We R8 this Audi

Even the cool French were left slack-jawed when Audi pulled back the covers from its R8 supercar.

Employing Le Mans legends Jacky Ickx and Tom Kristensen to do the unveiling, Audi showed off the car to the world at a special premiere the evening before the Paris show.

What we got was an R8 powered by a 4.2-litre V8 with 420bhp based on the RS4's that will push the R8 from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds.

Audi has shown its intended targets by not fitting a speed limiter at 155mph, but instead quotes a top speed of 187mph.

The main target is the Porsche Carrera S, which the four-wheel-drive R8 is set to challenge directly on price with a cost of £76,000.

UK cars will come with 19in alloy wheels and a choice of eight metallic colours, with a broad 'blade' of alternate colour just behind the rear doors.

A new R-Tronic gearbox will be offered with the R8, which is a development of the Lamborghini Gallardo's e-gear system. This is likely to cost around £5,000 as an option.

Audi says it's already sold out its UK allocation for 2007, and that's before it has even announced the V10 model with Gallardo-based engine due in 2008.

Details on the V10 remain a guarded secret, although insiders tell us it won't be as powerful as the Le Mans concept and is more likely to produce 550bhp.

© Source: original article on topgear