We won't get to see the Audi R8 running around in real life until springtime 2007 when the car is launched, but luckily some squatters on the look for prototypes lapping the famous Nurburgring in Germany caught the car doing hot laps while testing. If a picture's worth a thousand words, this video leaves nothing left to be written in anticipation of Audi's ultimate mid-engine road warrior. The slightly detuned V10 sourced from the Lamborghini Gallardo sounds sonorous as the driver blips the throttle while downshifting in turns. Along with the 450-hp V10 from the Gallardo, the R8 will share many mechanicals with its Italian cousin, as well. It's name is culled from the R8 Le Mans racer in order to emphasize its performance potential, while the R8's shape is a faithful reproduction of the Le Mans Quattro concept car first shown at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show.

[Source: AutoExpress via GermanCarBlog]