2017 Audi R8: This Is It

Despite Audi’s best attempts, the all-new 2017 Audi R8 hit the Internet ahead of the Geneva debut next week. As a result, Audi has went ahead and provided us all the details on their new mini-Lamborghini. While many things are different, some things do stay the same.

The overall exterior appearance of the car looks like the car it replaced. That’s a good thing, because the current version, despite its age, doesn’t appear dated sitting next to some of the modern supercars. Overall, the car is wider, but a bit shorter, than the car it replaces.

Weight is down as well. Approximately 100 pounds of weight is saved from the previous version, even though the new one has more equipment. Carbon fiber and aluminum are to be blamed for the savings of weight.

At launch, the car will only be available with a 5.2L V10. There is no word on whether or not the V8 will make an appearance later on, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it did. The V10 will be available with either 540 hp or 610 hp. That power is sent to an all-wheel drive system via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission only. No glorious gated shifter and a manual transmission here.

Inside is where the R8 needed the most work. It now features a fresh, modern Audi design, with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit that we first saw on the TT.

Instead of a center stack screen, everything is displayed directly to the driver through a high-resolution TFT display in the instrument cluster.

Audi has also confirmed that they will be doing a full-electric e-Tron that will have the range of a Tesla Model S. That should provide interesting competition to the BMW i8.

See the car in the flesh next week at the Geneva Motor Show, and stay tuned for the latest as we learn it.

What do you think of the new R8? Let us know in the forums!