Audi R8 2013

Manual V10!Exclusive Samoa Orange MetallicOnly 43,000 km from newBefore the R8 arrived, Audi was known for quattro, exceptional build quality and seriously fast cars. But a mid-engined supercar capable of taking on Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche? That was completely new territory.Then Audi launched the R8 and absolutely nailed it. Inspired by the Audi Le Mans quattro concept, it combined an aluminium structure, a mid-mounted engine and quattro all-wheel drive with something traditional supercars rarely offered: genuine everyday usability. It looked exotic, sounded serious and drove like a proper supercar, yet you could actually see out of it, cross Europe in it and use it without turning every journey into hard work.Audi had created the everyday supercar. And then they gave it a Lamborghini-related V10. This is a late facelift R8 V10, finished in Samoa Orange Metallic and equipped with the iconic gated six-speed manual gearbox. That is the specification people search for and almost never find. This particular Audi R8 Coupé 5.2 FSI quattro was first registered in Germany on 20 February 2013 and handed over to its first owner the following day. By then, Audi had already introduced the new S tronic transmission. Thankfully, the first owner ignored the obvious choice and ordered the gated manual instead. Today, that decision is exactly what makes this car so important.The exposed aluminium shift gate, the solid movement of the lever and the unmistakable metallic clack make every gear change an event. No paddles. No shortcuts. Just three pedals, six gears and one of the most satisfying mechanical actions ever fitted to a modern supercar. Late manual V10 Coupés are extremely difficult to find, and the second-generation R8 was never offered with three pedals at all. This is the end of the line. And then there is the colour. Samoa Orange Metallic is already a rare sight on an R8, but combined with a manual facelift V10 Coupé, it turns this car into something genuinely exceptional. Depending on the light, the paint shifts from a vivid metallic orange to a deeper copper tone, highlighting the shape and sideblades of the R8 beautifully. Colors make cars, and Samoa Orange makes this one.The car presents beautifully, has a perfectly documented maintenance history and still retains largely original paintwork, with only a light cosmetic repaint to the front luggage compartment lid. Inside, the black Alcantara and black Pearl Nappa leather provide exactly the right contrast. The specification includes electrically adjustable and heated sport seats, carbon interior trim, a leather multifunction sports steering wheel, Audi Navigation Plus, front and rear parking assistance, a reversing camera, cruise control, automatic climate control and forged 19-inch wheels.In other words, it has everything that makes the R8 brilliant to use, without taking anything away from the driving experience. And yes, this R8 is quattro. That means its 525 horsepower can actually be used with confidence, whether the road is perfectly dry or typically Belgian. The car feels planted and precise, but never clinical. It is dramatic when you want it to be and remarkably easy when you do not.That is why the R8 remains one of the greatest usable supercars ever built. The car currently shows approximately 43,000 kilometres and comes with a coherent and fully documented mileage history. The maintenance file is exceptionally complete and includes the original Audi service book, Audi’s digital workshop records, inspections, invoices and the original 2013 European navigation disc.A valved sports exhaust is currently fitted, allowing the V10 to sound exactly as it should, while the original Audi exhaust is also included. Finding another facelift V10 Coupé with a gated manual gearbox, Samoa Orange Metallic, largely original paintwork and a fully documented history will not be easy.More importantly, this R8 is not only special on paper. It is simply a fantastic car: fast, usable, beautifully engineered, spectacular to listen to and far more involving than almost anything Audi has built since.Get in while you still can.