The Audi R8 supercar entered production in 2006.
Production of the first-generation R8, designated Type 42, began in June 2006 at Audi’s Neckarsulm facility in Germany. The road car was closely connected to Audi’s motorsport image: it took its name from the successful R8 Le Mans Prototype, although the production car was a separate road-going mid-engine sports car.
The first R8 was launched with a 4.2-litre FSI V8, followed by a 5.2-litre V10 related to Lamborghini’s Gallardo engine. Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system was a defining feature, though later versions also introduced rear-wheel-drive configurations.
The 2006 date is sometimes confused with the model year, which began in some markets in 2007. The first-generation car remained in production until 2015, when it was replaced by the second-generation Type 4S. The R8 also gained attention for pioneering full-LED headlamps in a production car.