Spotted: Just Another Audi

Sometimes, you get a filet mignon when you're expecting Hamburger Helper. That's sort of how I feel going to an Audi dealership - for the most part, modern Audi's don't push my buttons as much as the golden oldies like the Type-44's, the ur-Quattro, and the Porsche-engineered RS2.  But when you pull up to your local Audi dealer and this is sitting outside, I'd like to see your expression.

Sure, most of Audi's modern range is uninspired and just too German to be interesting, but the R8 is different.  This is the type of car that leaves an impression after you see it - one that lasts a long time.  I think it's sure to go down as one of the most beautiful designs of this era, which is ironic coming from a brand that focus more on drag coefficients and variable torque-split differentials rather than making their cars look pretty.

Under the engine cover, it's Vorsprung Durch Omigawd! That's a whole lot of motor, kids.  This isn't just any regular old R8 (as if there were such a thing) - it's the V10-powered R8 5.2 FSI.  That means it's got 525bhp (up from 420bhp in the V8 R8).  With this existing, who's going to buy a Lamborghini Gallardo?  Especially considering that the R8 V10 rings in at around $160,000 USD, at least $100k less than a regular Gallardo for the same performance and the same chassis.

And in case you forget what you paid that extra $50k for over the regular R8, there's a little reminder.  I'd have to say, these would be the first things to go when i get my R8 V10.  Which I will. There's something extremely garish about a chrome badge proclaiming the number of cylinders under the hood on a $160,000 purebred supercar.

Now, this isn't my first time laying eyes on an R8, but one thing that never fails to surprise me about this car is about how compact it actually looks in the real world - it looks sort of large and imposing in pictures, but in real life i'd say it's about the size of a TT from stem to stern.  It's just so impossibly dramatic in your field of vision; a storm of curves and intakes and LED lights and exhaust pipes.  5 years ago, I would've laughed if you'd said Audi was going to make a true proper supercar, but... well, here you go.

Now, this I'm just throwing in for the sake of my room-mate Aaron, who has an undying love affair with the B8 S4.  This particular one was a 6-speed manual with the optional rear sport differential (sort of like what Saab and BMW are using) with active torque-vectoring abilities.  Again, the new S4 is the type of car that has a lot more presence in real life than it does in pictures.  It's actually rather photogenic from some angles...

Quad-exit exhaust pipes are a bit played out, but you can't deny that Audi's succeeded in making the bland B8 A4 body look downright mean.  My only problem are the "3.0T" badges, referring to the 3.0L supercharged bent-six under the hood.  I didn't know there was a "T" in supercharger - but then I'm not German!  I just find it misleading.

My only regret was that by the time the salesman fired up the R8 and revved it a bit, my batteries were too tired for the camera to record any video.  It was an unforgettable sound - sorry, readers!