Number two on my list of most exciting cars is the Audi R8 V10. This surprises a lot of people who although agreeing that the car is an excellent performer it seems a little bit out of place on a list filled with very expensive super cars. The truth is that despite its lower price tag the R8 is possibly the best car on the list. The performance is excellent and it offers the distinct advantage of actually being practical to get around in.
The truly remarkable thing about the Audi R8 V10 is that it was designed with the intention of bringing the super car to a broader market. The car is based on both the chassis and the engine of the Lamborghini Gallardo however the Audi is offered at a substantially lower price. The idea is that it would be able to attract buyers who wanted a truly high performance car but couldn't afford the true super cars. The funny thing is that the R8 has actually turned out to be a better performing car than most of the more expensive cars that it was trying emulate.
The thing that really stands out about the Audi R8 and what most people think makes it better than the more expensive super cars is the handling. A lot of the cars that it is competing with have lots of power and a lightweight frame but they don't handle all that well. This is not the case with the Audi, the R8 is one of the best handling cars on the market and this is what has really impressed reviewers and buyers. Rather than getting a lower performance car for the lower price you actually get a much better car.
The Audi R8 was clearly designed with the intention that it would compete with the top of the line Porsche 911 and in this regard it has been truly successful. The Audi is probably the first car to come along that can beat the 911 in pure performance. Again this is down to the outstanding handling that the car has although even this has raised some criticism. There are some people who feel that the R8 is too stable and that takes some of the fun out of driving it.
One of the biggest challenges facing the Audi R8 V10 is finding a market. In truth it falls in between two categories, it is either a very expensive and very high performance sports car or a very low cost and widely produced super car. There was a fear that neither category of buyers would embrace the car, the sports car buyers unable to afford it and the super car buyers wanting something more exclusive. This has turned out to be a non-issue and the car has sold quite well. In large part that is the result of the outstanding performance at a very reasonable price that the car offers.