The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro (which is Audi-speak for the R8 V10) will begin hitting authorized Audi dealerships in the U.S. this week and will cost $147,200, including destination charges.
That's $31,800 more than the V8-powered R8 4.2. So figure that each extra cylinder will run you $15,900. Or it's about $303 more for each additional horsepower. The V10, similar to the engine that powers the Lamborghini Gallardo, makes 525 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. According to Audi that's enough to get the R8 5.2 to 60 mph from a standstill in 3.7 seconds.
It's not just performance that that extra $31,800 buys though. The V10 model comes with full-LED headlights, newly designed 19-inch forged wheels, larger air intakes, oval tailpipes and smattering of shiny-black trim.
The R8 5.2 comes loaded with magnetic ride control shocks, navigation with real-time traffic updates, Bang & Olufsen sound system, rear-view camera and power heated sport seats.
For perspective, that makes the R8 5.2 cheaper by about $30,000 than an Aston Martin DB9 or Bentley Continental GT. It's about $40,000 less expensive than a Ferrari F430 and $50,000 less than the R8's VW Group stablemate, the Lamborghini Gallardo. The Porsche 911 Turbo is a little cheaper, at $130,000.
Oh, and the R tronic automated manual transmission that you certainly do not want costs an extra $9,100.
DLu says:
02:12 PM, 07/23/09
those are evil looking rims. sweet
hondacura4 says:
02:52 PM, 07/23/09
Absolutely stunning!
fuhteng says:
06:30 PM, 07/23/09
I can't tell if that is a good deal or not. I would rather have a 430, but that is just me.
Thank God for Forza so I can play with all of them! And for only $60 (for the game, nevermind all the other costs) too!
inlinesix says:
06:59 PM, 07/23/09
Props to Audi for this car.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
07:11 PM, 07/23/09
Our local friendly Audi dealer in Portland OR told me these cost $200K. Guess who may be marking things up? Guess who doesn't get a sale?
No matter - it's a nice car for autobahn and fast roads / driving, but our winter weather would stop it cold.
inlinesix says:
07:55 PM, 07/23/09
^ Same sort of business at Lexus of Portland. Not little markups either.
audipilot says:
08:59 PM, 07/23/09
As much as I like this car, I still think the original R8 looks better. The original was beatiful and with the additional bits they've tacked on the exterior of the V10, it almost seems too boy-racerish. It seems like Audi has lost a bit of the simpilcity in the original car that made it such a gorgeous car. Although it is hard to argue with two extra cylinders...
charlesb says:
11:03 PM, 07/23/09
The Gallardo is so much better looking than the R8 that, honestly, I really cannot see how Audi can hope to sell these for a mere $50K less. That "blade" thing cannot hide the ungainly proportions of this car.
dougtheeng says:
06:15 AM, 07/24/09
There has been an R8 model at the Audi dealership near my house, with the V10 badges and these rims, for a few weeks now. Is this unusual, since it sounds like the pricing has just come out?
desmolicious says:
02:08 PM, 07/24/09
This makes the base R8 a screaming deal..
Just a little bit slower, bit just as attention grabbing as you slowly roll down Abbott Kinney Blvd, like all the other Ferraris, Porsches, Lambos, Astons etc do in my neighbourhood.
With all the money you save vs the V10, you could buy a whole fleet of Vespas! Different colour for each day of the week.
(Caroline, me and the gf just picked up a GTS250ie this weekend! Thank you craigslist! p.s sign up on ModernVespa.com... )
msdaisy says:
05:42 PM, 07/24/09
The premium is too much for an upgraded engine the original R8 should have had to begin with.
niallyb says:
08:35 PM, 07/24/09
Hold on to your knickers everyone for a second.
If you option the 4.2 up to (as close as possible) what the 5.2 offers as standard - it comes to about $126K. (fling on the fancy leather, nicer paint, nav and blingy sound system).
So its unlikley you're REALLY getting fleeced by the 5.2.
Also I think by the time ANY of us are spending that on a car it comes down to "mine is bigger and fatter than yours". If you can spend $125K on a car with no probs then you can prob spend $150K. In either case you're not likely to feel like you got F*cked cos every other guy you park beside at work has a 911. See the Traders Parking Garage in Chicago if you want to know what I mean. You could play "Gone in 60 seconds" there but everything you'd come out with would be 911 parts.