Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXI

2 6 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I It features driving modes consisting of Dynamic and Performance, the latter of which can be set for dry, wet or snowy conditions to deliver optimal handling. If you want to take it easy and coast along, select Comfort and take advantage of the transmission’s fuel-saving ‘sailing’ function that decouples the driveline when the driver lifts off the accelerator at speeds above 55kmh. Our test involved a decadently long stretch of Portuguese B-road with its twists and turns that led us from the airport, eventually to the Portimao race track in sunny Algarve. And from there it was track time until midnight which gave us plenty of time to check out its revolutionary new laser beam LED headlights that I wish I could describe in detail here – but to put it simply they are better, much, much better. Trust me. The fact that we could thrash around on a mostly unlit race track in the middle of the countryside with only the regular lights fitted answers any concerns; they not only look much further ahead but look into corners and auto dip with incredible precision should anything come the other way (mercifully not on a race track). With a giant 10-cylinder engine behind your head, visibility is exceptionally good and the interior is as you’d expect in any upmarket Audi that also includes the new digital instrument panel being phased in across the range. The TFT monitor is placed directly in front of the driver replacing what used to be a centrally mounted infotainment screen. A flat-bottom steering wheel is fitted with four buttons to select the driving modes, open the exhaust flaps and start and stop the engine. Even with the ESP on, it allows for a little squiggle when you push the gas on corner exit though the car is engineered for mild understeer on turn in. It’s a thoroughly engaging drive to punt quickly through hills aided by that goosebump-inducing blat, crackle and pop you get from the V10 sitting in your rear view mirror. In this class I’d say it’s still the best all-rounder: it’s probably more driveable around town than the Porsche 911, the Aston Martin Vantage is feeling its age, and it’s still a tiny bit too early to see what McLaren delivers with its rivalling 570S. And at AED750,000 it more than likely has a price advantage at the very least. Interestingly the newR8 shares the same architecture as the Lamborghini Huracan, but is tweaked for a bit more room and comfort. However, it also shares the same production line as the GT3 racing versions which have been built to compete in global GT3 racing using an identical, production-spec V10 engine. With production cars yet to filter through to showrooms, the R8 made a spectacular debut in the Middle East in January when the GT3 race version made its global racing debut at the Dubai Autodrome track for the Hankook 24-hour race and promptly won outright in a field of 98 cars. Fending off a brace of AMG GT Mercedes, numerous Porsches and Lamborghinis, the new R8 used its road headlights to lead the field through the dead of night and not only took the win, but backed it up two weeks later to win again in the famed Daytona 24-Hours over in the United States. Two wins from two starts is a mighty way to launch a new sports car to market.