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There are some sounds that are becoming rare in our modern world. Chief among them? The roar of a naturally aspirated V10. Yet that’s exactly the sound you hear when you fire up the brand-new 2020 Audi R8 — in this case, the V10 Performance model.
In practice, this new R8 only offers modest changes. The 5.2-liter V10 now delivers 562 horsepower in base spec — 30 more than before — thanks to a new titanium valvetrain. The V10 Performance, previously known as V10 Plus, keeps the same 602 horsepower as before. The standard coupe will run to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds, while the Performance will do the same spring in 3.2.
The front antiroll bar is now available in carbon and aluminum instead of steel, which saves 4.5 pounds over the outgoing car. The 2020 R8 gets an improved suspension setup, and while I’m told the dynamic steering option has been improved, my test car has the standard fitment.
The only other change is the mild exterior makeover, which some people love and other folks hate. There seem to be more vents dotted around the front and sides of the car, but upon closer inspection, the majority of them appear to be nonfunctional. They do help distinguish the new R8 from its predecessor, and the result is a coupe that’s still quite handsome. Subtle tweaks aside, this coupe is still instantly recognizable as an R8.
Otherwise, the Audi R8 V10 Performance is identical to the outgoing R8 V10 Plus. But that’s not a bad thing.
