Billed as Audi’s first supercar, the R8 has been a massive success since its launch in 2007. Despite its hefty six-figure price tag, dealers have begun to make waiting lists for the next model year.

Why the buzz? The R8 is equipped with a 4.2-liter, 414 horsepower V8 from the factory, or buyers can opt for a V10 that cranks that number up to 572 race-bred German ponies.

It’s also a critical darling, with the R8 winning ‘Car of the Year’ awards from publications ranging from Automobile Magazine to Playboy. The R8 was also rated ‘Most Coveted Car’ in 2008 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. 

Every R8 is built by 70 different workers who put the 5,000 pieces that go into every R8 together by hand. The car is then inspected by lasers, which determine whether or not the measurements used by the workers were accurate – to 1/10 of a millimeter.

The R8 has replaced Lamborghinis and Ferraris as the dream car for many both young and old and you can drive one in SHIFT without having to wait months for your own to arrive.

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