I thought it was really good coverage for the new R8, not only did they love the performance but they were gushing about the looks and how much better it is than the Gen 1!! Interesting to see that at Laguna Seca the car managed to complete a lap 7 secs faster in 'manual' performance mode with everything off compared to dynamic and auto s. The other thing that really strikes me is that when you look at where the new car is in perfomance terms and supercar looks (plus a NA engine) in reality it's an absolute bargain and there's a major Audi centre in every city in Europe.

I thought CAR Magazine's review was pretty good actually as well in that you need to read it a couple of times but ultimatley they're really saying that if you want a car for more than just early summer Sunday mornings then the new R8 is the best car. Again the value proposition comes out loud and clear when compared to the 488 which of course is a fantastic car.

 

Interesting to see that at Laguna Seca the car managed to complete a lap 7 secs faster in 'manual' performance mode with everything off compared to dynamic and auto s.

That'll be the softer suspension in Performance mode

 

I really enjoyed the R8 gen 2 TG review, came our very favourably over the gen 1. its just a pity that ginger knob is presenting TG, its not a good as the old format even though they have copied most of it..

 

It was a great episode!!!

 

Any of the UK continent see this nights TG episode?

New R8 featured, and for a good lengthy slot too. It took up the first 15 minutes or so. The episode was a good one on the whole but all the presenters were gushing over the R8 with VERY favourable opinions. Crucially, it also delivered a spectacular track time of 1:15.7 at Dunsfold, making it 0.1s faster than the Huracan and the sixth fastest car they've ever tested there.

The only cars that have recorded faster times at the Dunsfold track were the Macca 675LT (1.13.7), Pagani Huayra (1:13.8), BAC Mono (1:14.3), Ariel Atom V8 and Dodge Viper ACR (both 1:15.1). Two of those (the Ariel and BAC) you'd deem as road legal track cars so contextually, a very very good showing by the R8.

As a forum service, and after copious research, here is a partial list of the vehicles the 2017 Plus is faster than around the TG circuit.

