2008 Audi R8

At a Glance

Pricing $109,000 - $118,000
Drive Types AWD
Engines 4.2l V8
Transmissions M6, SM6
Fuel Economy 13 (city), 19-20 (highway)

The R8 is Audi's halo sports car, intended to compete with the Porsche 911 Turbo, and to a lesser extent, the BMW M6 coupe. Based loosely on the semi-exotic Lamborghini Gallardo, the all-aluminum R8 is slightly more practical, and much less expensive. A mid-mounted 420-bhp 4.2L V-8 drives all four wheels via a 6-speed manual or automatic. Audi claims a 0-60 MPH time of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 187 MPH. The quattro AWD system has a 44:56 F:R torque bias to improve handling. Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, adjustable magnetic ride suspension, LED running lights and taillights. Available options such as a 465-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system, carbon fiber exterior "sideblades", and upgraded leather interior allow owners to further customize their R8.

What Changed:

Audi takes a shot at a halo car with the mid-engined R8 sports car. The R8 features an aluminum chassis. R8 is powered by a 420 hp, 4.2L V8 driving all four wheels quattro-style. A six-speed manual transmission is standard. A six-speed sequential automatic is also offered. The R8 featues LED daytime running lights.

Model/Trim/Package Engine Original MSRP
R8 4.2l V8 (420-bhp) M6 AWD $109,000
R8 4.2l V8 (420-bhp) SM6 AWD $118,000