A Motoring Unicorn

Audi R8

- Kenny Yeo

It was about ten years ago that the first Audi R8 went on sale. The R8 was Audi’s first mid-engine supercar and it was a watershed moment for the brand. It proved that Audi could hang with the big boys from Italy and its German rivals from Stuttgart. The first generation R8 was praised for its good looks, practicality, and performance. Insofar as supercars are concerned, it had almost no faults. By now it should be clear that the new R8 has a lot to live up to.

And I’m afraid we are off to a shaky start because I don’t think it looks as good as the model it replaces. Mostly it is because of the nose, which protrudes slightly and reminds of a witch’s crooked nose. It also has more angles, which makes it look more aggressive. Personally, I prefer the more fluid and organic form of its predecessor. Still, there’s no denying that on the road, thanks to its wide frame, the new R8 commands serious road presence. Oh, it also helps that the test car I drove came in bright Dynamite Red.

Swing the wide doors open and you are greeted with a very modern cabin. The R8 gets Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which means you get LCD screens in place of traditional analog dials. There’s also a myriad of buttons and switches on the steering wheel that lets you control almost all aspects of the car, from vehicle settings to navigation and even multimedia. It’s all very high-tech, and quite complicated especially if you are not familiar with Audi’s MMI interface.