01:15.8 Lamborghini Huracán Series 22, Episode 1
01:16.2 McLaren MP4-12C Series 17, Episode 3
01:16.5 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Series 17, Episode 6
01:16.8 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Series 15, Episode 5
01:17.1 Gumpert Apollo S Series 11, Episode 6
01:17.3 Ascari A10 Series 10, Episode 9
01:17.5 Mercedes-AMG GT S Series 22, Episode 4
01:17.6 Koenigsegg CCX (with Top Gear Wing) Series 8, Episode 4
01:17.7 Noble M600 (cold) Series 14, Episode 5
01:17.8 Nissan GT-R (2012) Series 17 Episode 4
01:17.8 Pagani Zonda Roadster F (Clubsport Version) Series 12, Episode 4
01:17.9 Caterham Seven Superlight R500 (cold) Series 12, Episode 6
01:18.3 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Series 12, Episode 4
01:18.4 Pagani Zonda F Series 7, Episode 4
01:18.9 Maserati MC12 Series 6, Episode 2
01:19.0 Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce Series 13, Episode 2
01:19.0 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Series 20, Episode 4
01:19.0 Enzo Ferrari Series 5, Episode 2
01:19.1 Ferrari 458 Italia Series 15, Episode 6
01:19.5 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Series 12, Episode 1
01:19.5 Porsche 997 GT2 Series 12, Episode 1
01:19.5 Ariel Atom 2 300 Series 5, Episode 9
01:19.6 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Series 18, Episode 2
01:19.7 Nissan GT-R Series 11, Episode 05
01:19.7 Ferrari 430 Scuderia Series 11, Episode 01
01:19.8 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (written as Corvette S'ray) Series 22, Episode 5
01:19.8 Ferrari 599 GTO Series 16, Episode 2
01:19.8 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Series 9, Episode 5
01:19.8 Porsche Carrera GT Series 4, Episode 4
01:20.4 Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 (damp) Series 14, Episode 2
01:20.4 Koenigsegg CCX (without Top Gear Wing)[12] Series 8, Episode 1
01:20.7 Ascari KZ1 (damp) Series 7, Episode 1
01:20.9 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Series 4, Episode 2
01:21.0 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Series 18, Episode 5
01:21.2 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Series 10, Episode 3
01:21.6 Porsche Cayman GTS Series 22, Episode 5
01:21.6 Jaguar F-Type R Series 22, Episode 7
01:21.6 Audi R8 V10 (damp) Series 14, Episode 2
01:21.7 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Series 20, Episode 4
01:21.9 Ford GT Series 4, Episode 8
01:22.2 Porsche 997 Turbo Cabriolet Series 15, Episode 4
01:22.3 Caterham Seven 620R (wet) Series 21, Episode 4
01:22.3 Audi R8 V10 Spyder Series 15, Episode 4
01:22.3 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale Series 4, Episode 3
01:22.3 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (996 mk.II) Series 4, Episode 3
01:22.4 Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 Series 8, Episode 2
01:22.5 Noble M15 Series 8, Episode 8
01:22.8 Lexus LFA (wet)[13] Series 14, Episode 7
01:22.9 Ferrari F430 F1 Series 6, Episode 8
01:22.9 Porsche 911 Sport Classic Series 15, Episode 2
01:23.0 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Series 13, Episode 3
01:23.1 KTM X-Bow (Not Shown on TV)[14] (Driven by first white Stig) N/A
01:23.1 Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale Series 18, Episode 5
01:23.1 Porsche 997 GT3 N/A
01:23.2 Ferrari F430 Spider F1 Series 7, Episode 3
01:23.3 Jaguar XKR-S Series 17, Episode 4
01:23.7 Lamborghini Murciélago (retested) Series 3, Episode 4
01:23.8 Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3 (partly damp) Series 1, Episode 1
01:23.9 Aston Martin DBS Series 10, Episode 7
01:23.9 Koenigsegg CC8S Series 2, Episode 7
01:24.0 Ariel Atom 1 220 Series 2, Episode 6
01:24.2 Veritas RS III Series 12, Episode 6
01:24.3 Prodrive P2 (concept) Series 8, Episode 5
01:24.4 Audi R8 (damp) Series 10, Episode 2
01:24.4 Aston Martin Virage Series 17, Episode 2
01:24.6 TVR Sagaris Series 6, Episode 7
01:24.8 Alfa Romeo 4C Series 21, Episode 2
01:24.8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ-400(damp) Series 5, Episode 7
01:24.8 TVR Tuscan Mk.II Series 6, Episode 3
01:24.9 Bentley Continental GT Supersports[15] Series 15, Episode 1
01:24.9 Porsche Boxster Spyder Series 15, Episode 2
01:24.9 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Series 15, Episode 3
01:25.0 Noble M12 GTO-3R Series 1, Episode 2
01:25.0 BMW 1 Series M Coupe (damp) Series 17, Episode 1
01:25.0 Caterham R400 Series 2, Episode 6
01:25.1 BMW M135i Series 21, Episode 5
01:25.1 Lotus Exige S Series 8, Episode 3
01:25.3 Porsche Panamera turbo Series 15, Episode 3
01:25.3 BMW M3 (E90 Saloon) Series 12, Episode 5
01:25.4 Ford GT40 Series 5, Episode 8
01:25.7 Lotus Evora (written as Lotus Dress Shop) Series 13, Episode 1
01:25.7 Audi RS4[16] Series 7, Episode 2
01:25.7 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Series 8, Episode 7
01:25.8 Lamborghini Gallardo (wet) Series 3, Episode 4
01:25.9 Morgan Aero 8 GTN Series 5, Episode 5
01:26.0 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black series Series 11, Episode 2
01:26.0 BMW Z4 M roadster (E85) Series 8, Episode 4
01:26.0 Noble M400 (Shown on Top Gear Revved Up DVD) N/A
01:26.0 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ320 Series 4, Episode 4
01:26.2 BMW M5 (E60) Series 6, Episode 9
01:26.2 Porsche 911 Carrera S (997) (damp) (written as Porsche Roadsh) Series 10, Episode 2
01:26.2 Brabus S Biturbo Roadster Series 9, Episode 4
01:26.3 Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst S Series 13, Episode 7
01:26.4 Lotus Exige (mildly moist) Series 4, Episode 1
01:26.5 BMW M3 E92 Competition Pack (moist) Series 16, Episode 5
01:26.7 Porsche Cayman S[17] Series 7, Episode 2
01:26.7 Jaguar XFR (written as Jaaaaag XFR) Series 13, Episode 5
01:26.8 Chevrolet Corvette C6 LS2 Series 4, Episode 10
01:26.8 Aston Martin V12 Vantage (Not Shown on TV)[14] N/A
01:26.8 Ferrari 575M Maranello GTC Series 5, Episode 4
01:26.9 Lexus IS-F Series 12, Episode 5

I am sure this is all quite meaningless and endlessly debatable, but what the heck.

 

^ Great data. Was the R8 on P-Zeros? I suspect that many of the cars on that list were on much faster Cups or Trofeos.

 

It doesn't really matter for such a short track like the TG one, especially if the weather was cold (PZero is pretty good if it doesn't get too hot and if no extensive track action happens and the Cup 2 needs temperature, the other way around).
I rather suspect that the TG car had the optional Cup 2 though because Audi usually equips all test cars in Europe with the semi-slick.