No need to warn viewers ‘not to try this at home’ because playing ‘follow the leader’ with the new Audi R8 simply isn’t possible within the confines of a home. Nor is tailgating the stunning new supercar a good idea when it does arrive in Australia towards the end of the year. But there will be nothing wrong with following from a respectable distance to admire the brand’s all-conquering supercar, or better still, getting behind the wheel for a taste of cutting-edge, high-performance motoring first hand.

There are few things to compare with the feel of the celebrated, naturally aspirated 5.2 litre V10 engine in the R8 V10 performance quattro, which produces 449kW of power and up to 560Nm of torque. All this in a vehicle based around the Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP). The ASF weighs just 200kg yet provides extraordinary strength and rigidity, for a vehicle with a curb weight of just 1595kg.

That power to weight equates to a 0 to100km/h time of just 3.2 seconds, or 3.3 seconds for those behind the wheel of the R8 Spyder.

Of course quattro all-wheel drive is a given, as are the fully variable drive torque distribution and the rear axle with mechanical locking differential. Then of course there are the high-performance brakes on all four corners, with carbon fibre ceramic discs also available.

A super-fast seven-speed S tronic transmission and dynamic handling system give the driver unparalleled control, and the sound of the engine at full noise is one of the sweetest sounds on the road.

Performance lovers will be able to choose between the R8 Coupé and Spyder variants, and for those purists, the Audi R8 is also available as a rear-wheel drive model, with the R8 RWD production model also confirmed for Australia as a Coupé and Spyder.

Let the good times roll.

(Needless to say – this footage was shot under controlled conditions with professional drivers).