The Audi R8 (Typ 42) is a mid-engine sports car introduced by Audi in 2007. It is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform, as Audi currently has full ownership of Automobilii Lamborghini S.p.A.
Audi announced in 2005 that the name of the successful R8 racecar would be used for a new road car in 2007. Based on the Audi Le Mans Quattro, it was officially launched at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. There is some confusion with the name, which it shares with the Le Mans-winning R8 LMP. Originally, many thought that it would be called the R9 (as there is a gap in numbering left when Audi announced the R8 LMP's successor, the diesel-powered Audi R10).
The R8 road car itself has found its way back to motorsports, with Audi producing the Audi R8 LMS for this purpose, mainly for FIA GT3 races. The R8 LMS debuted in 2009 and received a major revision in 2012 in the form of the Audi R8 LMS ultra, with increased power, aerodynamics, and lighter weight.
A second generation (Typ 4S) was launched in 2015, being based on that of the Lamborghini Huracán. The LMS version followed soon thereafter.
In March 2024, the final R8 road car, a "Performance quattro Edition" model painted in Vegas Yellow, rolled off the production line, ending its production run of 17 years, and with 44,000 examples sold within its lifetime.
Variants[]
1st generation[]
Car | Picture |
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Audi R8 4.2 FSI R tronic '07 | ![]() |
Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro '09 | ![]() |
2nd generation[]
Car | Picture |
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Audi R8 Coupé V10 plus '16 | ![]() |
Trivia[]
- The Audi Le Mans quattro concept car is the overall basis of the R8, as both have similar looks and performance.
- The main difference between the Le Mans quattro and the R8 is the headlamps. The Le Mans quattro uses all LED headlights while the R8 uses LED headlights and daytime-running LEDs.