Prices Set For V10-Powered R8

The R8, Audi's first foray into the world of supercars has just gotten a significant upgrade. The pricing has been set for the new R8 with the V10 mill under the deckled, and if you were hoping it would be "affordable", you're out of luck. Then again, if you were waiting to decide between the V10 powered R8 5.2 FSI Quattro and a Porsche or a Lambo or an Aston Martin, it might have been worth your wait.

Right off the bat: Bottom line is $146,000 to $155,100, depending on options.

Like I said, not exactly cheap, but you do get a lot for your money.

The new top of the line Audi is motivated by a 5.2-liter V10 engine that cranks out 525 horsepower and puts down 391 lb-ft of torque to the tarmac, and is capable of blasting the Teutonic supercar from naught to 60 mph in a Lotus 7-like 3.7 seconds. That becomes all the more impressive when you realize this isn't exactly a light car. Of course, putting the power to the ground through all four wheels helps immensely.

As I mentioned, the R8 5.2 FSI Quattro starts at $146,000, which is for the manual gearbox version and goes up to $155,100 for the R-tronic variant with the race inspired semi-auto box. Both models are subject to an additional $1,200 destination, taxes, title, options and dealer fees, not like that extra twelve-hundred is going to be a deal breaker for the kind of person that drops 140K+ on a car.

In case you happen to be budget conscious and still in the market for an Audi R8, the original R8 4.2 FSI Quattro will be the same price for 2010 as it was in 2009. The manual gearbox model starts at $114,200, and the R-tronic variety starts at $123,300, again, that doesn't include the $1,200 destination, taxes, title, options and dealer charges.

Either version of the car is well worth considering. It's got a significant amount of presence on the road, and they are capable of great amounts of pace. They are also capable of draining your wallet just as fast.

Source: CarScoop. Photos from Flickr users daveoflogic.