Sharing its name with the five-time Le Mans winning Audi racecar, it was apt that the new Audi R8 supercar was unveiled in Paris by none other than Tom Kristensen and Jacky Ickx.

When the covers came off, it was unsurprising to see a design virtually unchanged from the Le Mans quattro concept car of three years ago. That is not to belittle the visual impact the new R8 supercar has though; it is nothing short of stunning in the metal and there is no mistaking the fact that it is an Audi either.

You may not appreciate it from the photographs, but the R8 is a compact car. Sure, it is wider and longer than the current TT, but a massive 100mm lower, giving the R8 its own stance that very much fits in with the supercar gang.

Backing up the racecar name and supercar looks is a worthy powertrain. The R8 uses the high-revving 4.2-litre V8 found under the bonnet of the Audi RS4. Thanks to a lower kerb weight the R8 hits 62mph a little quicker at 4.6 seconds (down from an already impressive 4.8 in the saloon), but grabbing the headlines is the top speed of 187mph, which until now has been limited on all Audis to 155mph. I guess R8 owners couldn't allow the pesky 911 owners all the fun on the derestricted sections of motorway in Germany...

Naturally, all R8s will be four-wheel drive, though customers have the option of either a regular six-speed manual gearbox or a new 'R tronic sequential-shift' unit, the latter with gearchange paddles behind the steering wheel and thought to be a development of the DSG technology.

The options list is long and tempting too, including carbon fibre on the body, full LED lights and Audi's new 'Magnetic Ride' system. We've decided to put up camp outside Audi UK's press office in order to get our hands on the keys as soon as they arrive!

Shane O' Donoghue - 4 Oct 2006