Audi R8 V10 Plus Spyder vs BMW i8

Being a petrol-fuelled car fanatic and having driven nearly all amazing cars produced at some point in time, being given an Audi R8 V10 Plus Spyder as a demonstrator from Audi Halesowen to twist my arm into buying it after my youngest son, who is an Audi R8 lover from birth made me go and view the car in the first place. Hearing the V10 start up nearly made me sign on the dotted line there and then. This drive was going to be an interesting test.

audi r8 10 plus spyder chameleon

This Audi R8 V10 Plus Spyder looks amazing, but what I liked best was the V10 engine. The sound is incredible and the intelligent exhaust sound management system works well. Being a Spyder have all the growl and no roof is a great combination.

audi r8 10 plus spyder chameleon
BMW i8 Ian Bevis Chameleon

Driving to the dealership in my BMW i8 to then be given to the keys to quite the opposite of cars was definitely going to be interesting. The BMW i8 a very silent performance car with only a 1.5 L 3 cylinder engine however the i8’s performance is quite frankly amazing generating 227bhp from the petrol engine and then a further hybrid-drive system producing 129bhp from an electric motor.

The i8 can deliver a 0-60 time of just 4.4 seconds which is quick and then with i8 looks it is a great car.

Then the Audi R8 with a petrol 5.2 L V10 engine producing 610 BHP and a 0-60 time of just 3.3 seconds and an orchestra in the exhaust system.

This test drive was only ever going to be positive and my son's love for the R8 was clearly being passed to me with minutes.

audi r8 10 plus spyder
audi r8 10 plus spyder

The positive handling of the R8 is perfect and the cockpit ticks all the boxes. The seats are solid and comfy and when you plant your foot to the floor the engine bites you and the car rockets forwards safely with the Quattro system handling things perfectly.

The most impressive thing about the Audi R8 is the sound, this is addictive and when you compare this to the i8 its like chalk and cheese.

The visual side of things is a fair battle with BMW i8 being an impressive futuristic vehicle and it really comes down to personal choice for which is better looking.

BMW i8 18EVS
BMW i8 18EVS

Driving the BMW i8 is fun, smooth and solid with excellent performance and you can fall in love with it quickly. Having owned the i8 for some time now I have got used to it and being a Porsche lover and owning many 911's including Turbo's with a background in performance cars and racing, I think I am a good judge of cars.

The drive of the BMW i8 is good but missing something. You also need to be prepared as even thou it is 4 wheels drive and my current vehicle is sat on 4 new tyres, every now and again it steps out and the backend always wants to go right. Comparing the i8 to a Porsche 911 is not really something you would ever do in my view, the Porsche 4 wheel drive system is simply amazing and promotes confidence in ever bend and the Porsche always feel like it can take a little more. Obviously I am not talking about pre 996 models because things have not always been like this.

So the Audi R8 is very solid and firm, the 4 wheel drive system takes the huge power so well and the BMW i8 is no comparison at all to it. Driving the R8 normally and the car feel perfect and then push it a little and it feels great, plant your foot down and it is amazing, the engine is special. The power delivery is perfect and the sound it leaves behind is like nothing else.

In dynamic mode as you approach an island the car changes down a gear and blips the throttle automatically making it appear that you are showing off when in fact the car is doing it for you. It is actually addictive and the BMW i8 has a similar effect but this is sound based inside the car so a fake which was a great touch until you drive an R8.

The brakes on the R8 are very good, not Porsche level but not far off and compared to the BMW i8 there is much more feeling and control. That said the i8's brakes are good and this is not a negative.

audi r8

Which is better, the Audi R8 or BMW i8 - totally different beasts that depending on what you want from a car, one will be better.

For me I love the power and sound of the R8 but the look of the BMW i8. I wonder if it can remove the 3 cylinder and shoehorn in the V10.