2022 Audi R8 RWD 1st generate assessment: Additional enjoyable for a lot less revenue

Potent winds are blowing sand and gravel across the tarmac at Circuito Maspalomas, turning this difficult observe into a slippery mess. These are surely much less-than-great circumstances for a morning of supercar driving. And ironically, it’s exactly where Audi — a organization that crafted its reputation on the efficiency positive aspects of grippy all-wheel travel — is launching its new rear-wheel-travel R8.

This isn’t the to start with time Audi’s provided a RWD R8. In 2018, Audi launched the smaller-batch R8 RWS (for Rear-Wheel Sequence), limited to just 999 units globally, of which 320 arrived to the US. Now, the RWD R8 moves from deal operate to comprehensive-time work, experiencing a long lasting position in Audi’s supercar lineup. You can even get it in the two coupe and convertible body styles. Wonderful.

Mechanical improvements for this rear-wheel-travel car are minimal, and none of them detract from the typical R8 pleasure. Audi’s 5.2-liter V10 is the star of the clearly show, with predictably linear energy shipping and delivery that can make you want to rev the bejesus out of this engine to eke out just about every ounce of oomph. This normally aspirated V10 sounds freaking magnificent, far too, so reward points to anybody who will get the R8 Spyder drop the prime, nail the throttle and love that sonorous song.

The R8 RWD has a small electricity deficit in contrast to the Quattro design, but it’s not a big offer. The V10 creates 562 horsepower and 406 pound-ft of torque with the rear-drive setup, a lower of 40 hp and 7 lb-ft as opposed to the R8 Quattro. In the all-significant -to-60-mph race, RWD R8s are .4 seconds slower than their all-wheel-travel counterparts. None of this helps make a variation in the genuine globe, by the way — any one who tells you they can legitimately…