Audi R8 V10

Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Thank you for signing up to Wallpaper. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Few contemporary cars bewitched us so efficiently as the Audi R8. When the Le Mans concept debuted back in 2003 and Audi's determination to build a sports car was revealed, it was initially unclear as to whether the company was trying to steal thunder from stablemates Lamborghini or merely seeking to best then rivals Porsche.
Perversely, the R8 took a dose of the former goal to achieve the latter, sharing several key parts with the Lamborghini Gallardo in its quest to build a perfect sports car. Now the parts-sharing is even more pronounced, as the original R8's V8 engine is replaced by the same V10 unit found in the Gallardo, giving what was already a sprightly and highly wieldy machine a substantial power boost.
The R8 might have been born out of long-standing rivalry, but from the outset Audi took a very different approach to two-seater nirvana. The mid-engined layout is more 'cab-forward' than its rivals, enhanced by the car's signature 'blades' just behind the doors. In profile, this gives the car a slightly unbalanced, leaning stance.
Unlike the TT, which has a very pure profile translated precisely from the original concept design, the R8's genesis goes back further. Without a bona fide supercar in the line-up, the few sports concepts that emerged from Audi's studios in the 90s were viewed as pure stylistic exercises, not marketing projections.
Back in 1991, the company created the Avus quattro, illustrating both the company's developing aluminium technology and also how it might treat a low-slung, mid-engined sports car, with a cabin pushed close to the front of the chassis and the engine resplendent beneath a glass cover. The same year saw the debut of the Audi quattro Spyder (not actually a convertible, despite the name), a crisp two-seater without much in the way of visual drama (reflecting the company's ultra-austere design direction of the time).
Finally, there was the Rosemeyer (2000), a ferocious piece of cyberpunk baroque with the same 16 cylinder engine that later found its way into the Bugatti Veyron. The Rosemeyer was a classic 'halo car', intended not for production but to bolster the brand's sporting credentials. Using the same form language as the original TT, it helped pave the way for the 2003 Le Mans concept, the direct antecedent of today's R8.
While the TT swiftly became the car of choice for the design-savvy urban enthusiast, this scant handful of supercar concepts gave little indication of quite how perfectly formed the R8 would turn out to be right from the start. Set apart by the unconventional styling - with details that reflected Audi's new emphasis on aggression and sculpted, angular forms - the original R8 was brash when it needed to be but also utterly practical.
Few fast cars inspire confidence from the moment you turn the key, with a look and feel that's the antithesis of more exotic machinery. It's true that the V10 is considerably more sonorous than the original car, right from the snarling sound of ignition. But out on the road, it delivers a very similar experience to the V8, with only the knowledge that more vivid acceleration and an even more inaccessible top speed are there for the taking.
The V10 is a mite more aggressively formed than the original, with subtle design details intended to stress the scorching performance. Inside, the interior is classic Audi; functional and neat yet also surprisingly old school, with lashings of chrome knobs and dials - no fancy touch screens displays here. Even the gated gear selector that demands a precise throw of the stick, is a nod to the past, not the future. Not low-slung enough to be troubled by urban speed bumps, the R8 burbled happily around London, never feeling too broad or bulky on even the narrowest street. Low speed refinement is a test for the modern supercar; there are those who swear that ease of use indicates a toothless driving experience, but the R8 V10 really does let you have it all, with near 200mph performance and acceleration through the gears that never leaves you wanting.
That's not all. Throughout its short life, the R8 has been used as a platform by Audi's engineers to showcase how new technology might translate into this rarefied part of the car market. While a V12 diesel model was mooted (and prototypes built), the company ultimately decided against it. Instead, the basic aesthetics of the R8 can be seen in Audi's latest concept, the e-tron, shown at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show and slated for limited series production early next decade. Whether an electric sports car can provide the same blend of adrenaline and function as the R8 V10 remains to be seen. Nonetheless, Audi are in with a strong chance of being able to deliver the goods.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Rose Tarlow and Perennials present a second collaborative collection of fabrics and rugs
Perennials by Rose Tarlow features eight textiles and four rug designs that nod to the English countryside with a quiet colour palette and subtle, abstract geometries
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
50 years of Agape: exploring five decades of innovative bathroom design
Italian bathroom brand Agape turns 50, and founders Emanuele and Giampaolo Benedini celebrate with an exhibition looking back at their personal and professional journey
By Cristina Kiran Piotti Published
-
Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2009: the story behind the wine
Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2009 is the harmonious result of fruitful endeavours by the French champagne house and its cellar master Vincent Chaperon
By Simon Mills Published
-
Peugeot’s sparky 308 gets hybrid power and handsome lines
The Peugeot 308 proves that mass-market design needn’t be dull, blending hybrid power with sharp lines and excellent detailing
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW Motorrad brings out the big guns for its newest cruisers
BMW Motorrad R 18 Bagger and Transcontinental set the tone for high-voltage cruising with a brand collaboration with speaker specialist Marshall
By George Chapman Last updated
-
Dacia’s new Manifesto concept is a true outdoor utility vehicle
Utilitarian auto brand Dacia sets a bold new agenda with its Manifesto, a concept car pitched at the active outdoor market
By Jonathan Bell Last updated
-
The sun sets on traditional supercars at California’s Monterey Car Week
Monterey Car Week, the world’s most prestigious car gathering, is showcasing ever-more extravagant special editions, coachbuilt cars and all-new electric concepts. Here are seven key machines from 2022
By Rory FH Smith Last updated
-
Is McLaren’s GT a sports car, a tourer, or the best of both?
The McLaren GT is a capable all-rounder dressed up in svelte supercar clothes. It might also be the last of its type
By Jonathan Bell Last updated
-
Rolls-Royce puts the Phantom back on its lofty pedestal
A mid-life refresh ensures the flagship Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II is at the top of its game, a last hurrah for traditional engines before an electrified future
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Prodrive’s new racing simulator is shaped by Callum to be front of the grid
The racing simulator shapes up – this new design from Prodrive and Callum is honed for the high-end games room
By Jonathan Bell Last updated
-
The Cupra Formentor is a dark star for bright minds
For all its moody styling, the Cupra Formentor – from the SEAT spin-off brand – is a compact, swift and fun-to-drive crossover
By Jonathan Bell Last updated