AWD Deutschland Showdown: Audi R8 vs 911 Turbo

By Arison Knapp - December 31, 2015

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Inner family battle videos are the best, especially when it’s between two strong-armed, all-wheel drive German brothers — the Audi R8 V10 and the Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe. AutoExpress gives us quite the face-off video below by pitting these two supercars against each other on some public and private roads. It allows both 500-plus HP engines to be fully tested, while truly capturing the essence of each vehicle.

I was surprised that AutoExpress didn’t come out and first say that mid-engined cars like the R8 are innately better balanced than rear- and front-engined cars. They do say it subtly in the video, but not directly.

They first go into the R8’s next generation redesign updates that focused on the use of aluminum, reducing weight nearly 15 percent. But most of the commentary about the R8 is about the big V10 gurgle and thrust, although the amount of stability and grip is surely the pride of this production supercar. In a corner, no matter what, you’ll have options with an R8, and more with the re-tuned adaptive suspension, electronics, and AWD system of this MkII R8.

The most interesting thing about these two supercars is that they are inches apart in length, wheelbase, and width along with being very close in weight and power. Although the Porsche’s year of refining truly shows. AutoExpress couldn’t believe the insulation and smoothness of the whole package; whether the 911 Turbo is under heavy load or in light traffic, it is a darling to handle. Quiet, non-tiring, and lightening quick. The biggest factor AutoExpress mentioned is how even though they could definitely feel the rear-engine hanging behind the rear axle, Porsche’s all-wheel drive engineering pulls off the impossible by bringing harmony to the build.

In the end, the drag strip only tells how fast the cars are against each other in a straight line, which I’ll let you watch to see who stomps out who. Although I will say that in a circuit race or extreme high speed roadway, I’d probably want the R8, but through the city, the 911 Turbo.