Audi R8: Everyone's Favourite Sports Car Facelifted

Audi’s design team must have been feeling a little lazy, with Porsche 911 levels of evolution on show. You’d have to be a real R8 fan boy to spot the difference. The most obvious cosmetic updates take the form of new slimmer LED headlights, and ‘dynamicised’ rear indicators. Peeling back the PR fluff-speak, basically the indicator light scrolls in the direction the driver wishes to turn, which is actually really cool. Indicators have entered the 21^st century, ladies and gentlemen. You also probably haven’t spotted the new grille painted gloss black and a new front bumper.

Audi will also fit a front splitter made from Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (or CFRP to its mates) if you tick the right box. CFRP also features in a number of other areas of the car, for example the side blades and wing mirrors, which combine with lighter alloys and bucket seats (amongst other stuff) to knock a bit of weight off.

Probably the most notable upgrade is the introduction of the 7-speed S tronic gearbox across all models, replacing the tardy 6-speed R tronic, helping to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 22 grams/km... but you don’t care about that. What you will care about is that the new gearbox helps bring up 60mph around three-tenths quicker, whichever model you plump for.

Audi have also introduced an extra model above the V10 to replace the GT, of which only 333 were made. The V10 Plus is a kind of ‘GT Lite’, available only as a coupe with 550hp and 0-60 coming up in 3.5 seconds. If you can find a runway long enough (and balls big enough) the Plus will top out at 197mph.

You have to pay a small premium for the 2013 upgrades, with prices ranging from €113,500 for the V8 coupe up to €173,200 for the full fat V10 Plus model. UK prices haven’t been announced but expect similar price hikes of a few grand over current cost. I think it’s about time I learnt how to crack a safe...