Even though most motoring journalists labeled the Audi R8 “the everyday supercar”, confirming its raison d’être, Motor Trend senior features editor Jonny Lieberman kindly disagreed.
That’s because he found the R8’s R Tronic semi-automatic transmission too jerky and abrupt in its gear changes. True, there’s also a six-speed manual gearbox, but apparently, Lieberman likes the auto option in the cars he intends to drive around every day.
Ingolstadt confirmed his opinion of the R Tronic by replacing it with the new, dual-clutch seven speed S Tronic in the revamped 2014MY R8. Lieberman, along with other journalists, were flown to Italy to sample the new R8 in the San Marion track and the roads around it.
While he initially tested the top-of-the-line Plus version that is 25HP more powerful than the standard 525HP V10 and lighter too, thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber, he was fixated on finding out whether the new transmission is good enough to make him change his mind about Audi‘s supercar.
We know, it’s a tough job etc., etc… You can learn the verdict by watching the video that follows the jump.
By Andrew Tsaousis
VIDEO