Audi R8 generations bring legendary performance and power

Audi took the performance car world by storm when it introduced a halo supercar called the R8 back in 2008. For a base price of about $62,000, the R8 played in the big leagues with the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari. In fact, it shared a platform with the Lamborghini Gallardo at the time. 

The car’s design and performance were inspired by — and derived from — Audi’s successful LeMans racing program. Across a 17-year production span, just over 45,000 units were produced.

A bold magazine advertisement for the R8 said, “Some legends take generations to create. We’ve never been ones to wait around.” The copy continued, “It’s not until you get behind the wheel and unleash its ultra-high-revving FSI Direct Injection motor or experience its race inspired midengine dynamics that you start to really understand what the R8 is — a modern-day legend.”

The search term “Audi R8” ranked in the top 10 for clicks in a recent review of KSL Cars analytics, so enthusiasts in the Rocky Mountain region are no doubt already familiar with the R8’s merits. It’s a midengine, two-seat sports car with a powerful V8 or V10 engine, a Quattro all-wheel drive system and a strong competitive racing pedigree.

Photo courtesy Audi

First generation (2007 through 2015)

Based on the same platform as the Lamborghini Gallardo, the first generation Type 42 R8 entered the marketplace in 2007. The chassis used an aluminum space frame which enhanced strength but helped keep the vehicle’s weight down. Audi called the first generation R8 “unlike anything else on the road.”

Its exterior design was aggressive, and it featured what Audi called Carbon Fiber Sigma side blades along with LED headlights, an innovative feature for the time which later gained widespread popularity.

A glass cover showcased the midmounted engine, which was initially a 4.2-liter fuel stratified injection V8. A couple of years later, the powerplant was upsized to a 5.2-liter FSI V10, with 525 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. A gated Graziano 6-speed manual transmission was offered for maximum driver engagement, but two automated manuals were also available by the finale of the first generation — a 6-speed R-Tronic and a 7-speed dual-clutch.

Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system was biased toward the rear, offering up to 70% of power rearward. This surefootedness, combined with the R8’s 44/56 front/rear weight distribution and an independent suspension with forged aluminum double wishbones, gave the car a sense of balance that was confidence inspiring in any weather conditions. The R8 was a car that would feel right at home on a spirited drive up a Utah canyon.

Toward the end of the first generation, an R8 GT was produced, with just 90 coupes and 75 Spyder convertibles available in the United States. The GT upped the performance ante by offering unique aerodynamic treatment, a 560-horsepower engine and enhanced weight reduction measures. Exclusive? To say the least.  

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Photo courtesy Audi

Second generation (2016 through 2024)

Now boasting a more chiseled exterior design and modernized technology, the next generation R8 was dubbed the Type 4S and launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015. It was based on the same platform as the Lamborghini Huracán and featured carbon materials for optimized strength. There were both coupe and convertible (Spyder) variants available.

Powertrain wise, the 5.2-liter FSI V10 was the exclusive engine for the generation, although output varied depending on trim level. The base engine was rated at 533 horsepower, which could hardly be considered basic for most people. The 6-speed manual transmission was eliminated, replaced by the S-Tronic 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Big things happened inside the cockpit, including the addition of the virtual cockpit instrument screen system that had been first introduced in Audi’s TT roadster. Of course, all the added equipment meant the sticker price shot up accordingly. A base 2023 Quattro S-Tronic R8 had a suggested retail price of $171,000, and some trim levels could soar over $200,000. 

Photo courtesy Audi

Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive system remained popular, although a rear-wheel drive variant (dubbed the rear wheel series) of the R8 was offered in limited production with only 320 available units. The R8 GT, a nameplate that debuted on the first generation, came back again as a grand finale.

Equipment for the GT included unique wheels, Michelin Cup 2 performance tires and a 602-horsepower engine. After 17 years of production, the R8 met its end in 2024. At least it went out on a high note.

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Make a date with an R8

The Audi R8 and its legendary V10 engine screamed off into the sunset after the first quarter of 2024 without a direct successor being announced. Although there are rumors about the car making a return in the future, there is no doubt the existing 45,000 units will be collectible cars.

If you have ever dreamed of getting behind the wheel of Audi’s muscular supercar, check out the handful of Audi R8 listings on KSL Cars.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.