2008 Audi R8 Exterior Review [ 2009 ]
Based on analysis of 31 R8 reviews and test drives.
Exterior - What the Auto Press Says
Reviews are continually positive about the 2008 Audi R8's unique styling. "The R8's cab-forward stance, aggressive graphics, taut surfacing, and jewel-like detailing are a thoroughly contemporary take on the sports car theme that make both the Porsche 911 and Ferrari's F430 look old fashioned," says Motor Trend.
Though the R8 shares internal components with the Lamborghini Gallardo, it looks very different from the outside. "In place of the Italian car's angular, wedgy lines, the R8 delivers a more rounded profile that seemingly bulges with mechanical muscles," says Car and Driver. "The R8 is the same width as the compact Gallardo but is about five inches longer and three inches higher on a wheelbase three-and-a-half inches longer." The R8 is even compared favorably to its lofty competition, with Motor Trend commenting that its aggressive exterior "makes the 911 look dumpy and dowdy."
The R8 is definitely a head-turner. "Admirers will be gawking everywhere the R8 goes," says Road and Track, while USA Today says, "It looks like no other machine on the road." The Auto Channel calls the R8 "a unanimous beauty pageant winner." But no praise is as reliable as first-hand experience, as the New York Times confirms: "I realize that flashy new cars tend to draw an inordinate amount of attention in the first few months of their life, but Beverly Hills is about as jaded an environment as you find, and the R8 was the subject of more cellphone photos than a Lindsay Lohan-Paris Hilton bar brawl."
What makes the R8 stand out? The answer may be in the details. These include a world-first for a production car: 12 LED bulbs under each headlamp that, "when illuminated, give it a unique character either in daylight or at night. You will immediately know this is an R8 from a distance," says AutoWeek. The Detroit News says these give the R8 "a menacing glare at night that's unmatched by any car" and Forbes says they make the Audi "a ghostly, unmistakable presence in one's rearview mirror." The Los Angeles Times, however, calls the lights "slightly trashy."
Another interesting detail is the placement of vertical panels -- called sideblades -- behind the doors on each flank. These are both aesthetic and functional because they route air to the engine. The sideblades are available in several colors, but can also match the color of the exterior. Most reviews are indifferent to the sideblades, but some have criticism. "At first I disliked them, then I wondered if I was being closed-minded toward styling innovation, and finally I concluded that the things are hideous and began referring to them as sideburns," says the New York Times. Forbes says the sideblades "seemed incongruous, especially paired with certain body colors."
Yet another very unique aspect of the R8 is that the engine's placement makes it visible from the outside through the rear window. "That draws a crowd at Starbucks," says USA Today. The Arizona Republic says the engine is "nestled like a gem in a jewel box." Optional LED spotlights make the engine visible even at night.
