Think about all of the great empires of the past. Each one reached a peak point and then started crumbling apart. It all reminds me of Asimov’s Foundation, an excellent read if you’re into Science Fiction, as I am.
It’s not clear yet that these changes are for the best, but we should embrace them if they are friendlier with nature. After all, we can still enjoy our automotive heroes for a few more years, right? Audi introduced the TT in 1998, and people have enjoyed driving it for years. But production ended last year, with just under 663,000 cars coming out of the factory across three generations.
And the same thing has happened to the mighty R8. The world first saw a glimpse of it in Will Smith’s “I, Robot” some 20 years ago. However, the German manufacturer took a few more years before revealing it publicly in 2006. At first, it shared the same platform as the Lamborghini Gallardo, but it moved on to the Huracan when the time was right. The R8 was in production for fewer years than its TT sibling, receiving multiple upgrades across two generations.
Whereas the 4.2-liter V8 felt impressive at launch, these days, most drivers would rather have the 5.2-liter V10 instead. It took the company almost 20 years to improve performance figures from 414 hp and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) to 612 hp and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm). The R8 Coupé V10 performance quattro could theoretically go all the way to 206 mph (331 kph), and that’s impressive by any standard.
But let’s not kid ourselves; it doesn’t matter which R8 model you drive; it will still be a pleasure to engage with it. I spotted 650 Audi R8 listings on Germany’s biggest automotive market, with prices starting at just under $34,000. There’s one for sale at under $50,000 with 113,000 miles (182,000 km) on its odometer!
If you can afford it, a late 2023 RWD GT model will cost as much as $360,000. And if you feel like spending some more, you can even buy the LMS-spec race car for what it’s worth. The drag race you’re about to see here has lined up multiple variations of the R8. While this may not be a conclusive test as to which one offers the best bang for the buck, it will show you how they fare against each other in a straight line. That may help if you’re keen on buying an R8 shortly. I’d sure love to drive one!
