Audi R8 History
History
Officially launched at the Paris Motor Show on 30 September 2006, the Audi R8 (Typ 42, first generation) was inspired by the Le Mans-winning Audi R8 race car and developed by Audi Sport GmbH (then quattro GmbH). It used a mid-mounted naturally aspirated V8 (4.2-litre, 414 hp) or V10 (5.2-litre, 518 hp) engine mated to quattro AWD, in an aluminium space frame — a supercar that could be daily-driven and serviced at Audi dealers. A Spyder convertible arrived in 2008, and a GT limited edition (560 hp) followed in 2011.
The second generation (Typ 4S) debuted at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show on a new Modular Sports System platform shared with the Lamborghini Huracán. V8 engines were dropped; only the V10 remained in standard (540 hp) and Plus (610 hp) forms. A rear-wheel-drive R8 RWS appeared in 2017, satisfying enthusiasts who wanted less electronic safety net. The final R8 Performance (620 hp) completed production in March 2024, ending a 18-year run after 45,949 units built across both generations.
The R8 is significant as the car that demonstrated Audi could build a credible supercar — a halo that elevated the brand's entire lineup.
Generations
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First generation (Typ 42) · Typ 42
The original mid-engine V8/V10 supercar — an aluminium space frame daily driver that proved Audi could build a halo car.
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Second generation (Typ 4S) · Typ 4S
Huracán-platform V10-only successor; R8 RWS rear-drive variant added; production ended March 2024.
Body styles
- Coupe
- Spyder (convertible)
Notable special editions & performance variants
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R8 GT
A lightweight, limited-production (333 units) first-generation R8 making 560 hp — the most extreme road R8 at the time.
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R8 V10 Performance (final edition)
The high-output 620-hp last specification of the second-generation R8, sold through to the final March 2024 production.
Related models