Facelifted in `2012`, the Audi `R8 42` stays very close in spirit to the first version, but smooths off several rough edges with revised presentation, modernised lights and above all the arrival of the `S tronic`. Against a Porsche 911, it keeps a very Audi personality, easier to approach than a pure exotic, yet just as dependent on meticulous maintenance once the use becomes sporty or irregular.
The range mainly includes the `430 hp 4.2 FSI V8`, the `525 hp 5.2 FSI V10` and the `550 hp V10 plus`, with the manual becoming rarer and the `S tronic` far more convincing than the old `R tronic`. The facelift is often the best entry point into the first generation, but it still carries the platform's expensive areas: `Magnetic Ride`, big brakes, cooling hardware, tyres, aluminium parts and demanding engine care. The quality of the history therefore remains decisive.