VIDOE: Watch Every Audi R8 Generation Drag Race Each Other!
This gathering of new and old Audi R8 models is the proper way to send off the discontinued legend of a sports car.
The Audi R8 was officially discontinued recently as the very last example rolled off the assembly line, which was a somber occasion, indeed. After all, most of us had grown to love the R8 for what it is, and by that, we mean a Lamborghini in a suit – the kind of supercar that appeals to folks who don’t necessarily want to be the center of attention everywhere they go, but still appreciate that type of machine. Thus, we were obviously intrigued to see this recent video from CarWow, which pits every generation of the Audi R8 against each other in one epic series of drag races.
Along with the very last Audi R8 GT, CarWow collected a host of cool, older examples, including several from the first and second generations. It’s an epic collection for sure, and a big enough group that it has to be split into two heats, in this case, one for each of the two gens, for the most part. That means in the first group, we have the original Audi R8 going up against a GT Spyder, a 2015 model, a rear-wheel drive example, with a mixture of automatic and manual-equipped cars.
When the dust settles, the newer, automatic cars put on a bit of a show, while the manual transmission R8s lagged behind a bit – though one did manage to get off the line first thanks to a great launch. Interestingly, a pair of follow-up roll races produces nearly identical results, with the two newer cars finishing virtually neck-and-neck. Ultimately, the rear-wheel-drive second-generation Audi R8 took home the victory in heat one, so it heads on to compete with the second group as well.
Going up against the new Audi R8 GT in rear-wheel-drive guise seems like a tall order (because it is), but the older model must also compete against a Spyder Performance with an automatic. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the new R8 takes home the win, while the sole all-wheel-drive model here – the Spyder – bogs down a bit, leading to a disappointing finish for it. A follow-up roll race takes away that little problem, but ultimately, the new car once again secures the win.
When the dust settles, the new Audi R8 GT completed the quarter-mile in 11.1 seconds, while the MK2 RWD model actually tied the MK1 LMX with 11.5-second passes. The same was true of the standing quarter-mile, when the newer model tripped the lights in 11.3 seconds, compared to 11.6 for the MK2 Spyder, 12.3 seconds for the MK1 GT Spyder, and 13.5 for the MK1 manual. These results aren’t terribly surprising, but are rather interesting, and a bit somber given the departure of the R8 following its exceptional run.
Click HERE to join the AudiWorld forums!
