When it comes to exhaust noises, the standard Audi R8 4.2 is quite competent. In fact, the sound it makes at 7,000rpm is quite possibly its most endearing feature. One would think that adding a couple more cylinders would only make it better, but that's not always the case with V10 engines.
In a Formula One car V10s can sound like a musical instrument, but there are some road cars with ten cylinders that sound more like vacuum cleaners with a penny stuck in its rotors.
The R8 5.2 is not one of those cars. It's V10 has a ripping exhaust note despite the four catalytic converters clogging the escape route. And so far, it's not too bad on the highway either. Click through to hear a few examples of what we mean.
tryan says:
03:37 AM, 09/ 1/09
I am still hard pressed to understand how anyone can logically justify spending more money on a Gallardo with the R8 V10 hanging around for (relatively) much less money. Then again, car purchases made at this level are rarely logical and almost always emotional...
rick8365 says:
04:08 AM, 09/ 1/09
MMM....MMMM - thanks for providing these clips for those of us who love this type of thing. This V-10 has a good amount of deep bass to it as well as a nice snarling crackle, audible in the first clip.
Slightly OT but I think the new SVT Raptor sounds just right in the video from last week - a good mix of sounds to go with the truck, quite Baja Trophy Truck sounding IMO. If it sounds like that, I'll take it even if it doesn't improve the power output.
arm51 says:
05:25 AM, 09/ 1/09
Wow, this made my morning! That V10 is so freakin' sweet! I wish I had the cash to grab one of these...
relidtm says:
05:51 AM, 09/ 1/09
Totally made my morning, I love this car! V10 gave me chills!
bbechtel16 says:
06:22 AM, 09/ 1/09
Nice scenery. *jealous*
stephen987 says:
07:28 AM, 09/ 1/09
I'm normally a bit suspicious of V10s--the Viper sounds like a bread van. But this thing has a glorious bark.
zjev says:
07:30 AM, 09/ 1/09
Cool, but how about one accelerating from a stop to hear it change through the gears?
yellowmiata says:
07:57 AM, 09/ 1/09
tryan - I completely agree that any car purchase of this sort is emotional. In fact, I'd say that anything beyond an economy car has some emotion involved. If cars were appliances, then acceleration, leather, and the like would be unnecessary. Thank goodness for us passionates as we fuel the v10s and 370Zs of the world.
subytrojan says:
12:30 PM, 09/ 1/09
V10 > all
Case closed. :o)
My second favorite is the sound of a 2.65L turbo V8 champ car engine (RIP).
mrbacon says:
05:03 PM, 09/ 1/09
I can't really think of any V10s that sound bad.
Anyway, what I really wanna hear is what a straight-7 sounds like. Yeah that's right.
Now someone get out there and make one.
cdddysr says:
03:28 AM, 09/ 2/09
I saw and drove this exact car. I parked it in front of my hotel in Santa Monica,Ca and about 100 people came out to take pictures of it...Mr Pund was the man.
sgude says:
10:35 AM, 09/ 2/09
I really like the first clip; my, does that thing snarl!
I'm just waiting for an automaker to mimic the sound of a Matra-Simca V12 on the Mulsanne. I can't find the clip anymore, but I will never forget that ethereal howl.
carnage says:
09:36 AM, 09/ 4/09
I'm sorry dude, but the low-quality camera killed it. I got a little something out of the first clip but it was still kinda low-grade. I'm sure it really does sound pretty sick though.
Honestly though, the only V-10 i've heard and really liked was the one in Porsche's Carrera GT. That thing sounded SICK, almost like an over-sized race bike.