It's hard to believe that the original Audi R8 debuted nearly 15 years ago now. The R8 of course was Audi's flagship halo supercar that offered mid-engined exotic car performance with everyday usability, all at a relatively affordable price. This proved to be an immensely successful recipe and Audi introduced a second-generation R8 back in 2016.

Fast forward to today and a lot has changed in the automotive industry, particularly in the exotic car marketplace. As a consequence, sales of the R8 have been far from stellar. Stricter emission regulations and increased competition mean the R8 has fallen behind the pack and Audi will eventually replace it with an all-electric R8. But until that happens, the 2022 Audi R8 is one of the last remaining cars to offer a naturally aspirated V-10 engine and Audi is giving it a fitting send-off with a special edition GT variant for 2023.

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Audi R8 Performance And Capability

The 2022 Audi R8 comes as a Coupe or Spyder with the same naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine, shared with the Lamborghini Huracan and is available with two drivetrain options

• V10 Performance RWD
• V10 Performance Quattro

While facelifts are mostly a nip-and-tuck job with not much change in terms of power gains, the R8 got considerably more powerful with this revision. The base model rear-wheel drive R8 now produces 562 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The R8 gained 30 horsepower and seven pound-feet of torque by improving different internals. However, the R8 isn't much faster, taking the same 3.6 seconds to reach 62 mph from a standstill. This is for the coupe; the Spyder is a tenth of a second slower at 3.7 seconds.

Among R8 models, the power gain isn't as great in the top-tier R8 V10 Performance Quattro. The titanium valve train added only 10 horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque, bringing the new output to 602 horses and 413 pound-feet of twist. The additional power makes the V10 Performance Quattro about three-tenths faster than the base R8.

The coupe accelerates to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds, while the Spyder takes 3.2 seconds. Now, the stock exhaust sounds pretty good out of the box, but Audi will also sell you a Sport Exhaust Package ($3,600) that also gets you a Sport steering wheel with a Performance mode.

Also, for the first time, all R8 models can hit 200 mph. The standard Performance RWD model has a top speed of 204 mph in coupe form and 203 mph in convertible form. The Performance Quattro model is even quicker, with a top speed of 205 mph and 204 mph with the cloth top tucked away behind the seats.

The Quattro all-wheel-drive system can direct up to 100 percent of power to the rear of the car under regular driving conditions to provide a more dynamic experience. Under slippery conditions, the system can send up to 100 percent of the power to the front wheels for improved grip. Choosing the rear-wheel drive model does help shave about 150 pounds.

Audi also made improvements to the suspension and steering. You get optional dynamic steering ($1,400) and a carbon fiber front sway bar ($1,100). Dynamic steering as the name suggests varies the steering ratio based on speed. Furthermore, Audi Sport, the automaker's performance branch, made changes to the profiles of the Audi drive select modes to make them stand out even more. As a result, you'll notice significant distinctions between the drive modes which include:

• Comfort
• Auto
• Dynamic
• Individual

Meanwhile, the V10 Performance variant now includes standard dry, rainy, and snow driving modes. The optional Dynamic Package ($12,900) gets you massive ceramic brakes. Depending on the model, the calipers are either grey or red ($700). The stopping distance is also now up to five meters shorter at 124 mph.

Audi also offers a front axle anti-roll bar composed of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and aluminum. Not only does it enhance performance but it also reduces weight by about 4.41 pounds. With these changes, Audi claims that the R8 now offers sharper handling and a better ride than ever before.

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Exterior Design

You don't need to make a big effort to notice why the revised R8 looks more aggressive and draws styling cues from the LMS GT3 race car. The grille became flatter and wider at the center and the bumper vents are also very similar to the race car. The headlights seem to be the same as far as shape and size go, but additional slits separate them from the grille’s body-colored frame. LED Laser headlights ($3,500) are also available.

There’s nothing much to talk about on the sides other than mildly reshaped side skirts, which are a bit more aggressive now with new 20-inch wheels. You can also choose milled Titanium 20-inch rims at no extra cost. Behind the rims, you’ll find steel discs painted in red as standard. The side-blade setup, which is an R8 remains as is in the split twin-blade configuration.

Around the back, Audi replaced the side vents with a grille that stretches over the entire width of the fascia. The element is also a bit flatter, as the diffuser in the bumper draws upward for a more race-inspired look.

Arguably the biggest change here are the exhaust pipes. The rectangular outlets integrated into the body are gone, replaced by bigger, round pipes placed at the edges on either side of the diffuser. You can now choose from three exterior packages depending on the engine variant. These packages add various highlights to the front splitter, the side skirts, and the diffuser.

The V10 model comes standard with highlights in high-gloss black, while the V10 Performance Quattro variant features matte titanium accents along with carbon fiber in the engine compartment, mirrors, door sills, side blades, and rear lip spoiler.

If you want even more carbon, Audi also offers you can get it on the front lip spoiler, rocker sill inlay, and rear diffuser ($7,200). You can also select the Audi rings and badges painted in high-gloss black, as well as two new metallic colors, Kemora Grey and Ascari Blue.

