2010 Audi R8 Coupé V10 Manual

Genuine mid-engine exotics don't tend to wear German badges. Yes, there have been a few exceptions over the years but they rarely received the acclaim of their Italian counterparts. Here's the car that broke the mould, the Audi R8. This was proof that you could buy a car with the charisma and presence of a Lamborghini and the engineering of, well, an Audi and with V10 power, the performance to match. Based on the Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car, the R8 first appeared at the 2003 International Geneva Motor Show, however it was not officially launched until the Paris Auto Show some three years later in 2006.

Audi positioned the R8 as its flagship model and it remains so to this day. It launched with a 4.2-litre FSI V8 producing 420bhp, before being offered with the 525bhp, 5.2-litre FSI V10 sourced from the Lamborghini Gallardo. Both variants featured Audi’s renowned Quattro all-wheel drive system, refined over decades of motor sport experience. With its futuristic design and high performance credentials, the R8 earned widespread praise and cemented its place among the elite 'supercars' from Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren.

When the R8 hit the market, the trend was already shifting toward paddle-shift, F1-style gearboxes, leaving the manual gearbox increasingly overlooked. In hindsight, it's surprising that only around 250–300 R8 V10s were ever equipped with the beautiful 6-speed gated manual. Designed as an everyday, usable supercar — something of a paradox — the R8 pulled it off effortlessly. Paired with that howling Lamborghini-derived V10, the result is a compelling blend of performance, style and usability.

First registered in 2010 at Audi Cardiff, this fabulous example was purchased by its current owner in 2011 from Audi Slough at an indicated mileage of just 2,000 and was indeed fitted with the all-important 6-speed manual gearbox. It's finished in the beautifully subtle Suzuka Grey with a Carbon Sigma sideblade over a black (JN) Nappa leather interior with coloured stitching, extended over the dashboard, top shoulder, side panel, storage compartments, instrument cowl, knee bolster and function pads. The 19'' V10-specific 10-spoke Y-design alloy wheels are shod in the correct Pirelli P-Zero tyres and remain in perfect condition.

Patently cherished from new and always garaged, the car continues to present very well, having covered a little over 34,000 miles during its 14 year lifespan. It has been serviced annually by R8-authorised Audi dealerships and is supplied with a full main dealer Audi service history, associated invoices, original handbooks, previous MOTs and both keys.

The R8 is a phenomenally well balanced and dynamic car with ageless styling, which explains why they were so popular when first released and remain popular to this day. To find one with such an impressive specification is rare, especially when combined with a meticulous service history and just one previous keeper. If you're in the market for a supercar that can do it all, you’d be very hard pressed to find a better car than the R8.