The Last Audi R8 with a V10: A Sunset Drive to Remember

As I sat behind the wheel of one of 333 Audi R8 GTS, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over me. This was the last naturally aspirated V10 version of the R8, and I wanted to see it off properly. So, I decided to take it up the famous Stelvio Pass for a sunset run.

The sun was setting over the mountains as I began my journey, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The Real Drive system, which produces 620 horsepower, hummed smoothly beneath me as I climbed higher into the hills. Another tunnel beckoned ahead, and I couldn't resist the urge to explore it first. As I sped through the winding roads, the scenery blurred by outside my window, but I was too busy enjoying the thrill of the drive to notice.

For me, this R8 will always be a legendary car. I remember watching Jeremy Clarkson review the original R8 on an old episode of Top Gear, and it left me feeling really old - in a good way! The car's combination of power and handling made it feel like a dream to drive, and I was determined to experience that magic for myself. And experience it, I did.

As I climbed higher into the mountains, the temperature dropped, and the air grew cooler. But despite the chill, I felt invigorated by the drive. The R8's Arrow kit, which I had heard so much about, made an appearance as I navigated the twists and turns of the Stelvio Pass. It was a beast of a car, but one that handled with ease and precision.

One thing that struck me during the drive was just how much I loved the gearbox on this R8. Compared to some of the more modern cars I'd driven, it felt like a work of art - a symphony of gears and clutch packs that worked in harmony to deliver a seamless driving experience. I couldn't help but feel grateful for Audi's decision to give the car such a capable transmission.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the mountainside, I found myself feeling a pang of sadness. This was the last time I would ever drive an R8 with a V10 engine, and it was almost too much to bear. But then I remembered that this car was about to be replaced by a new, electric model - a brave move by Audi, but one that left me wondering what had been lost in the transition.

Despite my reservations about the future of the brand, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this final hurrah from Audi. The R8 GTS is an incredible car, and this sunset drive was the perfect way to celebrate its final run with a V10 engine. As I made my way back down the mountain, I felt like I had experienced something special - something that I would never forget.

In the end, it wasn't just about the driving itself - although that was certainly part of it. It was about the sense of history and tradition that surrounded this car. The R8 has always been a bit of an outsider, content to fly under the radar while its more mainstream rivals stole the headlines. But this latest model had done something special - it had created a loyal following among driving enthusiasts who appreciated its unique blend of power and handling.

