Audi R8 V10 Performance – Back and Better than Before

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Audi R8 V10 Performance – Back and Better than Before

There’s nothing like the shrieking, piercing wail of 5.2 liters of unabashed V-10 glory to wake up the hairs on the back of your neck in the morning. 

Let’s just get this out of the way first. The Audi R8 V10 Performance (formerly the R8 V10 Plus) is one of the best sounding supercars on planet earth. Even in our fleet of positively insane Performance machines, the R8 stands head and shoulders above with its hellacious song. Now, there’s plenty of performance to go along with this ozone chugging masterpiece but what you will always notice first and foremost when the R8 rolls into the pits is that noise. 

Formed from the union of 4 companies in 1942 (then called Auto Union) Audi has spent nearly 100 years building itself a niche in the performance car world. In fact, the R8 is the distant relative of machines like the Auto Union Silver Arrow, as well as Quattro-honed, Rally-Bred monsters like Group B S1 from the 1980s. Suffice to say, Audi has always been a different kind of luxury car/performance car company, and the R8 V10 Performance doesn’t stray far from the magic formula. 

At Xtreme Xperience, we’ve had the joy of the R8 in our stable from 2017 to 2018 but this time the R8 is back, and somehow, it’s better. Way better. 

  • Corporate Cousin From Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy
  • The 5.2L V10 
  • Performance Model Upgrades 
  • Numbers and The Press

Corporate Cousin From Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy

If there’s one thing the automotive industry is well known for, it’s corporate drama. From mergers and acquisitions to full-blown takeovers, the world of Automotive corporations can be more dramatic than a daytime soap. 

In the spirit of this tradition, struggling Lamborghini was purchased by the Audi group in 1998. At the time, there really wasn’t a plan for the struggling brand except to keep the Lamborghini name alive due to its unbelievable cult following and performance heritage. 

By 2005, the world began to see exactly why Audi bought Lamborghini when the very first R8 concept models began to show up at car shows around the world. Though the styling of the R8 harkens back to Auto Union vehicles from the 1940s, mixed with the dash of mid-engine supercar goodness; the underpinning of the Gen 1 R8 was all Lamborghini Gallardo. 

Fast forward two generations and the R8 is still based on a Lamborghini but this time it’s the Huracan. From the all-wheel-drive system, to that shrieking V10 engine, the mechanicals of the R8 V10 Performance are shared with Lamborghini. Where the car differs is in its exterior appearance, its interior, and daily usable nature. Many car reviewers have mentioned throughout the years that the R8 is one of the easiest mid-engine cars to drive on a daily basis due to its comfort and visibility (for a supercar) which is not something any Lamborghini can ever claim. 

Audi is traditionally known for its stoic designs and Germanic style Performance but the soul of the R8 is all Italian. 

The 5.2L V10

As car enthusiasts, it’s becoming increasingly rare to find vehicles that offer not only 10 cylinders but are naturally aspirated as well. Everything from a college student’s Honda Civic to the most expensive McLarens in the world utilize turbocharging to eke out the most power from relatively small power plants. Trust us, we have no problem with turbos; we have plenty of vehicles in our fleet that utilize these forced induction masterpieces, but there is just something magical about a naturally aspirated, high revving engine. 

In the Audi R8 V10 Performance, this motor produces up to 602 horsepower. If that sounds like a lot, trust us it is and you won’t believe the feeling that this unique engine gives you from behind the wheel. Remember, the R8 V10 Performance was developed right alongside the GT3 LMS race car and it includes almost 50% of the race cars parts! This includes almost every single component of the R8 V10, which is moved over into the road car almost untouched. 

Reaching for the stratosphere is an 8700 RPM redline, a number that is race car territory for sure. Aided by a dry-sump oiling system, this high-performance engine is never starved of oil, even during the hardest cornering maneuvers. This trick dry-sump oiling system also keeps the center of gravity for the engine extremely low, aiding in agile handling. 

Lightweight engine internals, dual overhead camshafts, and four valves per cylinder running on an extremely high compression ratio of 11.5:1 ensure that this motor breathes like a high trained  Olympic sprinter. Power is routed through 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, which again, draws its design and inspiration from Audi’s Motorsports program. 

Power in the Audi R8 V10 Performance hits the ground via Audi’s superb Quattro all-wheel-drive system or by a more engaging rear-wheel drive system. For off-the-line performance and exemplary cornering and grip – you can’t beat the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. 

Performance Model Upgrades

In addition to the upgraded power from the positively insane V10 motor that sits behind the driver and passenger, the Audi R8 V10 Performance throws in a few more tricks to earn that Performance name. 

Several returned driving modes, especially the “Dynamic” setting, work along with chassis tweaks that Audi put in place to increase a feeling of precision and stability from behind the wheel. Audi even offers a carbon-fiber anti-roll bar for those looking to really dial in the handling.   

There are also some exterior changes in the form of redone vents and grills, some new side intakes, and dashes of carbon fiber throughout. Even the massive exhaust tips get an oval treatment to match up with the rest of the RS line. 

Overall, it’s even better looking than it was before. 

Numbers and The Press

Car and Driver say that the Audi R8 V10 Performance will do 0 to 60 in a staggering 2.8 seconds, on its way to a quarter-mile speed of 10.7 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph! These numbers put the R8 into a rare elite category of sub – 3 second 0 – 60 times, a space that is usually occupied by hypercars costs way more than R8. 

You certainly won’t find many members of the automotive press who have negative things to say about the Audi R8 V10 Performance line. Handling is both sharp and at the same time supple enough for daily usage, while the engine is noted as “belonging in a museum of great engines” according to publications like Motor Trend. This vehicle is just at home running to get a latte, as it is beating up on one of our race tracks. There is not a single vehicle in our fleet that can say that!

Performance Numbers: 

60 mph: 2.8–3.0 sec

100 mph: 6.4–7.3 sec

¼-mile: 10.7–11.3 sec

Top speed: 201–205 mph

60 to 0 Braking: 102 Feet 

Come Experience The V10 Magic With Us 

There’s one thing for sure, and that’s the best way to experience the magic of the Audi R8 V10 Performance is to take it out on a track. At Xtreme Xperience, our team of driving instructors is ready to put you behind the wheel of the R8 and help you extract the maximum amount of Performance from this incredible machine on a track near you in 2022. 

Once you hear that V10 screaming inches from your head, it’ll change your life, trust us. 

See you in 2022!