Michael Chuang tests a tuned Audi R8 V10 with a VF Engineering ECU tune, measuring acceleration from 40-100 and 60-130 mph to see if it outpaces the V10 Plus. The tune adds measurable power gains and changes how the car feels on the road.
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Ten years ago, Audi showed the world what it was capable of. They redefined the concepts of what a supercar could be. And gave us an icon that revolutionized the automotive industry for years to come. This is the second generation of the legendary Audi R8. In 2017, they completely redesigned the R8 inside and out. Even though it looks similar, it's a completely different car. Steering wheel, cabin controls, and the virtual cockpit, they make it all feel like you're driving in the future. But this power plant behind you is a different story. It's one of the last remnants of classic supercar technology. Something that might be the last of its kind. A high revving, naturally aspirated V10 that makes 532 horsepower and 398 pounds of torque. You can also go for the plus version. That gives you better gearing, a cool little spoiler and 602 horsepower. But it'll cost you an extra 27 grand. Either car would do a good job at putting a smile on my face when I drive. Unfortunately, they no longer offer the bargain V8 version, which is sad because that's what made the original R8 so popular. An affordable, good looking supercar with respectable performance that you could drive every day. But this new car upholds most of that legacy. It still has a lot of curb appeal, and the standard model still makes for an excellent touring car. At the end of the day, 160 grand is nothing to scoff at. But with the way things have been going, this price of entry is starting, starting to seem a little bit more common. Anyway, onward to atco. So the Internet already tells us about the quarter mile times, but I'm curious what this huracan on a budget can do in the 40 to 160 to 130 tests today. I also have an ECU tune from VF Engineering. So we'll run both setups, get a bone stock time as well as a tune time for a back to back comparison. So about 10 years ago I almost bought an R8. But I got this screaming deal on a Gallardo and that was a no brainer for me. Plus, I raced the shit out of that car anyways. I've always been curious about these things and what I missed out on. But I could never bring myself to buy an R8 because the interior was just too similar to my Lambo. And even the V10 version, that seemed like a downgrade in the performance department. But a lot has changed. Audi's R8 no longer wants to live in the shadow of Lamborghini. It wants to be its own man. So I wonder if this new car can outrun its old Italian cousin in a straight line. Let's find out. And while we have a moment, let's chat about this interior. It reminds me a lot of the TTRs I drove, but with more masculinity. Very driver centric and all these controls are nice. The seats are also well bolstered and feel great for holding you in while you drive fast. But as always with Audi, the paddles are the biggest disappointment. Let's give this a go. So this is going to be stock with Sport Auto. Let's toss on that VF tune and see what it does. For shits and giggles, let's run it in full manual. So, as we expected, Sport Auto gave us the fastest results. But let's take a look at those bone stock times. First 40 to 100 happened in 5.03 seconds. In 6, hit a 130 in 8.8. That's over a full second faster than the 520 horsepower Gallardo. I guess this V10 has come a long way since those days. Them pre LP Gallardos were dogs in terms of performance though. Alright, now let's take a look at the times with the tune 40.104.94 and 60 to 130 in 8 seconds flat. Impressive for just a tune on a naturally aspirated engine. I remember when I did full bolt ons on my Gallardo and I was happy to gain 30 horsepower. This VF tune puts you right around 600 at the crank, which is almost a 70 horsepower gain with software alone. Judging by those results, I believe it. Now you might also be wondering about this V10 plus version, which also makes around 600 brake horsepower. But if you get the standard model, get a tune and make around the same power levels, you'll still be a hair slower because the V10 has more aggressive gearing. I hear it's about a mile per hour faster in the quarter than this tuned version. And I'd reckon it'd probably run a 7.8 or 7.96.130. So there you have it. Audi's flagship supercars. Fast, but not as fast as a Z06 or a Hellcat. But if you get the tuned model or the V10 plus, you might have a shot. Thanks for watching. Special thanks to John Dong for coming through with his beautiful R8. If you like this video, hit thumbs up and leave a comment below. If you're new to the channel, mash that subscribe button for cool car content every Thursday.
