Audi R8

The Audi R8 a two-seater with an aluminium  spaceframe into the middle of which is bolted a high-revving petrol engine. The replacement gearbox is a compact, albeit slightly heavier (by 15kg) twin-clutch, seven-speed unit that can shift between ratios in the blink of an eye. The traditional six-speed manual is also available on all models. All the models   now feature LED lights, and the rear indicators sweep rather than merely blink. It's simple but surprisingly effective.In the cabin the upgrades are equally as subtle, with splashes of chrome around the dials and more extensive leather trim on the dash.

The engine range also remains as before, with V8 and V10 models offered, both petrol and both naturally aspirated. Audi predicts that 82 per cent of R8 buyers will tick the option box for the £2,900 S-tronic gearbox because on paper at least, it makes the car both faster (by 0.3sec from 0-62mph) and cleaner (the CO2 figure drops by about 40g/km compared with the manual gearbox).The 4.2-litre V8 kicks things off with 424bhp, 0-62mph in 4.6sec, a 188mph top speed, 19.9mpg on the EU Combined cycle and 332g/km of CO2. Upgrade to the 5.2-litre V10 and power increases to 518bhp, which means 0-62mph in 3.9sec, 197mph, 19.0mpg and 346g/km.

As with previous R8s, the hydraulically assisted steering is beautifully weighted and offers a stream of feedback to the driver, helping you soon become at ease with the size and performance of what had the potential to be an intimidating machine. A few laps on track reinforce this impression, with the R8 Plus proving more stable and predictable than a 550bhp, mid-engined supercar has any right to be. The V10 Plus is a wonderful car, then, and a fitting flagship for the range. However, what's almost more impressive about the R8 is that as you move down through the models, or over into the Spyder, you don't feel like you lose anything. Of course the V8 doesn't have quite the same mid-range punch as the V10, but it still sounds wonderful and is faster than most people would ever need.

No matter the model, the R8 isn't what you'd call a super torque car. The V8 model has 317 pound feet of torque and the V10 cars make just under 400 pound feet. But higher up in the rev range, they produce a good bit of power. The V8 cars have 430 horsepower, the V10 has 525, and the V10 Plus cranks out 550 horse power, which gets it to 60 in 3.5 seconds.The audi r8 starts at $114,000(price) which is relatively lower than other cars with which it competes.