RELATED: The Audi R8 Officially Dies After 2023 With Production Ending After Two Generations

Interior Quality And Technology

Audi is well known for putting together some of the best interiors in the car business and the R8 sitting at the very top of the German brand's lineup sure does take full advantage of this aspect. Audi changed quite a few things inside when it redesigned the R8 and it still looks fresh inside. Highlights include a flat-bottom steering wheel with controls mounted on the crossbars, a digital driver's display, carbon-fiber detailing on the sides, and Automatic climate control for added comfort and convenience.

The clean center console keeps things simple so you can focus on the road ahead. Yes, this means that the R8 still doesn’t have a big infotainment screen on the dashboard. Granted, it’s rather unpleasant if you’re using this vehicle as a daily driver, but it keeps the mid - engine R8 a true-performance car rather than an appliance on wheels.

The highly configurable virtual cockpit includes a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which shows a wide variety of information, including data you'd usually get in an infotainment display placed on the center stack. Both the MMI navigation system and the MMI touch wheel are standard. The Audi Connect module gives the passenger the ability to connect their smartphone to the car using the Wi-Fi hotspot. Under the tactile climate vents, you'll find space for a wireless phone charger along with a couple of charge ports. Do note that there's no Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

When it comes to materials covering the cabin, there’s an Alcantara and Nappa leather combo, which comes as standard on the sports leather seats. They're heated seats as well. But for a sportier look, you can opt for the optional full Nappa leather upholstery with diamond stitching ($5,000) available in a range of colors. As usual, you can customize the cabin using a range of options from Audi Exclusive. They include:

• Full Leather Package ($3,000)
• Contrast Stitching ($500)
• Carbon Interior Package ($3,400)
• Premium Package ($5,900)

With the Premium Package, you get the phenomenal 550 watts 13-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. On the Quattro Performance model, this is a $1,900 optional extra. Finally onto practicality and the R8 does pack 8.8 cubic feet of storage under the hood. There is also some storage behind the seats in the cabin and the R8 has an overall 8.0 cubic feet of cargo space. Overall, as with any Audi, the cabin of the R8 blends high-quality materials and craftsmanship with practicality and sportiness.

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2022 Audi R8 Price

The base model 2022 Audi R8 RWD Performance Coupe carries an MSRP of $148,700 excluding the $1,495 destination charge. The Spyder carries a price premium of just over $12,000. If you want to equip your R8 with Quattro all-wheel drive, the price jumps by another $50,000. The Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro starts at $199,800 excluding destination while the R8 Quattro Spyder is dearer at $213,500.

While Quattro models are significantly more expensive in both body styles, aside from all-wheel drive they do pack a lot more kit. The V10 is more powerful, Carbon ceramic brakes are standard, and you get a plethora of carbon fiber exterior components along with racing shell seats finished in Nappa leather.

Configure your Audi R8 Coupe here and the Audi R8 Spyder here.

RELATED: The 2023 Audi R8 GT RWD Marks The End Of The German Brand's Glorious V-10 Era

Main Competition

Although it isn't mid-engined like the R8, its primary nemesis was and still is the Porsche 911 Turbo, which at $176,000 slots in between the rear-wheel drive R8s and Quattro models. Other high-performance models in the same ballpark include the Acura NSX and the Mclaren GT.

But what really sets apart the Audi R8 from the competition, is its Lamborghini Huarcan-derived V-10 heart. The R8 manages to deliver this performance in a far more pragmatic, restrained, and understated package, making it the ultimate mid-engined daily driver. Speaking of the Hurcan, at $215,000, the Lambo's range starts where Audi's ends.

As environmental regulations tighten, Audi has to keep their carbon-dioxide emissions in check. A new particle filter, which decreases emissions more effectively, allows Audi to continue to offer the V10-powered R8. It also begs the question, how likely is the future of the R8 going to be electric? Well before that, the limited-run RWD GT is the very last iteration of the R8 with an internal combustion engine, and marks the end of the line for the legendary V10 if you will.

So, to summarize, when compared to previous facelifts, Audi genuinely put some work into the R8. Sure, some more significant interior tech updates would have been nice, but the facelift brought just about enough new features to keep the R8 competitive for the moment.

FAQ

Q: How much is a 2022 Audi R8 V10?

Prices for the base model 2022 Audi R8 Coupe start at $148,700. The top-spec Convertible R8 with Quattro AWD costs $213,500.

Q: How much is the 2022 Audi R8 Spyder?

The 2022 Audi R8 Spyder costs $160,700. The R8 Spyder with all-wheel drive Quattro will cost $213,500.

Q: Will there be a 2023 Audi R8?

Limited to just 333 unites, there will be a 2023 Audi R8 in the form of the RWD GT.

Q: Is an Audi R8 faster than a Porshe 911?

With a topspeed in excess of 200 mph, the Audi R8 is faster than the Porsche 911.

Q: Is Audi R8 better than a Lamborghini?

Compared to a Lamborghini Huracan, the Audi R8 offers tremendous performance and value, making it a better choice for those looking for understated performance.