Used 2012 Audi R8 GT Coupe Review & Ratings

Generally, GT stands for Grand Touring, a term frequently used for cars that are comfortable, yet powerful and sporty. The 2012 Audi R8 GT is most certainly not a traditional GT car. It would be more at home on a track than on city streets. While a thoroughbred super car, the R8 GT coupe still offer a taste of Audi comfort, a side of Audi style and a full serving of blistering performance.

The Audi R8 GT sports a mid-mounted 5.2-liter V-10 engine, which pumps out 560 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. This fantastic engine is capable of acceleration to 60 mph from zero in 3.7 quick seconds. Though unbelievably powerful off the line and accelerating onto the highway, the R8 GT suffers a bit in the handling field. Understeer is a noticeable problem, but the ride quality is better than what you would expect. The four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars in the front and rear ensure that riders don't feel every bump in the road.

Audi's weak steering manifests itself on the R8 GT as well. Reviewers complain that it does not deliver any road feel and is disappointing at higher speeds, especially when taking aggressive turns. The transmission, while improved over the normal R8, still shifts somewhat slowly and there is no option for a manual transmission. Forcing sports car enthusiasts into a six-speed automatic transmission hardly seems fair. Weight-saving over the standard R8, has also been a major concern. The GT sports carbon fiber body panels and a variety of other lighter goods, resulting in a 180 pound loss on the United States model. Of course, this does draw safety concerns.

The interior is surprisingly well appointed, though the ride is not quite comfortable enough for daily use. Many Audi features, such as navigation, iPod integration, Bluetooth and fully adjustable heated seats make it appear that the GT has had a luxury injection. Safety was built into the car from the start. It features a roll bar, air bags in a variety of locations and excellent brakes. There is presently no crash test data, but that is typical for super cars and exotics like the R8 GT. The 2012 Audi R8 GT is an overall great sports car and has potential to be a great deal of fun. That is, if you can get one. Audi only make 333 of them, with only 90 made available in the United States, and as you would expect, it comes with a hefty price tag.