2006 Audi R8

Audi R8 Mk I Model History

Audi first unveiled the prototype of what was to become the Audi R8 at the 2003 Geneva and Frankfurt Motor Shows, but it was not until September 2006 that it was officially launched at the Paris salon.

Designed by Frank Lamberty and Julian Hoenig, Audi's first mid-engined supercar had an instantly- identifiable flash down the C-pillar and received substantial critical acclaim. Using much of the same technology developed with the Lamborghini Gallardo , the body is an alloy spaceframe and an aluminium monocoque. Initially, Audi R8 was offered as a 4.2 V8, 430bhp coupe, then a 5.2 V10 with 518bhp, followed by Spyder variants in 2010 and 2009 respectively. A limited edition R8 GT was offered from 2010, with 560bhp.

Naturally, the R8 featured Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive but the company also added "magnetic ride" suspension, in which an electrical charge is applied to the shock absorbers to stiffen them. The R8 carries 44 percent of the car's 3,580 lbs weight up front, while the Quattro system was biased to the rear, sending 70 percent of the power there and 30 percent to the front. A six-speed gated manual gearbox was standard, with a sequential R-tronic transmission offered as an option but criticised as being neither as fast as Ferrari's unit nor as smooth as a DSG

The Audi R8 was pitched against the Porsche 911 (997) C4, both in terms of price and performance. As such it retained a lot of practical features: great visibility for a car of its type, sensible load space and a smooth and sophisticated ride, unless thrashed. Even the pedals were well-spaced, allowing for quick heel-toe changes.

Product placement added to the Audi R8's appeal, featuring as a halo car in various computer driving games and the movie 17 Again in 2009, but it was arguably the car's appearance in the Iron Man movies that cemented its place as the poster car of a generation. Ticking every box in the collectability list, the car has retained its values and well-preserved, low-mileage manual-gearbox examples are now sought after in both V8 and V10 guise.