Audi's attention seeker

The stunning 350km/h screamer – potentially one of the world's fastest cars – was on display at the 2006 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, where it entered the lineup as Audi's newest, fastest, most expensive and, potentially, most powerful model.

It will enter the range one fairly substantial rung up from the superbly capable 'S' and 'RS' models. It will also have Mercedes-Benz's elite 'AMG' models and BMW's 'M' series in its sights, as well as presenting a viable alternative to elite entrants from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche.

Production of the R8 will begin at around the same time the covers come off at the 2007 Australian show. The Le Mans quattro concept unveiled three years ago in Frankfurt, and upon which R8 is based, used a twin-turbocharged, 450kW and 750Nm version of the Gallardo V10.

The production R8 will feature the 4.2-litre V8 from Audi's RS4, with a (possibly de-tuned) version of the Gallardo V10 likely to be released some time down the track. A twin-clutch DSG gearbox enabling rapid, racecar-like shifts, is likely.

The majority of R8s will be sold into the US market. The R8 will also likely use the Gallardo's lightweight aluminium spaceframe chassis and AWD system.

This will be developed at Audi's Neckarsulm Aluminium Centre, which also did the ground-breaking development work on the A2, A6 and A8 models.

Aluminium, of course, means low weight and consequently the highest-possible power-to-weight ratio. The concept car was no heavyweight, either, tipping the scales at just 1530kg.

Audi has invested 28,000,000 in the R8 production line, which will be established at its subsidiary company, quattro GmbH, and run by around 250 employees.

Some styling changes are to be expected from the 2003 Le Mans concept car, but we hope the R8 retains the super-bright LED headlight package and the massive 20-inch alloys with 295/30 rubber (front) and 255/30 (rear). Performance will be anyone's guess, but 'rapid' will be an understatement.

The concept car, with twin turbo boost cranked up to 2.0 Bar, streaked to 100km/h in a staggering 3.7secs – that's performance bike territory – and gave 200km/h the flick in 10.8secs. It was electronically limited to 250km/h, but Audi engineers predict maximum velocity for R8 in the near-350km/h ballpark.

This will likely be scaled back a little, prudently in the interests of engine and driveline reliability, but you can expect it to be breathtaking at the very least. And the price? If you have to ask, you almost certainly can't afford it. Sadly.