Vehicle: 2010 Audi R8 V10 with Carbon Sigma Pkg and Carbon Sigma Side Blade
Price as tested: CDN$181000

Performance: When we first drove R8 with 420hp V8, we were already impressed enough with its performance prowess. Audi has taken it one step further by offering a 5.2 liter DOHC 40-valve V10 as an optional powerplant in 2010. If the power of 420hp V8 is already amazing enough, this 525hp beast is nothing short of astounishing. Its 391 lb/ft of torque has put through the pavement without losing its daily drivability. As with the V8, we highly recommend to choose its sweet 6-speed manual over R-Tronic simply because its a much better transmission. While the R-Tronic feels rather jerky. This 6-speed manual has to be the best manual ever come from Audi. The throws are short and well-defined. There are few stages for clutch take-off, which also means its very progressive while providing excellent clutch feel. Audi’s usual level of civilized road manners have also put through the gearbox. As anyone can drive this beast on the road from 10 up to 140 km/h using 3rd gear, without getting too buzzy in the process. Best of all, the engine note is Teutonic solid. Even if the R8 V10 weights at 3571 lb, it still manages to make it to 100km/h in an awesomely fast 3.9 seconds.

Handling: What really seperates R8 from the rest of the supercar class is the level of civilization the whole car is. While most supercar rides roughly, R8 manages to absorb all the bumps and roughness with ease. All without losing the composure and dynamic capabilites of what make a great performance car. The credit goes to Audi’s magnetic ride suspension, which provide a wonderful combination of handling capbilities and ride comfort. When pushed the R8 on the race track, the body rolls are almost non-existence. Mated to the exceptionally caliberated suspension is Audi’s well-famed Quattro AWD system. The level of handling balance and grip are astounishing thanks to R8′s mid-engine layout. Combined the desired engine displacement with an AWD that has a rear-bias, as it detects slippage, make R8 such a great driver’s car. The steering is sharp and precise, with excellent feel and feedback. All without the twitches as with many of supercars currently available. While the ESP is an uninstrusive variety, its better to leave it on as it acts as a guardian angel whenever driver rears R8′s ugly heads. Even with such a balanced chassis and amazing grip provided by Quattro AWD, its highly recommend to leave such a sophiscated stability control on all the time. That’s even on the racetrack given how uninstrusve it is.

Brakes: With large 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, R8 has the best pedal feel I have ever tested in recent memory. Its not only R8 V10 stops on a dime. Even during the harsh and hot weather conditons on our track testing, it remains fade-free even after a couple of hard stops. The ABS has acted at the right place at the right time. Never steps in until driver absolutely needs it.

Interior: When it comes to interior attention-to-details and use of materials, Audi already considered as the best in the industry. R8 just takes it into a higher level. There are amazing attention-to-details on all the switchgears and interior ambience. The leather sports cars have to be some of the best in the industry, the only ones that are able to match those supports are from Porsche and Ferrari. Not to mention its B&O stereo has to be another best in the market.

Conclusion: If the original R8 V8 has reset the standards of which all sports cars are to be judged, Audi has upped the ante even higher with the latest V10. Its performance is equally compelling on the racetrack as on the road. The handling is sharp without being harsh as a daily driver. Its interior is simply a place to die for. In short, Audi has set a standard that is very hard to surpassed for years to come.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2010 Audi R8 V10
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Performance: 5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 3/5
Value-for-money: 5/5

Overall rating: 5/5