Audi R8 Coupé V10
The Audi R8 name is synonymous with the very pinnacle of high-performance motoring and while the RWD and performance quattro share the R8 moniker, they each exhibit their own unique character. Both striking in design and finish, they differ most in their power delivery and effect that has on the driving experience.
With its mid-mounted V10 engine developing 397kW and power down to the rear wheels, the R8 Coupé V10 RWD is one for the purists. Its stablemate, the R8 Coupé V10 performance quattro boasts 449kW – the addition of the brand’s legendary all-wheel drive changing the dynamic and providing a surefooted feel even at the extremes of performance.
The epitome of performance
The performance figures are impressive, but they tell just part of the story. Yes, the R8 Coupé V10 RWD dispatches the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in just 3.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 324 km/h, but mere numbers can’t convey the pure shot of adrenalin you feel with each serious application of throttle. Nor can numbers describe the sound of the naturally aspirated, 5.2-litre V10 engine under load or impart the feeling of 397kW and 540Nm of torque unleashed.
The fixed wing on the rear of the R8 Coupé V10 performance quattro gives some indication of the car’s potential, but it is the added grip of quattro and the higher engine output, that sets it apart. This stunning combination carves a full 0.5 seconds off the 0 to 100km/h sprint time to see it done and dusted in just 3.2 seconds on the way to a top speed of 330km/h. This maintains the model’s title as the fastest and most powerful Audi model ever produced – a feature even more impressive when experienced first-hand.
Audi R8 Coupé V10 Photos
