New Audi R8 V10 Plus review, test drive

What’s it like on the inside? 

While the exteriors are quite different, the cabin is a huge step forward from the earlier car. The insides look fresh, new and very original; no regular Audi fare here. And there's a real sporty element to the cabin. The attractive new bits include floating, chromed-over air-con controls that have mini screens in them; sure to be carried over to Audi sedans and SUVs. And then there's the big, high-def screen that takes the place of the instrument panel, as on the Audi TT. Known as 'virtual cockpit', you can toggle between several modes and screens, the best of which happens to be a large rev counter; redlined at a crazy 8,600rpm. Then there's the aircraft throttle-like gear selector, and the bit I like the best, the metal steering wheel with the chrome-lined buttons. On the left of the steering boss, there's one for Audi's Drive Select (Comfort, Performance, etc) and below that, you have the adjuster for the diff.

There are also some nice touches like the specially created rubberised mat ahead of the gear lever where you are meant to place your phone, and a bottle holder, stowed away under the elbow rest. The new R8 also has a fair-sized glovebox; but compared to something like a Porsche 911, the cabin is a bit impractical. The optional, race car-like seats on this car though, aren't really focused on driver comfort. They look like nothing more than fixed racing buckets that are there to hold you in place. They only have a thin layer of foam and leather covering them. There's no 127-way adjust, you can't recline the backrest and the fore and aft control is manual. You can lift the seat up, and that is powered, but that's about it. So, initially, finding a comfortable driving position is a bit tough.

What's it like to drive?

What dominates proceedings is the new R8’s V10 engine. The updated engine is both extremely powerful and very responsive, and combined with the lightening-quick gearbox and the four-wheel-drive system, produces a surge of power that is difficult to resist. Put your foot down on the accelerator and the Audi just leaps forward and pins you back in your seat. And it does this from just about any speed. The gearbox shifts a few gears down in a jiffy, the engine responds better than almost any this side of a motorcycle unit and keep your foot down and the Audi will unleash a burst of raw speed that's bound to put a smile on your face.

Where the R8 really begins to come into its own is on more open roads. Attack a straight with any amount of intent, and the R8 just rocks back gently on its rear wheels, pins you in your seat, and darts towards the horizon like an arrow; gears rifling through and needle whipping across the tachometer.

Flat-out performance is a bit unreal. 0-100kph takes just 3.5 seconds. And you're doing 200kph from rest in 11.3 seconds; pretty insane. Performance is right up there with the fasted cars we've ever tested. Only the 12-cylinder Lamborghini Aventador is faster.