R8 Jeremy Clarkson reviews the Audi R8.

[Kowalski]

I guess you can tell what the Big Fella reckons about the Audi R8 just looking at his face in the left bottom of the image above.

Audi R8-Life & Style-Driving-Jeremy Clarkson-TimesOnline

 

[Imhotep Evil]

6 stars out of 5.
Is it even possible ?!
especially considering it's JC.

 

[Deutsch]

Jeremy is a tough critic, especially of Audi's. That's great that he liked it.

 

[Yperion]

"You turn in, feel the grip, add power, the rear starts to slide, you apply some opposite lock, balance the throttle and then . . . and then . . . you start to realise you are driving one of the all-time greats. It’s not a hefty car. You don’t manhandle it through the bends. It flows, delicately and precisely."

 

[Mr. M]

I don’t think I’ve ever driven a car that works so well on both the road and the track. Even if you remove my natural prejudice against the Porsche 911, I believe the Audi has it licked on all counts. Except perhaps one . . .

911? What's that? j/k

The only problem is that Audi cannot build the R8 fast enough. There are difficulties with making the carbon fibre panels, and as a result it can manage just 20 a day. That’s nowhere near enough to satisfy demand, especially when a more powerful V10 comes on stream next year.

Just ditch the friggin' panels!

 

[wltsm]

JC seems to really like the car, which means it must be amazing!

I can't wait till next Monday when I will see on in the flesh!

 

[Tumbo]

"I don’t think I’ve ever driven a car that works so well on both the road and the track."

In the meantime I can safely say the R8 is one of the best surprises of my motoring life. It is one of the truly great cars and the only hesitation I have in giving it five stars is that, ideally, I’d like to give it six.

say no more

 

[Centurion]

It seem like there is more to it than what meets the eye. The R8 seem to have exceeded all expectations. I bet that the eyes of the Porsche engineers are going red. Hell is going to break loss, they better pump the power of the Cayman up to enter the mid-engine battle.

But for now I think I have to give it up to Audi and the R8.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Yes the performances are unbelivable for just 420 hp and all that weight.


I say slap a V10, couple it to a fancy semi-automatic, shave some weight, put some flexi wings, active suspensions, carbon brakes, mass dampers, some ground effects skirts ... oh yeah and dump the AWD, preferably replace it with an active movable ballast system that can distribute weight back and forth and left to right were needed, and/or a fan to suck the air from underneath and glue the car to the ground.

Am I forgeting something ?!
Other than that it would be just fine.

 

[Centurion]

Yes the performances are unbelivable for just 420 hp and all that weight.
oh yeah and dump the AWD

I wouldn't drop the AWD. We all know that the R8 is under powered and heavy compared with similar cars in the same price range. The explanation for why it has turned out to be so damn good is probably because of the AWD system.
Thanks to the grip it has been said to be very easy to drive at the limit compared with cars like the 997TT. Drop the AWD and you'll have yourself something between a 360 and a F430.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

I wouldn't drop the AWD. We all know that the R8 is under powered and heavy compared with similar cars in the same price range. The explanation for why it has turned out to be so damn good is probably because of the AWD system.
Thanks to the grip it has been said to be very easy to drive at the limit compared with cars like the 997TT. Drop the AWD and you'll have yourself something between a 360 and a F430.

I belive flexi-wings, ground effects skirts and active suspensions could more than compensate that, and make the car lighter.

Tough it would definately modify the GT/friendly-ness and turn it into a real hardcore freaky car.

As I said in my post it should be left for the V10 version.

 

[Tarek]

Very impressive,Audi worked hard for this car and i'm so happy it shows, well done Audi

 

[Pagani]

Why, oh why, does every review from JC have to have the first 60% of text relate to nothing that has to do with the subject car of the review? It is so annoying, and sounds much like the rambling of a snobby person determined to let you know he knows more than you. One, two paragraphs tops is the most one should endure of that crap. If I want to read that, I pick a magazine that is not about cars.

 

[RICHBOY]

Has the R8 lost any comparisons? I can't wait for the V10 480HP version drops so we can see how it performs against the Z06!

 

[SDNR]

Why, oh why, does every review from JC have to have the first 60% of text relate to nothing that has to do with the subject car of the review? It is so annoying, and sounds much like the rambling of a snobby person determined to let you know he knows more than you. One, two paragraphs tops is the most one should endure of that crap. If I want to read that, I pick a magazine that is not about cars.

LOL, I felt the same when I read this review. Clarkson's ego sometimes gets the better of him I think. He does write very well though.

 

[Osnabrueck]

Wow Audi. Bravo!

"I can safely say the R8 is one of the best surprises of my motoring life. It is one of the truly great cars and the only hesitation I have in giving it five stars is that, ideally, I’d like to give it six... Verdict: Better than my Lambo"

 

[Osnabrueck]

Why, oh why, does every review from JC have to have the first 60% of text relate to nothing that has to do with the subject car of the review?

I skipped the entire article until I saw the word "R8" pop up. Something about cheap hotels.

Padding with nonsense has been a staple crutch for the writers, gifted and otherwise, since I can remember. Whenever I'm reading Time or GQ I make a point to dismiss the first 3 paragraphs any article that spans more than one page.

 

[Mr. M]

I skipped the entire article until I saw the word "R8" pop up. Something about cheap hotels.

Padding with nonsense has been a staple crutch for the writers, gifted and otherwise, since I can remember. Whenever I'm reading Time or GQ I make a point to dismiss the first 3 paragraphs any article that spans more than one page.

Aye, same here.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

So it seems the R8 is indeed a brilliant car.

But will that amazing performance be enough to convince people to spend that much money on "just" an Audi. The type of cars the R8 is going against (like Porsche 911) have a much higher prestige factor. And the styling is still a bit controverisial, don't you think? Will it look as good 5 years from now like the 911 undoubtedly will?

 

[Tumbo]

But will that amazing performance be enough to convince people to spend that much money on "just" an Audi.?

I believe so. THe R8 has taken Audi to another level.

The type of cars the R8 is going against (like Porsche 911) have a much higher prestige factor.

In few years, I think that this factor won't be that much bigger... Audi is really on a roll now, and more and more people around are placing the mark high up there with the great ones.

And the styling is still a bit controverisial, don't you think?

I don't think so at all. I adore this car, and most people feel the same as you can read all over places.

Will it look as good 5 years from now like the 911 undoubtedly will?

I believe it will look even better.