Audi R8 V10 Plus Is A Normal R8 With More... Plus

Audi R8 V10 Plus
The Audi R8 has been with us since 2007. It's due to be replaced by a new R8 in a year or two, but for the time being, why not squeeze a little more out of the old one? The futuristic-looking Lamborghaudi has just been facelifted and the chassis and underfloor aerodynamics have been improved in many important and I'm sure very interesting ways.

While all the existing models weigh the same as before, the V8 R8 gains 15 horsepower and the V10 gains... nothing? That's unusual. Well, actually the V10 gains a new variant, called the "V10 Plus". That one does have more power, at 550bhp instead of the 525bhp of the "basic" V10, along with another 8lb/ft of torque, at 398lb/ft. To further set it apart from the regular V10 R8, optional extras like partially lining the engine bay in carbon fibre and adding LED "illumination" are standard, which would be a nice gesture if the Plus didn't cost more anyway...

Audi R8 V8

The Plus essentially has the engine from the R8 GT limited edition then, and now all R8s have the GT's mortar cannon exhausts, as well as five NACA ducts and two front diffusers underneath to improve airflow and boost aerodynamics without resorting to a vulgar rear wing. Well, you've got to save something for the 2014 R8 GT Plus Spyder LM Edition super-special limited edition later on, otherwise it would be harder to swindle another £20,000 or so out of the magpie-men that buy lazy SEs like that one I just made up.

Other than those changes, fancy new LED lights fore and aft, new 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox and a few chassis tweaks, it's still basically the R8 you know and have an opinion on. If you want more of a change, try again in a year or two. There'll be an eTron Concept-inspired neo-R8 waiting for you then.