Spy photos: Audi R8 caught testing

Audi’s entrance in to the burgeoning supercar market is the R8, a two seater coupe packing a V10 engine and a 0-62mph time of around 4 seconds. It’ll be built by Audi subsuidary quattro GmbH, and will go on sale next year for upwards of $200,000.

The R8 based heavily on the Le Mans quattro concept study at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, where it had the Gallardo’s V10 engine boosted with twin turbos to create 610hp (450kW).

Audi is also using the expertise of Lamborghini to help finetune the R8. It’ll use the same aluminium subframe as the Gallardo, but will avoid the Gallardo V10 for another V10 Audi is developing to fit in its RS model cars. A V8 option is also on the cards. Power output for the V8 would be 425hp, and around 480hp for the V10.

The R8 will also come with the DSG style gearbox that practically all Volkswagen Group sports cars will be fitted with. There’s no confirmation whether the final production car will feature the striking LED headlights of the concept, but we're hoping the price of the car will justify their inclusion.

The car was caught testing recently by our friends over at Pistonheads.com.

Click more for photos of the Le Mans concept.