The second-generation Audi R8 pairs a 5.2-liter V10 with quattro grip, and production ended in 2024. What buyers should know before the search.
The second-generation Audi R8 — the Type 4S — ran from 2015 to 2024, and with production over, every car on the market is the last of its kind.[1] That changes the buying calculus: you are no longer choosing between new and used, only between good examples and better ones.
What you are buying
Every Type 4S carries a 5.2-liter FSI V10 mounted behind the seats, with output between 532 and 620 hp — 562 to 620 hp on cars after the 2018 refresh.[1] There was no manual; all cars use an automatic transmission.[1] Most run quattro all-wheel drive, but the RWS variant sends power to the rear wheels alone — a meaningfully different car to drive, so know which you are testing.[1] Body styles are coupé and Spyder convertible.[1]
Rarity and editions
Audi built 44,430 R8s across both generations from 2006 to 2024, and each was hand-assembled at Neckarsulm, where workers fitted roughly 5,000 parts per car.[1] Within the Type 4S run, the limited editions are the collector plays: the V10 GT at 333 units and the V10 Plus Exclusive Edition at just 25.[1] If a listing claims one of these, demand the documentation that proves it.
The inspection
A mid-engine V10 halo car deserves a specialist pre-purchase inspection — not a general shop. Review the full service history for consistency, confirm scheduled maintenance was done on time, and check the underside and clamshell areas for evidence of poorly repaired damage. On Spyders, test the roof through full cycles. Price accessories, keys, books, and original tools into the deal; they matter at resale.
Ground your search in the full Audi R8 database page, then see what is actually for sale in live R8 listings.
Sources
- MotorTrend, Audi R8 model hub and reviews, motortrend.com/cars/audi/r8.
- Car and Driver, Audi R8 model overview, reviews, and specifications, caranddriver.com/audi/r8.