39 Audi R8: Underwhelming supercar that’s all too familiar

Is it possible for a mid-engined supercar with a howling 5.2-litre V10 engine to be slightly underwhelming? Oddly enough, yes it is . . . The R8’s problem is its very usability. Once you’ve become used to its low, chunky shape, there’s little drama when it comes to sitting in.

The cabin may be beautifully made but it also uses a few too many donor parts from the A4 and A6. There’s just a little too much familiarity when you slam the door shut, especially for a car costing €231,000.

That’s almost €100,000 more than a BMW i8. The i8 is slower, but it has far more visual punch. Mind you, some if not all will be forgiven when you fire up the engine. With 540hp (610 if you go for the R8 Plus) and no turbos it’s a masterclass in the art of engineering.

You don’t accelerate so much as achieve escape velocity and it’s all done with one of the best noises in motoring, one that can match a Ferrari for sheer aural pleasure. It’s also ridiculously easy to handle, with almost viceless road-holding and a benign nature even when you exceed its very high limits. It’s just that we’d like a little more drama for our quarter-million. The all-electric e-Tron model has been quietly dropped.

Price range: €231,500 to €263,000

Co2 emissions: 272 to 287g/km

Which one? May as well go the whole hog and get the Plus…

PCP: from €POA