2010 Audi R8 Review

When automakers pay film studios to have their cars featured in blockbuster films, it doesn't always work out so well. Remember Lethal Weapon stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover chasing baddies in a Pontiac Grand Am? Somehow we doubt that Pontiac's brand image got a boost from that charade. But the 2010 Audi R8's star turn in Iron Man was picture-perfect. A superhero in its own right, the sharply styled and enormously capable R8 complemented Robert Downey Jr.'s debonair, high-tech crusader to a T. And for the fortunate few with R8 keys of their own, every day will seem like a red-carpet affair.

The R8 is the sort of car that makes a mockery of any pretense to journalistic detachment. Simply put, this thing is awesome. Even with the least desirable powertrain -- the base 4.2-liter, 420-horsepower V8 coupled with the "R tronic" single-clutch automated manual transmission -- the R8 is one of the most scintillating sports cars on the planet. The V8 sounds glorious and pulls effortlessly to its 8,250-rpm redline, the steering is ultra-precise, the standard all-wheel-drive system provides superior traction, and the R tronic transmission…well, thanks to delayed and clunky upshifts that evoke the Smart Fortwo, it stinks. But that's nothing that the sublime six-speed gated manual shifter can't fix. We were initially suspicious that the R8 had more style than substance, but all it took was one spirited drive for the R8 to earn a permanent spot in our dream garage.

For 2010, the R8 manages to improve upon this already delectable formula. That's because an even more powerful 5.2-liter V10 engine with an 8,700-rpm redline joins the engine lineup. The V10 gets the same transmission options as the V8 -- a conventional six-speed manual and R tronic -- but it ups the ante to a honking 525 hp and 391 pound-feet of torque (versus 317 lb-ft for the V8). A slightly detuned version of the V10 that powers the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, this new engine is bound to create an in-house rivalry with Audi-owned Lamborghini. After all, the R8 5.2 Quattro, as the V10 model is known, offers most of the Gallardo's performance and arguably just as much exotic style for about $50,000 less.

Inside, the R8 is impressively roomy for such a squat car, and the nicely shaped seats afford drive-all-day comfort. Along with its tolerable ride quality, this makes the R8 one of the most accommodating supercars ever produced -- an unexpected bonus given its otherworldly performance. There are many desirable sports cars available in this rarefied league, of course, from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to the Porsche 911 GT3, but none matches the R8's combination of speed, athleticism, style and comfort. If we were starring in a Hollywood production, the 2010 Audi R8 could be our co-star anytime.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 Audi R8 is a two-door midengine exotic sports car offered in two trim levels that correspond to engine size: 4.2 Quattro and 5.2 Quattro. Standard equipment on the 4.2 Quattro includes the V8 engine, 19-inch wheels, an active suspension with magnetorheological dampers, a retractable rear spoiler, xenon headlights, LED brake lights and turn signals, carbon-fiber exterior and interior trim, leather and Alcantara upholstery, power-adjustable sport seats, automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and a seven-speaker stereo with a six-CD changer and an iPod interface. The 5.2 Quattro adds the V10 engine, a "hill-holder" feature for the conventional manual transmission, wider intakes and body sills, glossy (rather than flat) black exterior accents, napa leather upholstery with additional leather interior trim, a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, a navigation system and a rearview camera with front and rear parking sensors.

Most of the 5.2 Quattro's accoutrements are available as options on the 4.2 Quattro. Both models are eligible for an Enhanced Leather package that adds leather trim to the dashboard and upper door panels. Body-colored "side blade" exterior styling panels are also available in place of the standard contrasting side blades.