Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. Genuine, mid-engine exotics don't tend to wear German badges. Granted, there have been a few exceptions over the years but they rarely received the acclaim of their Italian counterparts. The R8 was the car that broke the mould, proving that you could buy a car with the charisma and presence of a Lamborghini and the engineering of an Audi and, with V10 power, the performance to match. Based on the Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car, the R8 first appeared at the 2003 International Geneva Motor Show, however, it was not officially launched until the Paris Auto Show some three years later in 2006.
The R8 is a two-seat, mid-engine supercar positioned as Audi’s flagship model (a title it still holds today). It was launched with Audi’s own 420bhp, 4. 2-litre FSI V8 and a couple of years later the car became available with the 5. 2-litre FSI V10 from Lamborghini's Gallardo which offered 525bhp. Both used Audi’s legendary Quattro four-wheel drive system which had been honed through decades of motorsport. The car’s cutting-edge design and performance to match generated much respect in the motoring press and confirmed that the R8 was worthy of a place in the supercar arena, along with the likes of Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren.
When the R8 came out, the gearbox preference was really starting to lean on the flappy paddle ‘F1 style’ systems, over the manual option. Looking back, it seems mad that the beautiful 6-speed gated manual gearbox wasn’t the go-to choice for the majority of clients, with between 250-300 R8 V10s ever being optioned in analogue spec. Designed as a useable, everyday supercar, a contradiction in itself, the R8 managed to pull it off, and when combined with the stunning Lamborghini-derived V10 punching out well over 500bhp, it's quite an enticing mix.
This 2010, pre-facelift R8 is a fabulous example, subtly finished in Lava Grey over a cream leather interior. It was optioned from new with the all-important 6-speed manual gearbox and a plethora of other options such as the carbon fibre side panels. Our vendor was specifically looking for a nicely specified Gen 1 R8 V10 manual, taking around 6 months to find a suitable car. The 19in V10-specific alloy wheels are shod in the correct Pirelli P-Zero tyres and present very well. The only deviation from standard is a welcome modification, a Capristo-valved exhaust system costing in excess of £5, 000 which allows the car to stroll around town in quiet mode, or open up the valves and let the V10 truly howl. Patently cherished from new, the car continues to present very well, having covered 45, 000 miles over its 14-year lifespan and is supplied with a full main dealer Audi service history with the associated invoices.
The R8 is a phenomenally well balanced and dynamic car, with ageless styling, which explains why they were so popular when first released and remain popular to this day. To find one in such a lovely specification is rare, especially when combined with a meticulous service history. If you’re in the market for a supercar that can do it all, you’d be very hard pressed to find a better car than the R8.
