The heavily revised and updated Audi R8 Coupe and Spyder, which is set to take to the road in early 2019 will retain its core party piece, the naturally aspirated V10 petrol engine. Around 50 percent of components are shared with the R8 LMS GT3 competition car revealed recently at the Paris Motor Show.

Highlights of the latest Audi R8 range include more power, torque, and performance, including a first foray beyond the 200mph mark for several versions, and improved handling thanks to suspension and steering revisions. The naturally aspirated V10 engine is now uprated to 570PS in the ‘standard’ R8 Coupé and Spyder V10 Quattro. Power has been increased by 30PS and the torque boosted by 10 Nm to 550 Nm. The range-topping ‘V10 performance’, has also benefited from a power upgrade to 620PS. The four versions will go on sale in Europe in early 2019. The 5.2 FSI in the Audi R8 V10 performance Quattro generates 620PS instead of the previous 610PS, with peak torque of 580 Nm. The Coupé sprints to 62mph in 3.1 seconds, the Spyder in 3.2 seconds. Top speed is rated at 205mph and 204mph respectively. R8 customers can choose from three exterior packages depending on the engine variant; these packages add various highlights to the front splitter, the side trims and the diffuser. Standard specification for the R8 V10 Quattro with 570PS is high-gloss black; the top-of-the-line version R8 V10 performance Quattro with 620PS comes off the production line with a matt titanium look. The high-gloss carbon package is available for both engine variants. As an option, the Audi rings and badges on the exterior are painted in high-gloss black; the new metallic colours Kemora grey and Ascari blue are recent additions to the paint range. Prices have yet to be revealed, expect a slight increase on current prices. In other words, it’s going to be expensive.  

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