2016 Audi R8 V10 plus Review Says It's a Real Exotic Car, at Home on the Track

The early models came with a 4.2-liter V8 engine producing just a little over 400 horsepower. It was enough to compete with the 385 hp 911 Carrera 4S of its time.

The early R8s weren't cheap, but at £80,000, some considered them affordable supercars. Nowadays, the R8 plays in the big leagues with other exotic vehicles.

As this review by EVO magazine will tell you, the R8 V10 plus model makes over 600 horsepower, which means it has the legs on the Ferrari 458. However, the cost of purchasing it has jumped to £140,000, and that's before you include the options.

The British magazine's editor Dan Prosser found some nice, empty roads to test the V10 engine on. He says the exhaust noise is "amazingly serrated, sharp-edged barking sound." We think that a lovely way of putting it.

The design doesn't seem to be to most people's liking. By contrast, the Lamborghini Huracan and Ferrari 458/488 are universally admired. This may have something to do with the Italdesign Giugiaro design house or the Ur-Quattro. A complete set of carbon fiber trim elements helps redeem the car, including full engine trim, air blades, and the massive rear diffuser.

As for the performance, it's almost too much for the road, which is precisely what you'd expect from the Huracan's twin brother. The thing is that most people don't need a track car, and the R8 is not jaw-droppingly gorgeous. You can't buy it just to impress your friends. So what's the point of it all? It's an unfair question to ask of the most technologically competent Audi ever made.

This is by no means the first review of the new 2016 R8 V10 plus. We've even seen comparison clips where Audi's supercar takes on the McLaren 650S. However, it's worth viewing for the eye candy effect.