New Audi R8 Coupé in Blackburn, Carlisle, Crewe, Stafford and Stoke

The second-generation Audi R8 Coupé is a truly special car. Totally redesigned from the ground up and sitting at the pinnacle of Audi’s impressive sports car range, this four-wheel drive supercar has to be driven to be believed.

Exterior design

If you’ve ever seen an R8 coming down the road towards you, you know it means business. Squat, aggressive and yet impressively lightweight, it looks every inch the TT’s more intimidating big brother.

There are two options: R8 and R8 Plus, and it is easy to tell them apart – just check the colour of the side-blades behind the doors. The R8 Plus boasts lots of details in a carbon fibre-like material, like the large fixed rear spoiler and the side-blades too. The stealthier standard R8 has a retractable spoiler that automatically deploys at high speeds to improve the car’s stability.

On a more practical level, Audi’s Parking System Plus is fitted at both the front and rear, making it easier to judge where the corners are (and protect your glossy metallic paintwork) when parking.

Interior design

A racecar-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel greets you as you step inside. It’s not just for show – it’s a multifunction wheel with which you can control the car’s driving characteristics.

The rest of the cabin is beautifully crafted and minimalist in design: Audi want you to focus on the road and enjoy the driving experience. The supportive seats are extremely comfortable, and bucket seats that really hold you in place (standard on the Plus) will make it even easier to enjoy the drive.

The engine is mounted from the middle of the car backwards so there’s no boot as such, but that does leave space under the bonnet free to store a couple of weekend bags when it’s time for a change of scenery.

Performance

Prod the throttle pedal and the 5.2-litre V10 engine propels you forward with ferocious power – 533bhp in the standard trim, or 602bhp if you opt for the range-topping Plus version. Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel drive system will help you transfer the immense torque to the road, varying the power it sends to each wheel based on how much grip is available.

A Start-Stop system, F1-inspired energy recovery and cylinder-on-demand technologies –where the engine can switch from ten to five cylinders to save fuel – combine to ensure it won’t guzzle fuel the way you might expect, either.

Audi drive select means you can also alter the driving manners of the R8 to suit the occasion, subtly changing the throttle and steering responses, while appropriately sporty suspension is fitted as standard.

Technology and safety

The new R8 features the impressive Audi Virtual Cockpit, which replaces the traditional analogue dials with a giant 12.3-inch TFT panel that displays everything from speed and revs to instructions from the satellite navigation.

Much can be controlled by Audi’s intuitive and easy-to-use MMI system that sits between the seats, including the impressive standard-fit audio equipment. Everything is set up to connect your R8 to your Bluetooth®-enabled smartphone to ensure the ultimate soundtrack is always on hand.

Tyre pressure indicators will let you know if there’s a drop in pressure, warning you to drive for the conditions and ensure your safety. Lots of airbags are on hand to protect you in the event of a collision, while Anti-Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock and Electronic Stabilisation Control work to ensure that should never happen.