Older siblings get all the attention – just ask the new Audi R8 V10.

There’s a lower-spec version, of course (you’re looking at it) but the Plus has hogged the attention, what with being generally leaner, faster and meaner. Which is fair enough.

But since Audi kyboshed the 4.2-litre V8 version (boo) and the manual gearbox (booooo), the base R8 V10 is suddenly the cheapest R8, which makes it important. (That is, until a rumoured 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 version arrives, but given it’s still unconfirmed, that could be twaddle.)

Audi R8 V10 rear

But despite all that, the engine is still firmly the star of the show. It’s such a big part of the R8’s personality that a V6 version would be a totally different car.

Audi’s taken the V10 out of the old PCOTY-winning Plus and bumped compression from 12.5 to 12.7:1, installed a dual-injection system (using both port and direct), redesigned the inlet runners and tweaked the valve timing, unleashing 449kW in the new Plus. Torque is also up 540 to 560Nm, while the engine itself revs 20 per cent faster than before. The base R8 V10 which we’re driving here gets a lower tune of 397kW and 540Nm.

Audi r8 v10 engine

At 1595kg, the base R8 V10 is 40kg heavier than the new Plus and weighs the same as the old Plus. Much of the saving has come from material changes in the chassis – if Audi made the new R8’s chassis using the old car’s aluminium, it would be 32kg heavier.

The R8 V10 will do 3.5 seconds to 100km/h with launch control. Hardly tardy, and yet the Plus is still 0.3sec quicker, and will do 0-200km/h in 9.9 seconds. The Plus’ll hit 330km/h while the R8 V10 will do 320km/h.

Audi r8 v10 interior

The differences are also subtle in the driving. Due in no small part to the revvy, snarling, roaring and deliciously linear V10 wedged immediately aft of your spine, the R8 gets a big, fat tick for theatre and sheer entertainment factor – beyond any doubt, the driving experience of both cars is dominated by the donk. And it’s genuinely one of the best-sounding engines on sale today.

The R8 V10 has plenty of power, surely enough to frighten any passenger who’s never been in a fast car before. But driving it and the Plus back-to-back, the R8 V10 can be felt to lack the Plus’s explosive final 10 per cent. It’s telling the R8 V10 makes peak power at 7800rpm and the Plus, 8250rpm.

Audi R8 V10 rear driving

More time on track reveals the R8 V10, both base and Plus, worships a handling philosophy centred on stability and grip, rather than one of extroverted chassis playfulness. Not a bad thing at all – it means you can carry huge speed through corners and it’ll remain planted.

On the road the R8 V10 is awesomely fast, well-damped and rows through its seven gears with that crisp and responsive twin-clutch gearbox; exploring that spine-tingling redline will have you sweating about passing a cop over the next crest.

Audi R8 V10 rear still

Audi Australia says the car is arriving in around June. Price? A sharp (by supercar standards) $354,900, undercutting the V10 Plus by $35,000.

4 out of 5 stars

Specs Engine: 5204cc V10, DOHC, 40v Power: 397kW @ 7800rpm Torque: 540Nm @ 6500rpm Weight: 1595kg 0-100km/h: 3.5sec (claimed) Price: $354,900