Used 2023 Audi R8

It’s a bittersweet occasion. The Audi R8 is about to take its final bow, its last trip around the sun. And we’re not ready to say goodbye. Sure, times change, fashions come and go, gasoline drivetrains will eventually be replaced by electric ones.

But oh, what good times the R8 has delivered. What a great slant on the whole supercar approach. A tech-rich coolness mixed with a fabulous chassis and a glorious V10 engine. There’s nothing about the R8 we would change, except for giving it a longer lifespan. To all those potential buyers harboring dreams of a new R8, it’s now or never.

We’ve driven an R8 from Los Angeles to the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, just north of San Francisco. Did a succession of hot laps and drove it all the way back again. It performed admirably over every mile. Given the chance, we’d do the same thing right now.

Its demeanor on public highways is unruffled and about as discreet as a low-slung, mid-engined 2-seater supercar can be. On clearer, more interesting roads, the R8 begins to show some of its wonderful talent for acceleration and corner-conquering. That’s when the engine sounds also start to tingle the spine.

Mid-engined cars have sometimes been tricky in the past. If the back end snaps into oversteer, it hasn’t always been easy to catch and control it. The R8 is not like that at all, especially when all-wheel drive is present.

On a track, the R8’s benign handling inspires a lot of confidence. It will ease through bends and blast down straights, making the driver feel more talented than ever before.

The Audi R8’s platform is shared with the Lamborghini Huracán, including the V10. This engine is naturally aspirated and thrives on high revs, making it especially responsive to throttle inputs. Even the least powerful version is capable of rocketing the 2023 R8 from standstill to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and achieving a top speed of 204 mph.

The new-for-2023 R8 GT takes the power output of the regular all-wheel-drive R8 (a mighty 602 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque) and sends it just to the rear wheels, adding a Torque Rear drive mode developed only for this variant for greater control when powersliding around a track. Audi tweaked the 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmission for even faster shifts.

The R8 GT also comes with ceramic brakes and Michelin high-performance tires as standard. Audi claims a 0-60 mph time of just 3.3 seconds. Gone in a flash, it seems.

We won’t gripe about the small-ish cabin or the limited outward vision. It’s the same kind of thing with a lot of mid-engined supercars and comes with this particular kind of territory.

Two adults can still fit. The seats, upholstered in Nappa leather, are comfortable, while holding their occupants in place through fast corners. And the driving position should be fine for the majority of people.

Audi offers the option of sport seats with a carbon fiber shell, but they have a fixed back. So they appeal more to a dedicated track warrior. The flat-bottomed steering wheel allows drivers to slide their knees under more easily than if it was completely round, while the red ignition button never fails to spark a shiver of excitement every time it’s pressed.

Buyers can also specify an extended leather package, diamond-patterned stitching, and a headliner of Alcantara (simulated suede).

Styling
Even now, the R8 still looks like a supercar from a sci-fi movie. Especially so with the LED engine bay lighting in the coupe version visible through the rear window.

V10 engine
It’s two cylinders better than a V8. Seriously, this is a glorious engine, muscular yet smooth, only sounding raucous when revved hard. It delivers its power with an easy progression.

Virtual Cockpit
Audi was one of the first to use a configurable digital driver information display in place of the traditional instrument cluster. Although they’re much more common these days, this one still looks cool and contributes to the R8’s high-tech feel.

Infotainment system
Yes, the R8 is a driver’s machine, but it’s also full of features that make everyday drives more bearable, such as standard Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

Bang & Olufsen audio
Although the R8 has an engine sound that’s its own kind of music, we all need to hear other stuff occasionally. Which is where this brilliant 13-speaker/550-watt option comes in.

R8 GT
This is made alongside the cars that Audi takes to events like the Le Mans 24-hour race. It has a sport suspension as standard, plus cool details like a lightweight front anti-roll bar and special sport seats. The limited-edition R8 GT pays homage to the original R8 from 2012.

One day, perhaps sooner than we think, we’ll look back on powerful naturally aspirated engines like these (no turbos or superchargers) with longing and nostalgia. Never mind that the best it can squeeze out of a gallon of premium gasoline is an average of around 17 miles.

This 5.2-liter V10 develops 562 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque (up from last year’s 398 lb-ft) when deployed in a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) configuration. With all-wheel drive (AWD, known as quattro down Audi’s corridors) it’s tuned to produce 602 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque.

With the GT RWD, Audi decided to let all that maximum output go solely to the rear wheels. Because that’s the fun thing to do.

In all cases, the transmission is a dual-clutch 7-speed automated setup with paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

5.2-liter V10 (RWD)
562 horsepower @ 4,475 rpm
406 lb-ft of torque @ 6,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/23 mpg (coupe & convertible)

5.2-liter V10 (AWD & R8 GT RWD)
602 horsepower @ 8,100 rpm
413 lb-ft of torque @ 6,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/18 mpg (coupe & convertible)

More Audi R8 fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi covers its new vehicles and powertrains with a warranty that lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical for the luxury sector.