Audi R8: Performance Car of the Year #7

Generally speaking, when booking PCOTY contenders we always try and secure each car’s ‘ultimate’ specification.

This usually pays dividends for everyone – the faster, more focused variants are what people want to read about and tend to perform better in the overall rankings. When it comes to the new R8 V10 Plus, however, Audi has made a delicious meal but left it in the oven too long.

Car buyers come in all shapes and sizes, which makes Audi’s decision to fit heavily reclined fixed-back seats unfathomable. It wasn’t much of an issue for Robbo, which must mean he has a Plus-sized figure (sorry Robbo…), but Morley, DC and I hammered the R8 on liveability. If you can’t get comfortable in a car, it doesn’t really matter how good it is to drive.

Thankfully, Audi will fit regular seats to your Plus for no extra charge, but it won’t fit the adaptive dampers that are standard on the normal R8 V10. The Plus’s circuit-focused setup might eradicate roll on the racetrack, but it’s spine-jarringly stiff on the road – when a Nissan GT-R feels luxurious in comparison, things have gone too far.

To be fair, the Plus is brilliant on track. It didn’t matter whether Winton was damp or drenched, the all-wheel drive Audi inspired huge confidence and could be driven harder than any of the other supercars. Unfortunately, on the road the quattro system felt to pull, rather than push the car. The old R8’s beautiful rear-biased setup has been replaced by one that is more secure, but ultimately less fun.

THE NUMBERS 0-100km/h: 3.18sec (2nd) 0-400m: 10.93sec @ 209.58km/h (2nd)

DYLAN CAMPBELL: 9th Would have finished further down if it had any other engine.

SCOTT NEWMAN: 9th Stunning looks and drivetrain spoiled by ride and stupid fixed-back seats.

TIM ROBSON: 5th Such an accomplished machine right across the board. My personal fave.

JOHN BOWE: 3rd Its looks don’t buzz me, but a very useable everyday supercar.

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