In the category of mid-engined supercars for less than $120,000, the
Audi R8 stands alone. Many components are stupendous. The aluminum space frame, the eight-piston front and four-piston rear disc brakes, the underbody diffuser to keep it from flying away at its top speed of 187 mph. The high-revving and compact 4.2-liter V8 lives in a Lexan house and under LED spotlights. The R8 offers every creature comfort and is totally tame around town. It seems almost unkind to point out that it’s not as shapely as its Italian cousin the
Lamborghini Gallardo, and its voice isn't as sexy as that of its sister the
Audi RS 4. The biggest drawback might be its highest-tech component, the R-Tronic transmission, whose shifts are jerky and inconsistent on the street. But the six-speed manual gearbox costs $9000 less anyhow.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Sam Moses drove the R8 in California's Wine Country and filed this report from Sonoma.