Which exotic supercar would you rather have, the Audi R8 dressed in V10 Plus guise or Aston Martin’s oh-so-sexy DB11?
Obviously, this is a tough question to answer as each vehicle is more appealing than free pre-moistened towelettes at an all-you-can-eat chicken-wing buffet. Anyway, let’s dive into the details of each to help determine if one is a smarter choice than the other.
Starting with Ingolstadt’s offering, the Audi features a thunderous naturally aspirated mid-mounted V10. With a piston-swept area of 5.2-liters, it’s rated at 610 horsepower with torque clocking in at an impressive 413 lb.-ft. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is the only gearbox offered, routing torque to the pavement through Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system.
In comparison, the DB11’s powertrain arrangement is a little bit different, with its engine being mounted up front. Brandishing a dozen cylinders, it too has a lung capacity of 5.2-liters. Upping the output, twin turbochargers cram atmosphere down its throat, creating 600 ponies in the process along with 516 lb.-ft. of twist. If you’re counting, this car has a little less power than its German rival but more than 100 extra units of twist. All that juicy goodness is routed to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and carbon-fiber prop-shaft.
SEE ALSO: 2017 Aston Martin DB11 Review
When it comes to acceleration, these cars are, not surprisingly, quite evenly matched. The German can reach 60 miles an hour from a standstill in just 3.5 seconds while the Brit can hit 62 in 3.9 ticks. In the real world, any difference is probably academic; both are incredibly fast.
Audi’s cutting-edge R8 is built around an aluminum space frame, which provides incredible strength and helps reduce mass. Plus models also feature a smattering of carbon-fiber components, which reduce even more weight. Because of this, these cars are around 33 pounds lighter than standard R8s.
Mirroring its rival, the Aston Martin in this comparison features a brand-new aluminum-intensive architecture that’s also light in weight and incredibly strong. Neither one disappoints.
The R8 and DB11 are similar in several key ways, but one area where they differ significantly is in pricing. The Aston Martin kicks off around $215,000, which makes the Audi’s opening price of roughly 195 grand seem nearly reasonable.
So, which of these super-powered, ultra-exotic machines would YOU rather own? Well, compare them here for more information and make sure to vote in our latest poll!
The post Poll: Audi R8 V10 Plus or Aston Martin DB11? appeared first on AutoGuide.com.
