AUDI'S stunning aluminium-bodied, mid-engined sports car will open for ordering in the UK later this year.

The 187mph R8, which will be powered by a mid-mounted 4.2-litre V8 FSI petrol engine delivering 420 horsepower, is expected to cost from £77,000.

Audi says it will combine a classic mid-engine configuration with advanced all-aluminium Audi Space Frame construction and quattro permanent four-wheel-drive.

Driving purists can choose a six-speed manual transmission, but they may also be tempted by the racing-inspired R tronic sequential shift gearbox with joystick and paddle control, which uses shift-by-wire' technology to provide exceptionally rapid gear changes.

By mounting the potent eight-cylinder unit as close as possible to the centre of the new R8, in deference to racing legends such as the Le Mans-winning R8 sports prototype and Auto Union Type C Grand Prix car, Audi engineers have achieved near perfect 44 per cent front / 56 per cent rear weight distribution for optimum handling balance.

Audi says the front and rear double wishbone suspension delivers exceptional agility, and can be controlled by either a more traditional spring-and-damper set-up, or by the advanced Audi magnetic ride system first seen in the new TT Coupe.

The sophisticated dampers fitted as part of the optional Audi magnetic ride system swap conventional damper fluid for a fluid containing minute magnetic particles that can be influenced by an electromagnetic field. By applying a voltage to the system's electromagnets, the viscosity of the fluid is altered by the affected magnetic particles, increasing resistance to damper movement.