THE V8-engined R8 hits 0- 60mph in a shade over four seconds and is capable of reaching speeds close to 190mph. Hardly a slouch in anyone’s book.

Still, the boffins at Audi obviously felt that was just not quick enough and so have now slapped a Lamborghini- derived V10 in the engine bay.

That shaves around half-a-second off the 0-60mph time and adds almost 10mph to the top speed, pushing the car close to the 200mph barrier.

It also adds around £20,000 to the cost of the car and so begs the question does the extra muscle merit the extra cash? Having driven the V10 recently, I can safely say ‘yes’, well actually it was more like 'yeeeeeees!”

It was, as I told my wife, a Meg Ryan moment....times ten, or should that be times V10?

Flat and squat with sweeping lines and the longitudinally-mounted engine visible behind the cockpit, it is more functional than fancy.

It’s a sports car that will turn the boys’ heads, if not the girls’.

It has its downsides. For starters, it’s not easy to get into or out of. Dignified it is not. You kind of fall into it and then have to drag yourself up and out.

It is also somewhat unnerving emerging out of junctions due to the lack of vision to both sides. It's nowhere near as bad as some supercars, but you still have to trust your instincts when pulling into traffic.

Its distance from the tarmac can also be a problem. If you are careful it is possible to negotiate speed bumps and the like, but you have to watch out if you head, even slightly, off the beaten track.

I managed to ground the R8 going down a country lane, but thankfully I was able to escape without causing any damage, either to the car or my reputation.

But that is pretty much where the criticisms end. From here on in it’s all good.

This is no ordinary supercar. It’s an every-day supercar. If you can afford to keep filling it up, mpg is in the high teens, it is possible to drive the R8 to work, to school, in fact pretty much anywhere you want.

There is plenty of room for both driver and passenger and the seats, unlike in cars of a similar ilk, are surprisingly comfortable.

Not only that, but there is even space to stow some luggage behind the seats and you can get a decentsized suitcase beneath the bonnet. It doesn’t have the most bespoke of interiors, but it is far from shoddy.

On the driving side, the R8 is very easy to manoeuvre. I tried a threepoint turn, expecting it to quickly turn into an eight or a ten. I was pleasantly surprised to complete the move in almost textbook fashion.

The real joy of this car, however, comes not from its practicality, but from what lies beneath.

Start the engine and you will see what I mean. The noise that emits from the rear is both terrific and terrifying – a woman walking her dog got the fright of her life and the poor animal jumped a couple of feet in the air as I dropped a gear entering her village. My route took me through a small tunnel and I have to admit that, when the road was quiet, I reversed back a couple of times just to get the most out of its vocals.

The R8 is fast but thanks to its four-wheel drive system, incredibly controlled, so much so that it takes away the fear factor that comes as a standard with the breed.

That might disappoint some people but at least it means you are less likely to become part of the scenery if you misjudge a corner on a country lane.

The gearbox has a lovely notchy feel to it, but for me the R-tronic version with the floppy paddles was the best option.

As much fun as it was to pretend I was at Le Mans or some other such track, I found my timing was out on the changes and in the end I let the car do it for me instead.

There is a bit of a jolt between gears at regular speeds, which could be a pain for passengers, but further up the speedometer the changes are seamless.

If you have the cash to buy the ‘standard’ V8 engined R8 then I imagine an extra £20,000 isn’t going to break the bank.

With that in mind, it becomes a bit of a no-brainer which car to opt for.

Specification

Price: £99,575-£104,665
Engine: V10 5204cc
Max power: 518bhp
Max torque: 391lb/ft
Max speed: 196mph
0-62mph: 3.9secs
Av fuel con: 20.6mpg
Equipment includes: Anti-lock braking systems; anti-slip regulation; alarm and immobiliser; brake lights with LED technology; disc brakes, internally vented; airbags; traction control; electronic stability programme; Bang and Olufsen sound system with 12- speaker CD radio with MP3 capability; satellite navigation; oval exhaust tailpipes; electrically operated and heated door mirrors; retractable rear spoiler; 19ins alloys; Quattro all-wheel drive; three-spoke flat-bottomed, leather-covered, multi-function steering wheel; aluminium gear knob; electronic climate control; Nappa leather upholstery; electrically adjustable heated sports seats; stainless steel pedals; auto