Last year, everyone was raving about the Audi R8. Quite rightfully so. I believe that every praise it got was well-deserved. Though last year wasn’t really the year of automobiles. A lot of other great cars came out, but the R8 was really the highlight of last year.

One way to bank on the craze is to give it a twist. There was the Le Mans version powered by a V12 TDI. And then there’s the V10 version under development. But here’s a recent one - the Audi R8 Targa - an open top model. Yup, the R8 just went topless.

Well, unlike the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (the R8 uses the Gallardo’s platform), the R8 will feature a removable targa top. It’s because Audi didn’t want to trim off any of the R8’s handling capabilities. Aside from going topless, the R8 Targa will still have the same good stuff from the regular R8.

There are just so many ways not to drive a car, especially an Audi R8. While giving it the beans around the track is pretty acceptable, crashing it is definitely not one of the things you’d want to do with it. And this driver also feels likewise. Unfortunately for him though, he can’t quite keep it on the track. Good thing no one got hurt here, save perhaps the driver’s pride and a whanged up Audi R8. Shame, still.

Source: Luxvelocity/YouTube

With the Lexus LS-F and the Volkswagen Scirocco seeing action and in the 24-hour later this month, I am quite excited about how these cars will fare. The ‘Ring itself has been a proving ground for many newly-released and to-be-released cars and subjecting them (even with race modifications) in a grueling 24-hour race will surely separate the mean machines from the toys.

But wait, dubbed as the car of the year by many bodies, the Audi R8 will also be seeing action in the 24-hour Nurburgring race later this month. However, it would just be the stock R8 that rolls out from factory doors. Audi has swapped the 4.2L V8 with a rebuilt 4L V8 that produces 530 hp.

Lightweightedness and aerodynamic kits have also been installed with the front and rear bodyworks swapped with carbon fiber and Kevlar pieces. The front intakes are also supersized for performance. Oh yes, and they’ve slapped on a wing for flight purposes.

Ah, the Audi R8. Honestly, one of the reason why I enjoyed watching Iron Man was because I got to glimpse at the R8 in various parts of the movie. The digital surround does give justice to its lovely roar. But who knew that given a new twist, the R8 can even make a lovelier noise with a new V10 under its hood. Will it be dubbed as the R10? Maybe. But at least we get a great car made even better.

Source: Audi World

It seems like Audi is too proud of its V12 TDI engine that they decided to fit the massive engine to a lot of concept cars. We’ve seen the Q7 before - a real hulk of an SUV that drinks its fuel with sips. If you think Audi is gone bonkers with that move, well here’s what they did to the already great Audi R8 - fit the V12 TDI in it and restyle it. We’ve already seen the V12 TDI R8 in Detroit last January. But this one has got Le Mans written all over it and that’s where we get this Audi R8 V12 TDI Le Mans edition.

The huge 6.0L generates 500 horses and 738 lb-ft of torque. Yeah, and you get all of that with a diesel engine. And if you think that it’ll be a sluggish car, well naught to 62 in 4.2 seconds isn’t at all too shabby. It can rack up the numbers up to 187 mph.

Well, if you’re still not too drawn by the numbers, then you might want to take a look at the styling. I still believe that the draw of supercars is that factor that turns us all back to being 10 year-old kids who dream of slapping on rockets to cars. So how about the Brilliant Red bodywork that they did with the R8.

Now isn’t that a cool car? No word whether this will hit production though. Aaw.

Source: Audi

So I guess the Audi R8 has well-deserved its position as 2007’s car of the year. This here’s the R8 tuned by edo performance which brings up all of the R8’s numbers to impressive levels. The 4.2L V8 dishes out 442hp at 7,800rpm with a peak torque of 332 ft-lb at 4,500-6,000 rpm. Naught to sixty? 4.5 seconds. Top speed? 193 mph.

Source: Top Speed

With the Audi R8 getting acclaim from motoring enthusiasts and critics all over, it’s quite interesting what kick-ass vehicle would Audi bring to Detroit. They’ve actually announced that they would be showcasing a debut and a concept car but details weren’t too clear as to hat exactly those would be.

Since the show is just around the corner, we finally get a few more details about it. Audi will be bring a V12 TDI turbo-diesel version of the R8. That’s right. A diesel. Seems like the Germans are really beefing up on their diesel options.

Don’t be dismayed though. Take note that it’s a V12 and by what we’ve seen so far with the Q7 SUV, it’s capable of dishing out 500 horses and 738 lb-ft of torque.

Source: LeftLane News

I might just have to agree with everyone else that the Audi R8 is the car of the year. If you’ve seen all the reviews, test drives and other takes, it sums up to be a hands-down favorite of journalists, experts, and enthusiasts and all with good reason. Audi just came up with an engineering marvel with this one.

So how about this, the Creventic CR-8. It is a souped up version of the already awesome R8. This racing version is even tame compared to what Roush does to the Mustang. Only 13bhp added taking the R8 to 427bhp and the stock low-gear limiter has been removed. As preparation to the Dubai 24-hour, this car has still yet to include a 90L fuel tank, extra carbon fibre, and a race-spec sequential gearbox.

The car will be available early next year.

Source: Top Gear News

The Audi R8 - a mid-engined sports car that boosts Audi to another level. It’s got a 4.2L V8 capable of 414 bhp. With all the specs and performance reviews, I’d have to say that it can simply replace Lamborghini Gallardo for a budget sports car with which the R8 shares the transmission and the chassis.

And Hef’s boys love it. They love it more than all those nude bodies they feature that they named it “Playboy’s Car of the Year” for 2008. Uhm, okay. So to be fair to Hef, their ratings are said to be done by a pool of automotive experts who have scoured the earth for great mechanical playmates.

And they’re not the only ones too with AutoBild dubbing it their “SportsCar 2007,” one of the most sought-after citations in the German auto industry.