Audi R8 Spyder V10 5.2 FSI quattro R tronic 2dr Car Review - March 2012

The steering is superb with a fluid, linear response. The car also handles brilliantly thanks to its advanced four-wheel-drive system and it always feels stable and planted on the road.

The 5.2-litre V10 engine develops 518bhp and 391lb-ft of torque and rockets the car from 0-62mph in a blistering 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 194mph. The power is always accessible and the car responds to even the slightest blip of the throttle but, despite this, it is not a difficult car to drive. You could conceivably use it every day without too much issue.

The automatic transmission is also fluid and smooth, helping to enhance the quality of the drive.

The R8 is a fantastic looking car and drivers looking for a inconspicuous motor to potter around in are going to have to look elsewhere.

Internal equipment has clearly taken a back seat in the development of this car. That being said, the Audi R8 Spyder V8 FSI Quattro offers a number of great standard features but the list of optional extras is too long for a car of this type.

Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, a metallic paint finish, leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in sat nav and an advanced stereo system with CD player and MP3 connectivity.

Cruise control and rear parking sensors cost £220 and £640 respectively.

The Audi should be reliable and the fit and finish of the interior are absolutely superb - this is a well made car. The dashboard is a model of common sense and all of the appropriate switches and buttons are easy to find.

The R8 comes with an impressive level of safety kit including driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard and there is also an alarm and immobiliser fitted to protect it from thieves. A three year warranty is also provided for 60,000 miles and a service is recommended every 9,000-19,000 miles meaning maintenance costs can vary.

Practicality was never going to be a focus in a supercar such as this and that means the boot space is severely limited with only 100-litres on offer.

Priced at £123,020 this model is anything but cheap. Running costs are also high with the car falling into the highest insurance bracket (50) and the highest road tax band (M) due to high carbon emissions of 332g/km. This model is more expensive than both the Audi R8 VV10 5.3 FSI Quattro and the Audi R8 Spyder V8 FSI Quattro even though performance levels are highly similar.

As fuel consumption is low and the model runs on super unleaded fuel, the cost refuelling will also be high and this is a cost which owners will have to pay out on a regular basis. That being said, those who are looking at buying a supercar will not be expecting to face low costs and that means this is likely to have little bearing. If you've got 123 grand to spend on a two-door supercar, the R8 is a fine choice.