2018 Audi R8

Performance

With its balance between performance and comfort, the 2018 Audi R8 is ready for just about anything.

Its cost of entry might be reasonable by supercar standards, but you’re not getting anything subpar when it comes to the Audi R8. The screaming V-10 engine, the rapid-fire responsiveness of the 7-speed dual clutch transmission, and the all-wheel-drive system that grips for days all combine to make it a 10 out of 10.

That’s all great. Supercars should be fast. They should read the road surface and transmit it directly to the driver. They should be as suave at 10/10ths on a race track as they are snaking through Laurel Canyon.

The Audi R8 checks all of those boxes.

But where it really surprises is in its day-to-day comfort, something heretofore reserved mainly for touring and GT cars—think the Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911. Credit for the R8’s flexibility is due in part to its Drive Mode Select system. At the press of a button, Comfort and Auto modes dial the adaptive suspension back to a tolerable level for in-town slogging. Pick Dynamic or Performance and the R8 is ready for a track day jaunt. Performance mode turns off the traction control, while Dynamic dials things back to let the driver have a little more fun.

Don’t count out the R8’s V-10, which cranks out 540 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque in standard tune. Opt for the R8 V10 Plus (coupe only) and those figures jump to 610 hp and 413 lb-ft. Regardless, both R8 variants send power to all four corners via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

A rear-wheel-drive version joined the lineup in 2018, but we haven't yet driven that model. We'll report back once we do.

Driving the 2018 Audi R8

Chuck the R8 hard into a turn, and the first thing that you’ll notice is how quickly it responds. The optional active dynamic steering system is precise and quick, if a little light. Carry that speed through the corner and the Pirelli P Zero tires will be hard-pressed to give up grip. When they finally do, the R8 corners neutrally and reacts directly to the driver’s input. The R8 is also forgiving; enter the corner with too much momentum and it pushes forward instead of rotating. Tap the brakes and the nose will stay hunkered down. Throttle too aggressively in the middle of a corner and the R8’s tail end steps out as though power is only set rearward instead of to all four tires. But if you start to slide, the R8 responds by apportioning power forward to help drive you out of a slide.

The V-10 has plenty of reserve power. Unlike a turbocharged engine, the R8’s V-10 delivers smooth, linear grunt through the entire rev range. It’s easy to hit the automaker’s 0-62 mph estimate of 3.2 seconds for the V10 Plus and 3.5 seconds for the standard R8 thanks to the standard launch control system.

Most of our driving has been behind the wheel of the R8 V10 Plus with its strong carbon-ceramic brake setup. They’re a little too sharp for street driving, though, so consider how you plan to use your R8 before placing your order.