Premium R8 is a hot line
During the Audi R8's launch in France, motorbikers swooped alongside to admire its lines, police were pulling cars over just to look inside and a pedestrian was so intent on watching one that he fell over, writes Peter Carroll.
Audi has always seen itself as a premium brand - but the German firm is venturing into the lofty territory occupied by supercar marques with its new flagship sports car.
The race-bred, rear-engined R8 may boast breathtaking good looks but does it have the dynamic ability to back them up?
This low-slung two-seater V8 can cost a hefty £90,000 once options have been taken into account. So is Audi suffering from delusions of grandeur - or has it really come up with a car to give Jaguar, Aston Martin, Porsche sleepless nights?
Almost certainly the latter, I'd say. Don't forget that Audi now owns Lamborghini, so it should know a thing or two about the elements which make up a supercar.
And on looks alone the R8 is a killer. Its styling is clearly related to the TT, only the bigger car sits lower and looks more muscular.
There are exotic flourishes such as the air intakes, boldly-shaped doors and LED lights underneath the front headlamps - and the whole package is enticingly dramatic.
Certainly, the public seemed to think so too during the car's launch in France. Motorbikers swooped alongside to admire the R8's lines before speeding off with a thumbs-up and a grin; police were pulling cars over for no reason other than to look inside; and one pedestrian was so intent on watching the new Audi that he fell over.
The interior may not be quite as spectacular as the exterior, but is still of high quality.
The familiar Audi dashboard is enhanced by leather and metal touches, with the gearstick being the focal point.
But you'll pay extra for the specially-designed Bang & Olufsen sound system, bluetooth, stainless steel pedals, cruise control, sat nav, and hill hold assist. The 'side blades' behind each door can be specified in a range of colours and materials.
Parking sensors are almost a necessity because the restricted rear vision - a reversing camera would be even better.
The spoiler is worth mentioning as it can be manually deployed at any speed - unlike other ones which deploy automatically only when a certain speed has been reached.
As this speed is usually in excess of the national limit, you can find yourself with some explaining to do if police are in the vicinity.
But it is when you actually drive the car that you realise what a complete package the R8 is - not perfect but certainly good enough to worry its competitors.
The R8 has few vices and is entertaining, yet easy to drive - except, perhaps, when reversing into tight spots.
Power comes from Audi's proven V8 4.2 litre power plant, which develops 420PS. Throttle response is sharp and the car will hit 60mph in around four and a half seconds. The claimed top speed is 187mph.
The engine sounds good too - especially if you are outside the car. Stand next to the door, put your foot on the accelerator and you will be greeted by a rorty rasp. Once inside, however, it seems that some of the lower frequencies have been filtered out.
The car's structure is based around an aluminium space frame which offers the twin benefits of lightness and rigidity. The weight-distribution is 44:56 (front to rear) but there's none of the twitchiness that some rear-engined cars exhibit.
With four-wheel drive and grippy tyres the R8 is a confident and assured performer on the twistiest of roads.
It also has to be one of the best steering Audis yet.
The R-tronic automatic is a little jerky in standard mode but better when used manually. This is done either by notching the gearstick or pressing the paddle shifters.
The trick to a smooth change seems to be to lift your foot off the throttle momentarily when you change. In sports mode the throttle blips enticingly when you change down.
Another option to consider is the Ferrari-style 'magnetic ride' suspension which helps to keep the car beautifully balanced through bends, though the standard set-up is good too.
Criticisms? Mostly minor ones. There's not exactly a lot of storage space. You can get a couple of slim bags behind the seats and a couple of weekend bags in the front boot compartment but that's about it.
Audi reckons two sets of golf clubs can be accommodated in the space behind the seats - which is probably possible if you are Ronnie Corbett. Everyone else will have the seats too far back for this to be feasible.
Passengers may notice the absence of a grab handle above the door. When you are travelling at speed along a twisty road, these really help keep you in your seat.
Finally, while the R8 is certainly no slouch in the performance stakes it does not slam you back into your seat with the same degree of force as some other high performance machines.
Its chassis will certainly cope with more power - which begs the inevitable question: will Audi produce a version featuring the V10 Lamborghini engine? Or would that upstage the Gallardo?
These, however, are questions for the future. For the present, Audi looks set to create a real stir with the R8 when it arrives in the UK this summer.
Its looks are more youthful and 21st century than much of the competition at this price point - which is why footballers and pop stars will be snapping them up - and you'd be looking at a six-figure sum to get better performance.
Conversely, for a third of the price you could have the TT - a car with not dissimilar looks and featuring performance not far off that of the R8.
But ultimately, successful supercars are not merely about bald facts and figures. They have to possess that X-factor of desirability.
And in the R8, Audi has come up with a car that is very desirable indeed.
By Peter Carroll
