I had one big question when it came to retesting Audi’s 2008 R8. What impact would it have upon the general populace now that it’s almost a year since it burst on to the scene?

I still remember the disturbance I caused in hyper-trendy Yorkville when I trundled along Cumberland Avenue in what was Toronto’s first R8. The response from passersby was nothing short of seeing Angelina Jolie delivering her now-mythical twins right there on one of Sassafraz’s outdoor tables.

Photographers took pictures of the people taking pictures of the R8. Perhaps the best indicator of the R8’s munificence was that one lucky guy got a date with a very attractive young woman just for knowing details about the R8. Talk about pulling power.

But, what now, a year later? Time has a way of dulling the potency of all allures and nothing frightens the hyper-trendy like familiarity. Would the bloom be off the R8’s rose? Would I pass unnoticed among the sea of Lamborghinis that is a plague on Bellair Avenue these days?

Not a chance! Although I didn’t have people chasing me in the streets as I did last summer, the R8 does not crawl invisibly along Toronto’s streets.

One could have passed off last year’s adulation as just the rarity of a new toy - and the R8 is still a rarity on Toronto streets. But one has to conclude that the car’s amazing staying power in the ultra-competitive world of attracting stares is due to its avant-garde yet classic styling. A year later, for instance, the R8 still caused more commotion than the new Aston Martin DBS I drove the previous week. (Yes, I realized as I was writing that comparator that I’m one lucky SOB.)

So, you’ll still get the attention of the opposite sex and the envy of your peers. But what about those true sports car aficionados - the guys and gals for whom the adoration of the masses holds little appeal and for whom only performance matters? Well, they are going to like the R8 just fine.

Much has been written about the fact that the R8 only has a 4.2-litre V8 and only has 420 horsepower. Damn, that’s just so much hooey. For one thing, this is the same motor that powers the RS4, the Audi that gives BMW’s M3 all manner of fits. No, it may not have a bijllion stallions, but having tested the lithe coupe at a particularly wide-open race track (Las Vegas Speedway), I can thoroughly attest to its performance. The R8’s 420 hp becomes a much bigger figure when one considers that most of the car it has to motivate is aluminum.

Speaking of which, beneath that gorgeous exterior is an amazing aluminum space frame, at least partially hand-assembled. And though it owes some of its technology to the Lamborghini Gallardo  -Audi owns Lamborghini - the two cars are markedly different in execution with different wheelbases and suspensions.

Of course, the R8 is a mid-/rear-engine design, so, unlike virtually every other Audi that boasts a frontward weight bias, the R8 places 56% of its avoirdupois over the rear tires. Additionally, the highest percentage of engine torque the R8’s quattro all-wheel-drive system can direct to the front wheels is 35%. In many cases, the system sends only 15% of the V8’s 317 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. That’s enough to ensure safety and traction on slippery roads, but it is definitely biased toward the rear-wheel-drive power delivery that is optimum for ultimate handling. The R8’s only handling weakness appears to be slightly overboosted steering, perhaps a nod to Audi’s traditional clientele who are likely to be first adopters of the automaker’s first supercar.

Inside, there is the traditional Audi build quality. A nod to one of its more famous competitors is the gated six-speed manual shifter similar in intent - if not quite execution - to many Ferraris. Audi’s Multi Media Interface computer thingy is also present, no worse nor better than in other Audis. It’s a little simpler than BMW’s iDrive, but, like the Mercedes system, don’t bother trying to manually change a radio station - it ain’t happening.

The stereo, as with all Audis of late, is excellent. There is a Bang & Olufsen system available, although it isn’t the concert theatre item that’s optional on the S8. The entire console and gauge set is designed to provide a distinct aircraft impression with the driver as pilot in charge of this high-tech missile. At the same time, there’s enough leather and bells and whistles to remind you that, if this is an aircraft-inspired theme, it is far more Learjet than F-14.

The Audi R8 simultaneously manages to be at the height of fashion, almost as sporty as its more purebred competitors and semi-practical in the finest Audi tradition. It’s quite a trick and it is definitely worth its Car of the Year win.
The Specs:

Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive, mid-engined sports car

Engine: 4.2L DOHC V8

Power: 420 hp @ 7,800 rpm; 317 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed manual

Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS

Tires: P235/60R19 front, P295/30R19 rear

Price: base/as tested: $139,000/$178,960

Destination charge: $1,500

Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 16.9 city, 10.2 hwy.

Standard features: Power door locks, windows and mirrors, climate control air conditioning with micron air filter, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with seven speakers, Sirius satellite radio, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, DVD navigation system, MMI (Multi-Media Interface) on-board computer, cruise control, power glass sunroof, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, Nappa leather seats, 10-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, auto headlights, dual front air bags, dual side air bags, dual front knee air bags, tire pressure monitoring system, anti-theft vehicle alarm system.