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Going into 2019, the Audi R8 V10 is gaining massive updates amounting to more than just an average refresh, plus a redesigned front bumper. From the front to the very back, Audi has tweaked its fastest car for even more performance and given it more aggressive styling, moving away from its ‘subtle-supercar’ reputation.
The real estate on the front of the R8 has increasingly become just vents and intakes with each passing redesign, but the 2019 goes one step further. Not only is the front end essentially one big cooling vent, with new additional intakes on the inside edge of the headlights and above the grille, but the engine bay vent now stretches the length of the rear as well. And, if you include the cavernous diffuser and gargantuan exhausts, it’s nearly more negative space than actual bodywork. But there’s a reason for all the extra in-and-out airflow: more power.
The R8 still employs the same naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 as before, only now in standard trim it pumps out 562hp, up from 533hp. In the range-topping Performance Trim, you’ll get 612 horses and a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds thanks to a refined titanium valve train. An engine with that many cylinders churning out that much power is going to need all those vents to breathe and keep cool.
To help keep all that power on the road and the R8 shiny side up, Audi also went to work on its stability control and suspension. The retuned ESC will help the car slow down faster, thanks also to an optional lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum front anti-roll bar.
The higher-performance, edgier R8 V10 goes on sale early next year and one can only assume it’ll be on display at the 2019 Geneva Moto Show. As for pricing, it wouldn’t be stretch to think the new models will land somewhere just above the price of the current standard and V10 Plus models.
