New Audi R8 review, test drive

The second-generation Audi R8 has big shoes to fill. Is it a big step-up over the still impressive predecessor?

Published on Nov 02, 2015 08:00:00 AM

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The new car looks edgier and bolder in the flesh.

Headlamps get laser highbeam for great night vision.

If you sit in the old R8 and then step into the new one, it feels as though you have skipped two generations rather than one. The new cabin feels thoroughly modern and exudes a sense of class and uniqueness that was missing from its predecessor. The curvy vents give the impression of the dashboard engulfing the driver, and most of the important controls are placed on the beautifully sculpted steering wheel or around it, making it is an extremely driver-focussed cabin. If one has to be picky, then one may argue that it’s a bit dark inside. But then, if you are not, you’d simply admire the fit, the relative simplicity of the layout and the genuine style and panache with which things are finished.

Driver-focussed cabin is minimalist yet beautifully built and designed.

A digital instrument panel sits in place of analogue dials. The screen is crystal clear and places all the information in front of the driver. You can switch the display between Classic View — with prominent speedo and rev counter — and Infotainment View, which brings functions like the navigation map or audio screen to the fore. The high-resolution LCD display does away with the need for a centre-stack screen, allowing for a sleek, minimalist dashboard design that’s sporty and upmarket. There is impressive amount of space in this two-seater, and the thin A-pillars allow for a fantastic view out the front. The nicely crafted seats are snug and well bolstered, and keep you in place even when you drive hard.

With the new R8, Audi has made a supercar that is better than its predecessor in almost every way. Now that is a huge compliment considering how good the old car still is. It may not have the visual drama of the Lamborghini Huracan, but the R8’s appeal lies in the way it is easy to drive but also ferociously fast and scary when you want it to be. This dual personality makes the R8 not only a car for the purist but a car that an amateur driver can have fun in too.