If you thought the Audi R8 couldn’t get any better then thisnews would come as a total surprise. Audi has plonked a Lamborghini inspired V10 FSI engine in the R8. The company has released official photos and full specs of this beast. The R8 is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo’s platform and now with the V10 engine it moves into the supercar performance league. The V10 FSI motor is a 5.2 litre unit with a dizzying 8,700 rpm limit. This mammoth motor belts out 525 bhp as against 420 bhp of the V8 R8. The increased power only has to move around 31 kg more than the standard car and thus acceleration figures are much improved at 3.9 seconds for a 0-100 km/h dash (down from 4.6 seconds) and a top speed of 316 km/h. The new engine will be mated to either six-speed manual or Audi’s R tronic sequential gearbox.

The V10 FSI R8 possesses a classic mid-engine weight distribution ratio of 44/56 which couples with the dynamic chassis and massive 235/35 front and 295/30 rear tyres makes this car test the limits of traction reaching up to 1.2g! Stopping power is also enhanced with 15 inch front and 14 inch rear disc brakes and optional carbon ceramic ones which are 9kg lighter than the steel ones. The V10 R8 can be made out from its smaller brother by its wider side sills, aluminium finish exhaust grilles and more aggressive ‘sideblades’. Another V10 exclusive is the 54 LED headlights which come as standard.

The V10 FSI R8 is expected to launch in Europe first this year at a price of about $182,800. Audi is also planning to launch a diesel V12 variant of the R8 thi year.