After being absent from the R8’s lineup for a handful of years, Germany is as soon as once more providing a Quattroless model of its flagship, the 2022 Audi R8 Performance Spyder RWD. I’ve simply spent per week with it and I believe I perceive it now. In reality, I’ll have even been incorrect about it. Kinda.Regardless of what number of wheels are pushed, it isn’t like this R8 was ever going to be uninteresting to drive — Audi’s 5.2-liter V10 would by no means enable it. This naturally aspirated, mid-mounted masterwork stays one of many biggest high-performance engines on sale, arguably among the finest of all time. Yes, there are sports activities vehicles that supply extra horsepower and positively extra torque for fewer {dollars}, however I can not consider one which delivers its energy in a extra constantly thrilling trend — particularly sonically. 
2022 Audi R8 Spyder V10 Performance RWD Is a Legal Stimulant
See all photographs Always a celebrationThese days, it is all however not possible to discover a high-performance engine and not using a turbocharger or supercharger plumbed in, muzzling its soundtrack in change for extra energy — energy that you will not often discover the open street to take advantage of. Audi’s V10 by no means fails to make the hair of your neck stand on finish when uncorking the throttle. Even once you’re not exploiting all 562 of its horsepower or all 406 pound-feet of torque, there is a sense of event that accompanies this engine. That’s true whether or not you are caning it round a canyon street or being a infantile fool in tunnels. Manually shotgunning the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox right into a decrease gear, sending the V10 racing to its 8,700-rpm zenith purely for the amusement — or vexation — of fellow motorists is a endless temptation. Importantly, that underlying gravitas can also be current once you’re trundling alongside in site visitors, particularly for those who play with the shift paddles. The R8 could also be remarkably docile and tractable for a supercar, but it surely by no means turns a wheel with out feeling particular.To be clear, this topless rear-drive mannequin is about 0.2 seconds slower to 60 mph than an R8 Spyder with Quattro — 3.5 seconds as an alternative of 3.3. It additionally tops out at 200 mph, 4 mph earlier than the AWD mannequin packs it in. Away from racetracks, nevertheless, these are such slight variations as to solely be lamentable by probably the most pedantic of spec snobs. On the plus facet, lowered parasitic driveline drag yields improved effectivity; the EPA charges the 2WD R8 at 14 mpg metropolis, 23 mpg freeway and 23 mpg mixed, positive factors of 1, 4 and a pair of, respectively, over the AWD automotive. Mercilessly flog the V10 on a race observe or on a mountain street as I did, although, and you will be staring down single-digit gas effectivity and considering making a donation to the Rainforest Alliance to salve your responsible conscience. This rear-drive mannequin additionally feels barely extra playful than the final R8 Quattro I drove. That may very well be time enjoying tips on me, or the truth that having just lately moved from Detroit to Los Angeles, I now have a number of the world’s most thrilling canyon roads at my backdoor. Either means, the steering feels barely keener and the again finish is extra alive and prepared to step out with a prod of the accelerator. This is intentional, as Audi’s engineers have baked a skosh extra unfavorable camber into the rear wheels’ geometry to encourage a livelier-feeling chassis. Don’t misunderstand, although. Unyoking the entrance wheels hasn’t made the R8 a sweaty-palmed, twitchy widowmaker. We’re speaking levels of playfulness right here.
