The magnificent Audi R8

In Stuart Milne's absence, Vijay Pattni looks at the world's hottest supercar - the Audi R8.

Click here for more pictures of the V8 Audi R8

A stream of contenders for the supercar crown have stepped into the ring, only to be taken out in spectacular fashion by the Porsche 911 – Germany’s all-conquering, all-purpose hero.

But a new challenger has taken aim at the very top – and landed a knockout blow.

The Audi R8 has arrived, and many critics have claimed it as the performance car benchmark, humbling the all-purpose ability of the Porsche 911.

Look underneath the sharp styling and you’ll find the promise of a true supercar – the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG) owns Lamborghini, and the R8 shares the same chassis as the Gallardo.

But the chassis is the only piece of hardware the Audi R8 shares with its glamorous Italian cousin – the rest has been designed in-house at Ingolstadt and built from scratch.

The body is made from lightweight aluminium to keep the weight down, while the interior has Audi written all over it – beautifully engineered, solid and ergonomic.

As with any supercar, the engine is the beating heart of the driving experience, and the Audi R8 doesn’t disappoint.

Using the same engine as the hot RS4 saloon, the new Audi R8 has a 4.2-litre V8 slotted in the middle – for perfect weight distribution – which produces 414bhp and propels the German sportscar from 0-62mph in just 4.4 seconds.

But the searing straight-line pace is only part of the story. The real beauty of the Audi R8 lies in its ability to conquer all terrain while remaining composed, collected and communicative.

The levels of grip offered by the mid-engined monster are simply eye-watering, providing delicate information about the road’s surface and amount of composure left in the car.

This communication and composure gives the driver complete confidence in the R8 and its all-purpose ability. It effortlessly seams through bends while the aural feedback of the fabulous 4.2-litre V8 sings in the cabin.

The Porsche 911 is a great car. Conceived from a humble Volkswagen Beetle back in the 1960s, it went on to worldwide glory.

But there’s a new kid on the block – the stunning new Audi R8.

Click here for more pictures of the V8 Audi R8

Click here for more pictures of the V12 TDi Audi R8