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2017 Audi R8 Pricing Released, Drifting on Beach and Golf Course Ensues

We've discussed the 2017 Audi R8 on multiple occasions so far, from the official release to the time when it beat the Lamborghini Huracan in a straight line. However, the time has now come to discuss the financial side of the second-gen R8.
2017 Audi R8 1 photo
Photo: Audi
The hostilities start at $162,900 (plus a $1,250 destination charge), and while that's a whopping 50 grand (almost) increase over the facelifted first-generation base R8, the 540 hp V10 aura of the new entry-level model means there's no proper way of comparing the two.

Nevertheless, we can throw the also-540 hp 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo into this arena, mentioning its $159,200 MSRP while we're at it.

Those of you who have cringed when noticing the pricing bump mentioned above should carry on reading before jumping to conclusions faster than the now standard S-Tronic 7-speed dual-clutch unit can shift gears.

That's because the new price is the same as what we used to pay for the 2015 Audi R8 V10, despite performance having been slightly increased.

When it comes to the 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus, the pricing starts at $189,900 (not including the destination charge). This can be translated into a $7,400 increase over the previous Plus model, but when you consider the serious number gap between the two, things don't seem so wild anymore.

And it's not like Porsche has kept the pricing of the Turbo Neunelfer unchanged. Speaking of which, we'll mention the 2017 Turbo S starts at $188,100.

As for the dark side of the R8 generation change, you can no longer have the R8 with a stick, unless some improbable future special edition begs to differ.

Perhaps in an attempt to soften that blow delivered to purists, Audi has come up with the video below, which shows the old R8 V10 Plus drifting on a beach, as well as on a golf course.

The now-retired Audi flagship go-fast machine "hands the baton" to the new V10 Plus, with Ingolstadt also using the occasion to remind us the R8 LMS GT3 endurance racer is scheduled to make its US debut at the 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona. January 30 is the date to set a reminder for.

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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