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Express Red appears aptly named. Chris Paukert/CNETPricing and choices: What’s gained and what’s misplacedThis newest two-wheel-drive R8 Spyder is not a limited-edition factor just like the 2018 RWS — it is a common manufacturing mannequin, out there to anybody with at the very least $162,395 burning a gap of their boutique-branded observe pants. That value, which features a necessary $1,495 supply payment and $1,300 gas-guzzler tax is definitely a relative cut price in comparison with the Quattro. That’s a whopping $52,600 financial savings — sufficient spare change for a midrange Q5 SUV or an S4 sedan for these days when you actually need AWD. If you don’t need a convertible, the hardtop R8 Performance Coupe is cheaper nonetheless, beginning at $151,495 all-in.Of course, you do not simply lose out on a few prop shafts and a entrance differential for that cash — you lose energy (the Quattro comes with 602 hp and 413 lb-ft) and you are taking a significant hit to plain gear ranges, each by way of visible and precise efficiency elements. Out go the good magnetic journey adaptive dampers and electronically managed limited-slip differential (worry not — what’s substituted continues to be a legit LSD), together with carbon ceramic brakes, carbon fiber facet blades, rear wing and laser headlamps. (You can add a lot of this gear again in à la carte, in fact.) In change, the R8 RWD positive factors a bigger anti-roll bar up entrance and substitutes a stable rear axle instead of the Quattro’s hole unit. In complete, Audi says this automotive is 67 kilos lighter than its AWD sibling, at the very least earlier than you begin piling on the choices. And talking of piling ’em on, the Spyder take a look at mannequin that Audi loaned me did precisely that. On high of the bottom value, my tester added practically $26,000 in choices. That tally included useful efficiency {hardware} like $1,400 for Dynamic Adaptive Steering and $3,500 for laser headlamps, however most of it was devoted to visible and luxurious touches. These big-ticket bundles included a $3,600 Premium Package (B&O audio, prolonged leather-based, illuminated door sills), $3,600 Sport Exhaust Package (throatier exhaust with devoted Performance drive mode and sport steering wheel), $3,400 Carbon Interior Package, $3,500 Diamond Stitch Leather Package and the coup de grâce, $4,800 for a Carbon Exterior Package (carbon facet blades, air field cowl and convertible high compartment lid). 
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Contrasting facet blades are a key a part of the R8’s visible id. They’re additionally costly. Chris Paukert/CNETThat final choice group would usually strike me as unnecessarily frivolous, however I imagine these blades are important to the R8’s visible id. Their contrasting colour breaks up what in any other case turns into an excessively lengthy wheelbase, messing with the design’s proportions — particularly on the convertible. And talking of messed-with proportions, I nonetheless imagine the restyled nostril launched with the 2020 refresh did this automotive’s look no favors and I’ve but to satisfy anybody prepared to say in any other case.The R8 is in its twilight years, however you would not understand it from wanting inside. Premium supplies and solid-feeling switchgear serve the cabin effectively. In explicit, the absence of a giant heart display screen unwittingly lends the dashboard a timeless high quality. These days, little or no ages an inside’s look faster than a dated-looking infotainment show, whether or not by way of measurement, decision and even the best way it is mounted within the heart stack. The R8 will get round that point entice by operating all the things by its 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit gauge cluster, together with Google Earth navigation and audio chores. This single-screen association is not nice if you need your passenger to play deejay or wayfinder, however alternatively, there’s nothing left for them to do however dangle on and benefit from the journey.Also, I sometimes do not make a giant level of discussing superior driver help programs on supercars, as options like adaptive cruise management are often too sensible in nature to be important concerns for weekend and track-day vehicles. After all, patrons with this sort of money sometimes have a luxurious SUV or sedan out there for mundane on a regular basis chores. That mentioned, the one cruise management system you will discover right here is the normal kind and different energetic security nets like lane-keep help and computerized emergency braking are absent.
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Days not often get higher than this. Chris Paukert/CNETReady or not, the long run is closing inAudi already confirmed that this automotive’s successor might be battery powered. I’m certain which means it will likely be much more performant whereas concurrently being kinder to future generations. That’s progress and I’m actually excited to expertise the place the nameplate goes from right here. But that does not imply I’m not going to overlook this 2022 Audi R8 Performance and its rev-happy V10. Rather a lot. High-performance electrical vehicles could also be unmatched for breakneck acceleration, however even at their most visceral, EVs lack the mechanical noises and spine-tingling vibrations that many people purchase sports activities vehicles for. I really like EVs and take into account myself to be greener than most, however within the R8’s case, I’ll go for the continuing heresy of inside combustion — irrespective of what number of pushed wheels it has.