Audi R8 Mk2

THE FIRST R8 burst onto the scene in 2007, power sliding away preconceptions that Audi sports cars were all power and grip but limited finesse and joy. After 25 000 sales, a massive injection of fun into brand Audi and a redefinition of supercar refinement and practicality, our expectations are sky-high for the R8 MkII.

The headline news is that this R8 will be offered with rear wheel drive, as well as the customary Quattro four wheel drive. While today’s R8 Quattro has a noticeable and satisfying rear bias, sending power solely to the rear wheels should make the new car easier to unstick. The entry level model runs an update of Audi’s twin turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, used in 309kW guise in Audi’s S6 and with 373 kW in Bentley’s Continental GT. For R8 duty, the 4.0-litre TFSI summons 338 kW, with drive taken to the rear or all four wheels.

The same choice applies to the 5. 2-litre V10, at least in its 397 kW version. But the flagship GT edition is four wheel drive only, to help put down its 441kW. Engines should boast the ‘Audi valve lift’ system, which helps shut down cylinders under low loads. Combined with stop/start, this should translate into a useful improvement in fuel economy. The manual gearbox bites the dust, with the DL800 seven speed, dual clutch ’box the only transmission.

Rear wheel drive should make the new R8 easier to unstick

Once again the R8 will be assembled at the Neckarsulm plant near Stuttgart, Audi’s aluminium centre of excellence. The R8 has an aluminium space frame construction, but with a higher concentration of carbon fibre parts this time, to pare back weight. The body is suspended by sporty double wishbones.

Our man in Munich tells us the R8 coupe goes into production in the final week of May 2015, with the Spyder following in mid-2016. Bring ’em on!