so the R8 can be both thrilling and frustrating at the same time. The ride on anything but smooth highways is stiff.
Space-capsule cockpit
Climb aboard the R8, and you'll find just enough space to be comfortable. Ok, you don't really climb in, but rather slide into it; getting out is a little more acrobatic. The driver benefits from a perfect driving position and the controls are generally well laid out. However, I can't understand why the radio doesn't have a power button; you can turn down the volume or mute it, but when you start the car again, the radio is still on.
However, piloting an R8 demands concentration in light traffic; unsafe drivers pull up beside you holding their cell phone in the air and trying to take a picture of the car. But they're not looking where they're going and swerving dangerously in the lane beside you.
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| The LED driving lights provide an easy indication that an Audi creeping up on you. |
Notably, a kid in a decomposing Honda Civic that was about to sideswipe the R8 just so he can get close enough to take a blurry low-res snapshot of it. Another time a Ford Cutaway cargo truck was following me at an unsafe distance; sure enough, the driver had one hand on the wheel and his damn cell phone in the other.
Adrenaline-pumping performance
Stomp on the gas pedal and the 420-horsepower, 4.2-litre V8 roars like a lion while channelling its power through all four wheels for instant forward thrust. 100 km/h is yours in 5.4 seconds. Fuel consumption, if that's important to you, is around 14 L/100 km in normal driving, but if you have a heavy right foot, you average will increase accordingly.
The car's brakes are very powerful and stop the car with a force we've rarely experienced in a roadgoing vehicle. In the R8, every twisty road is a rollercoaster ride, but you'll quickly realize that, like with any supercar, you can't exploit its performance potential on public roads, so the R8 can be both thrilling and frustrating at the same time. The ride on anything but smooth highways is stiff.
Space-capsule cockpit
Climb aboard the R8, and you'll find just enough space to be comfortable. Ok, you don't really climb in, but rather slide into it; getting out is a little more acrobatic. The driver benefits from a perfect driving position and the controls are generally well laid out. However, I can't understand why the radio doesn't have a power button; you can turn down the volume or mute it, but when you start the car again, the radio is still on.
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| The cockpit of the car is a little dark and monotonous. |