As I pulled into the final parking spot, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. This was the end of an era - the last time anyone would ever drive an R8 with a V10 engine. But as I turned off the engine and sat in silence, I realized that this wasn't the end at all. It was just the beginning - the start of a new chapter for Audi, one that promised to be just as exciting as the last.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en5:30 in the evening out on a sunset run in in what is a very special and the last ever R8 tunnel with one of them the naturally aspirated V10 this is one of 333 Audi R8 GTS and the next R8 is going to be fully electric so I thought to see it off properly I should take it up the system pass for a sunset run as you can see ahead beautiful light coming down across the mountain what an evening wow the RT is Real Drive only 620 horsepower another tunnel be rude not to we are going to miss that V10 yeah the R8 for me is a legendary car when I first watched Jeremy Clarks and review the R8 on the old Top Gear episode 15 years ago makes me feel really old I just thought wow what a car and it is today still the most daily usable super car does it take away some of the fun because it's so daily usable yes definitely but I just appreciate the R8 for what it is a V10 is a V10 it will always be amazing and the sound will always be just spectacular try and get past this Italian car the first time time I've seen an Italian person driving slowly so the GT does have quite a crazy Arrow kit going on I think it looks fantastic but what I do really like on this GT model is the gearbox so it's got a new gearbox bit faster on the gear changes and shorter gear ratio thank you Audi more car brands need to start doing this for fast cars on the road otherwise you just don't get to enjoy changing the gear often wow look at that view what a view of the system pass coming up what I call the backside this evening so shorter gear ratios it seemed the right thing to do to bring it to the system pass it's weird feel feeling the back end dancing around a bit because I'm just not used to that in an Audi normally you know that under steering what a sound what an evening even going down is still fun on the system pass big sweeping Corners lots of cars up here this evening look at that light W what an evening to get home home actually have to go back the other way that's the fastest way for me to get back to Zurich what a shame that means I've got to drive back up this mountain pass better better go and do it then just fantastic weirdly enough I do feel a little bit too tall for this car it's quite a big car but ooh GT3 GT3 GT3 that was actually three generations then of GT3 992 991 and then it was a 997 very very nice very cool colors anyway don't get distracted by Porsches I'm in a B10 and that's what I'm going to enjoy but time to head home now a very nice final run in the last Audi R8 with a V10 ever made but thanks for watching this evening Sunset Drive in the r GT I'm now going to enjoy this last bit of road on my way back home to Zurich so for me it is cha for now5:30 in the evening out on a sunset run in in what is a very special and the last ever R8 tunnel with one of them the naturally aspirated V10 this is one of 333 Audi R8 GTS and the next R8 is going to be fully electric so I thought to see it off properly I should take it up the system pass for a sunset run as you can see ahead beautiful light coming down across the mountain what an evening wow the RT is Real Drive only 620 horsepower another tunnel be rude not to we are going to miss that V10 yeah the R8 for me is a legendary car when I first watched Jeremy Clarks and review the R8 on the old Top Gear episode 15 years ago makes me feel really old I just thought wow what a car and it is today still the most daily usable super car does it take away some of the fun because it's so daily usable yes definitely but I just appreciate the R8 for what it is a V10 is a V10 it will always be amazing and the sound will always be just spectacular try and get past this Italian car the first time time I've seen an Italian person driving slowly so the GT does have quite a crazy Arrow kit going on I think it looks fantastic but what I do really like on this GT model is the gearbox so it's got a new gearbox bit faster on the gear changes and shorter gear ratio thank you Audi more car brands need to start doing this for fast cars on the road otherwise you just don't get to enjoy changing the gear often wow look at that view what a view of the system pass coming up what I call the backside this evening so shorter gear ratios it seemed the right thing to do to bring it to the system pass it's weird feel feeling the back end dancing around a bit because I'm just not used to that in an Audi normally you know that under steering what a sound what an evening even going down is still fun on the system pass big sweeping Corners lots of cars up here this evening look at that light W what an evening to get home home actually have to go back the other way that's the fastest way for me to get back to Zurich what a shame that means I've got to drive back up this mountain pass better better go and do it then just fantastic weirdly enough I do feel a little bit too tall for this car it's quite a big car but ooh GT3 GT3 GT3 that was actually three generations then of GT3 992 991 and then it was a 997 very very nice very cool colors anyway don't get distracted by Porsches I'm in a B10 and that's what I'm going to enjoy but time to head home now a very nice final run in the last Audi R8 with a V10 ever made but thanks for watching this evening Sunset Drive in the r GT I'm now going to enjoy this last bit of road on my way back home to Zurich so for me it is cha for now5:30 in the evening out on a sunset run in in what is a very special and the last ever R8 tunnel with one of them the naturally aspirated V10 this is one of 333 Audi R8 GTS and the next R8 is going to be fully electric so I thought to see it off properly I should take it up the system pass for a sunset run as you can see ahead beautiful light coming down across the mountain what an evening wow the RT is Real Drive only 620 horsepower another tunnel be rude not to we are going to miss that V10 yeah the R8 for me is a legendary car when I first watched Jeremy Clarks and review the R8 on the old Top Gear episode 15 years ago makes me feel really old I just thought wow what a car and it is today still the most daily usable super car does it take away some of the fun because it's so daily usable yes definitely but I just appreciate the R8 for what it is a V10 is a V10 it will always be amazing and the sound will always be just spectacular try and get past this Italian car the first time time I've seen an Italian person driving slowly so the GT does have quite a crazy Arrow kit going on I think it looks fantastic but what I do really like on this GT model is the gearbox so it's got a new gearbox bit faster on the gear changes and shorter gear ratio thank you Audi more car brands need to start doing this for fast cars on the road otherwise you just don't get to enjoy changing the gear often wow look at that view what a view of the system pass coming up what I call the backside this evening so shorter gear ratios it seemed the right thing to do to bring it to the system pass it's weird feel feeling the back end dancing around a bit because I'm just not used to that in an Audi normally you know that under steering what a sound what an evening even going down is still fun on the system pass big sweeping Corners lots of cars up here this evening look at that light W what an evening to get home home actually have to go back the other way that's the fastest way for me to get back to Zurich what a shame that means I've got to drive back up this mountain pass better better go and do it then just fantastic weirdly enough I do feel a little bit too tall for this car it's quite a big car but ooh GT3 GT3 GT3 that was actually three generations then of GT3 992 991 and then it was a 997 very very nice very cool colors anyway don't get distracted by Porsches I'm in a B10 and that's what I'm going to enjoy but time to head home now a very nice final run in the last Audi R8 with a V10 ever made but thanks for watching this evening Sunset Drive in the r GT I'm now going to enjoy this last bit of road on my way back home to Zurich so for me it is cha for now\n"