It's often been said that the back of the car is the only place where designers have freedom. Crash tests require the front fascias to be a certain height and be made of soft plastic surfaces. But it seems that the all-new Audi R8 V10 plus didn't get that memo!
Like many of the coupes Audi makes, the R8 doesn't like to play by the rules. What are we talking about? Just try finding Euro NCAP crash test results for the A5 or A7!
Looking as gorgeous as any 610 horsepower supercar should, the V10 machine traveled from the land of quattro to the Abu Dhabi circuit, where it was photographed next to one of its distant cousins.
The RS6 Avant lost 20 horsepower when it switched from a V10 to a V8 engine, but it gained everything back plus a little extra recently. Engineers took a long, hard look at the twin-turbo setup and came up with a 605 horsepower solution. With just five hp separating the two, it's like watching Mayweather staring down Pacquiao during the pre-match event. Scratch that idea; it's more like the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir.
We have been getting our Audi colors wrong recently, but Auditography, the guys who made all the shots you're about to enjoy, seem to know their stuff. The RS6 Avant performance, as well as the RS7 and the Q5, is painted in Sepang Blue. It's named after a circuit in Malaysia which BMW based its bronze color off.
Meanwhile, the R8 V10 Plus has a slightly different tone called Arablue Metallic. This has to be the first time we've seen the car without its front number plate, and we wish European regulators would let it stay that way.
Because it wasn't designed to get a full score during pedestrian crash tests, the R8 features a much lower front end than the A6-based RS6. It also helps that there's no engine under that hood or that the emblem can be placed on top. Those vertical fins look like they could cut your leg clean off, but at least you'll die knowing that the fastest Audi ever made sent you to heaven.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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