One of the biggest highlights of the 2016 Geneva Motor Show is gong to be the unveiling of the 2016 Audi R8 supercar. Before that though, the company invited a small number of the world’s top motoring journalists to have go in a pre-production model. Here’s what they learned from the experience.

The first bit of intel about the 2016 Audi R8 is that it’s not getting a V8 engine, at least not when it first launches. The car will be first released with an upgraded version of the existing V10 engine, developing 530 horsepower. The V10 Plus version will also be available, boasting 600 horsepower. The extra oomph is achieved through the use of new exhaust system and cleverer software.

Performance-wise, and seeing as the new R8 is on average 60 kg lighter than its predecessor, The V10 Plus model is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and reaching an impressive top speed of 330 km/h; a thorough improvement over the last generation. Part of that is due to the extra power, some of it because of the revised 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and most of thanks to a new electro-hydraulically operated multi-plate clutch Quattro system that replaces the old viscous AWD system.

The V8 variant of the 2016 Audi R8 will be launched in due time and there is even talk of a V6 hybrid version. That as may be, but a fully electric e-tron variant has already been confirmed.

Via Autocar