Audi announced final details on updates to the 2020 R8 and introduced a special version of the supercar to celebrate 10 years of the R8’s V-10 engine, the R8 Decennium. The automaker delivered both reveals at the 2019 New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public today.
Related: More 2019 New York Auto Show Coverage
We had thought that the updated R8 would debut initially as a 2019 model, but it’s been pushed back a year to 2020. Styling updates are subtle; the R8 keeps the same basic shape and mid-engine proportions. The car does look lower as a whole thanks to a wider, flatter front grille that wears a honeycomb design. In the rear, circular exhaust tips replace the trapezoidal ones and there’s also a new lower diffuser. V10 Performance models, offered as a coupe or a convertible (Spyder), get a new paint option: Ascari Blue metallic (as seen in the photos above).
Performance
The R8 also now features the same naturally aspirated V-10 engine out of the R8 LMS racecar, a 5.2-liter V-10 that is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive. Power output varies by model; the R8 V10 offers 562-horsepower and 406 pounds-feet of torque, while the R8 V10 Performance jumps to 602 hp and 413 pounds-feet of torque.
The R8 V10 coupe has a top speed of 201 mph and jumps from zero-to-60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Those figures drop to 200 mph and 3.5 seconds in the Spyder. The R8 V10 Performance tops those slightly: 205 mph and 3.2 seconds for the coupe, and 204 mph and 3.3 seconds for the Spyder.
Pricing
Pricing details were also announced. The 2020 R8 V10 coupe starts at $172,450 (after the gas guzzler tax and destination charges, which total $2,550 combined), and the R8 V10 Spyder at $184,650. The Performance models add ceramic brakes and larger standard wheels (20 inches). The R8 V10 Performance coupe starts at $198,450 with the Spyder version above that at $210,650.
Decennium Edition
Audi also announced the R8 Decennium, a celebration of a decade of the V-10 engine as a part of the R8 lineup. The Decennium will be limited to 222 units worldwide, with 50 of those headed to the U.S. All of the vehicles will be coupes, painted in Mythos Black metallic and come with unique design details, including Decennium badging, bronze finisher on the wheels and intake manifolds. The rest of the badges are finished in black and various body parts are made of carbon fiber.
Inside, the cabin is also finished completely in black with glossy carbon fiber inlays. Copper-colored stitching can be found on the seats and steering wheel, and there is also a small projector that displays the Decennium logo on the ground, along with the car’s limited-edition number when the door is opened.
The Decennium uses the same powertrain setup as the V10 Performance models and has the exact same acceleration and top speed specs as the coupe. The special-edition car will start at $217,545.
Both the 2020 R8 and the special-edition Decennium will go on sale in the summer.
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