Audi R8 Plus Winter Driving Review: Can a 610HP Supercar Handle Snow?

Driving a $200,000 supercar through a Chicago winter might seem like automotive sacrilege, but when MotorVero had the opportunity to test the 2017 Audi R8 Plus during the season's first major snowfall, we discovered some surprising truths about winter supercar performance.

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The Supercar Snow Challenge

With its 5.2-liter V10 engine producing 610 horsepower, the Audi R8 Plus represents the pinnacle of German engineering. But how does this track-focused machine handle 6 inches of fresh snow during a typical Chicago commute?

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The experience was less Fast and Furious and more Slow and Cautious. While the R8's performance credentials include a 3.2-second 0-60 time and 202 mph top speed, our winter commute saw those numbers drop to "0-30 in maybe 8 seconds" and "top speed of 25 mph if you're feeling brave."

Winter Driving Dynamics

The R8 Plus comes equipped with Audi's legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system, which normally provides tenacious grip on dry pavement. In snow, the system works differently:

• Power distribution automatically adjusts to prevent wheelspin
• Stability control intervenes more aggressively than in dry conditions
• Torque vectoring helps maintain straight-line stability
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The Winter Tire Advantage

Our test vehicle was fitted with $1,700 worth of Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 tires - a crucial investment for anyone considering winter supercar driving. These specialized tires made several key differences:

Despite the winter tires, physics ultimately limits what a low-slung supercar can do in deep snow. The R8 exhibited:

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• Mild understeer in slow corners
• Occasional shifting in loose snow
• Reduced ground clearance challenges

The Psychology of Expensive Winter Driving

Beyond mechanical considerations, driving a $202,750 car in winter conditions creates unique psychological factors:

Surprisingly, the R8's carbon ceramic brakes maintained excellent pedal feel in freezing temperatures, and the compact cabin heated up quickly - two winter driving advantages we didn't expect.

The Affordable Alternative: More Fun for Less Money?

Interestingly, MotorVero's experience with a winter-tire-equipped Subaru BRZ proved that sometimes less is more when it comes to winter driving enjoyment:

This isn't to say the BRZ is objectively better in snow - the R8's all-wheel drive provides more security. But for pure driving enjoyment, the cheaper car often delivers more smiles per mile when roads turn white.

Winter Supercar Survival Guide

For those determined to drive exotic cars year-round, we've developed these essential tips:

While we wouldn't recommend the R8 as a primary winter vehicle, our experience proved that with proper preparation and realistic expectations, even the most extreme supercars can handle moderate winter conditions.