10 Times The Audi R8 Conquered the World

Intro

In 2007 the Audi R8 super car set the world on fire. And now the year 2023 marks the end of the brilliant run that the R8 has had. Audi and the rest of the automotive industry is moving forward with EVs and the R8 in its current form can not exist in this new world. So, we need to say goodbye to one of the best performance cars the world has ever seen. Audi announced recently on their Instagram page that they are saying goodbye by creating a special video that you can help create. We are saying goodbye by looking at some of the accomplishments and awards the R8 has received over the years. There were many but we capped the list at ten. Goodbye R8, thank you for the memories.

#10 – World Performance Car and World Car Design of the Year

The World Car Awards were established in 2005. In 2008 the R8 won World Car Design of the Year, and World Performance Car. In 2010 the R8 V10 won World Performance Car, and in 2016 the R8 took home the title again. No other car in history won World Performance Car more than twice. The World Car Awards are voted on by over 100 judges and they consider vehicles from over 47 different markets. And no car is as decorated as the R8.  

#9 – Best Dream Machine 2011 – MotorWeek

In 2011 MotorWeek named the R8 Spyder as the Best Dream Machine. It is easy to understand why. In 2011 the R8 Spyder was packing a 5.2L V10 engine packing 525 horsepower. It was good enough to rocket the car to 60 mph in about 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 195 mph. You could even get your dream machine with a lovely gated manual shifter. Oh, and it looked as spectacular as always.

#8 – Best Handling Car 2007 – Autocar

Autocar magazine was first published back in 1895. That is not a typo, they have been around for nearly 130 years. So, when it comes to reviewing cars this British outlet has more experience than just about anyone else. And in 2007 they used that experience to give the R8 the Best Handling Car award. The Brits like the R8 so much you might remember a certain Jeremy Clarkson licking the steering wheel of the R8 he tested on Top Gear.

#7 – Car of the Year 2008 – MSN UK

In 2008 MSN’s UK website held an online poll to vote on Car of the Year. There were 15,000 votes in total and the Audi R8 landed more than any other rival. A LOT more. The Audi R8 got 42 percent of the votes. Second place was the Ferrari F430 Scuderia with only 13 percent of the votes and the BMW M3 finished third with 11 percent of the votes. That is about as decisive of a victory as you will ever see.

#6 – Sports Car of 2007 – Autobild

The Brits like the R8, but what about in the German motherland? Well, they like it too. Germany’s Autobild named the R8 as the Sports Car of 2007. And it was not an easy victory. Competition that year included the wonderful Porsche 911 GT3 and BMW M3. The Audi R8 made a big impression right from the start. And the accolades would keep on coming.

#5 – Automobile of the Year 2008 – Automobile

OK, so the British and the Germans were both fawning all over the R8 when it came out. But what about in America? Over here we tend to have a bit different taste in sports cars compared to the rest of the world. Well, Automobile named the R8 the Automobile of the Year in 2008. It captivated the reviewers for being as complete a sports car as the Porsche 911 Turbo but also having the exotic presence of a Ferrari.

#4 – R8 Won Le Mans Five Times

The Audi R8 was named in honor of the R8 LMP Prototype race car. This car won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five consecutive years between 2000 and 2005. When the R8 road car was released the Audi team developed the R8 GT3 LMS race car based on it. That car has won every major endurance race in existence. And as impressive as those wins are, it is even more impressive when you consider the race car shared more than half of its parts with the road car.   

#3 – Best Sports Car for Noise – 2023 Whatcar?

Of all the awards this one has the best name. Whatcar? named the Audi R8 V10 as the Best Sports Car for Noise in 2023. Sound matters in a sports car. And that is one of the things that we will miss the most about the R8, when it goes away. It might come back someday but if it does it will almost certainly be as an EV. And an EV does not make a noise like a 5.2L V10. Enjoy the sweet sounds while you can folks, because they are not going to be around for much longer. With the death of the R8 one of the most beautiful automotive voices is leaving us.  

#2 – Tony Stark Drives an R8

Tony Stark is a billionaire, playboy, tech genius, and Iron Man in the world of Marvel. So, what would a man / superhero like that drive? Well, he can drive whatever he wants, but the Audi R8 is his car of choice. Do you really need anything else? If the R8 is cool enough for him, we are pretty sure it is cool enough for you. And it is not just the car for Stark. The Audi R8 has been the hero car in over twenty major Hollywood films. The Audi R8 is a star in its own right.

#1 – Hagerty Bull Market List 2023 – Hagerty

The Audi R8 is going to be remembered fondly and highly desired for years to come. Proof of this comes in the form of the Hagerty Bull Market List 2023. Hagerty selected 10 automobiles that it believes will see strong value growth in the coming year. And guess what made the list this year? The 2008 – 2015 Audi R8. Hagerty is especially optimistic about manual transmission cars. Have you priced a gated manual Ferrari or Lamborghini lately? Compared to those the R8 is a bargain. At least for now. According to Hagerty R8 values are up 37 percent since 2019.

Images: Audi