Starting MSRP: $109,000
Vehicle type: sports car
EPA fuel economy: city: 13 / hwy: 18-20
Available engines:
420-hp, 4.2-liter V-8
Available transmissions:
six speed manual
six-speed automoatic

Racing-inspired midengine sports car has winning genes
from Audi

Three years after unveiling of the Audi Le Mans quattro concept car, the production version makes its debut as the Audi R8 midengine sports model.

It is the sporty pinnacle of the Audi brand. The 420-horsepower V-8 FSI engine, quattro permanent all-wheel drive and Audi Space Frame aluminum body form the basis for outstanding driving dynamics.

As the first Audi midengine sports car, the R8 combines Audi's experience from many motorsports triumphs with groundbreaking design and technological expertise.

Following the rally successes of the Ingolstadt brand in the 1980s and Audi's triumphs on the touring-car circuit, Audi's motorsports engineers designed the R8, which won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans five times between 2000 and 2005.

Those genes are transferable to a road-going sports car, which, combined with an exciting design, make the Audi R8 unmistakable.

The characteristic proportions of the two-seat vehicle are dictated by the location of the engine behind the cockpit, visible through the large, shield-shaped rear window and from inside the car.

There is plenty of room for the two occupants, with comfort levels well beyond the norm of high-performance sports cars. There is space behind the seats to stow large bags.

The standard equipment of the Audi R8 includes xenon lights, 18-inch aluminum wheels, an audio system with a 7-inch monitor, an anti-theft alarm and leather / Alcantara interior trim.

The range of options leaves virtually nothing to be desired. A Bang & Olufsen sound system featuring output of 465 watts and 12 speakers delivers "surround sound" while a noise-compensation system adjusts audio levels to changing road conditions and speeds.