A number of journalists hopped on the 2017 edition of Audi R8 V10 Plus and took laps at Daytona Testing track so you know what the supercar is capable of.
The latest R8 V10 Plus comes with a roaring V-10 that provides 610 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. A 7-speed dual-clutch transmission distributes the power to the wheels using the quattro all-wheel-drive system. Ceramic-brakes are part of the default configuration of the vehicle.
A tamer R8 is also available, packing a 5.2 liter engine that outputs 540 horsepower. It is also a tad more affordable, showing a price tag of "only" $163,000.
The Audi R8 V10 Plus is officially the most expensive auto manufactured by Volkswagen, with a starting price looming at $190,000. Those who want to treat themselves nicely can throw in another $10,000 or so for additional features.
For a little over $200,000, sports car enthusiasts can get the full 2017 R8 V10 Plus package, which brings red paint, a premium leather interior and cooler wheels. It's also loaded with a majestic stereo system from Bang & Olufsen.
From the myriad of high-tech engineering, two elements stand out: the launch control and adjustable driving modes. It should be noted that the previous R8 model was 100 pounds heavier than the current model. The Audi engineers feature the latter with a fixed rear wing that applies 220 pounds of extra downforce on the rear axle, increasing stability.
"All of these advancements [...] made it possible for a novice like me to navigate the banked turns of Daytona International Speedway at 183 miles per hour," Bloomberg's Matthew Miller notes.
Miller says that because of the way the circuit is built, he often misjudged the speed at which he was driving.
"We were hitting 120 mph on the cool-down laps, when I thought we were doing 70," he reports.
Jason Harper from The Verge backs Miller's claim.
"Into the back straight, speeds of 170 miles per hour-plus, the car was miraculously stable," Harper says.
Confident in the technical marvel that he was holding the reigns of, Harper pushed the pedal to the metal and got the best time of the R8 Audi V 10 journalist car testing in Daytona.
"I got the top speed of the day: 183.7 miles per hour, according to the telemetry data," he boasts.
Vincent Nguyen of SlashGear underlines that besides insane top speeds, Daytona offered him other memorable experiences.
"My own top speed [was] somewhere between 165 to 175 mph, but it's arguably the changes in pace which are the most interesting," Nguyen points out.
All journalists have pointed out that the 2017 R8 Audi has a lot in common with the Lamborghini Huracán. One of the main division points is the price tag: the Huracán asks you to shell out $50,000 extra.
Both vehicles rely on the same naturally aspirated, 5.2-liter V10 powerhouse and sport an identical seven-speed dual clutch. Because of the difficulty in keeping up with the speed on manual transmission, neither Audi nor Lamborghini holster a stick.
Both cars are able to reach 60 mph in about 3 seconds, according to the manufacturers. The Audi R8, though more affordable than the Huracán, feels more luxurious on the inside.
Miller notes that the Audi is more spacious than the Lamborghini, with the revamped design actually contributing to the sensation of bigger space.
When all is said and done, keep in mind that the market niche is filled with strong contenders. Volkswagen offers two alternatives, namely Bentley and Porsche, Mercedes offers the AMG GT, followed closely by BMW's hybrid i8.
