GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: New Audi R8 leaked

The replacement for Audi's original R8 supercar has been fully exposed for the first time, via a leaked image first published by Spanish website motorpasion.com.

The second-generation R8 super-coupe was first seen in spy pics last year, before being partially revealed in an official teaser pic last week.

Audi has also revealed details and images of the camouflaged 2016 R8 V10 Plus Coupe we scored our first passenger ride in late last week.

But this leaked image, which appears to be an official press shot, reveals the new R8 without disguise for the first time, days ahead of its official global unveiling on the eve of the Geneva motor show on March 3.

As we've reported, the new R8 Coupe – due on sale in Australia around October – disguises vast engineering changes beneath its evolutionary new skin.

Based around a new chassis shared with the Lamborghini Huracan, the new R8 features a carbon-fibre floor and rear bulkhead to pare kerb weight down to just 1454kg, with 58 per cent positioned over the rear axle.

Despite weighing 66kg less than its predecessor (but 32kg more than the Huracan, which has a shorter wheelbase than the R8's 2650mm span), Audi says its body is 40 per cent more resistant to twisting forces.

The new R8 has the same 4444mm length as the farewelled version, but it's 9mm lower (at 1241mm) and 39mm longer at 1944mm.

From launch, the R8 will come with a 397kW/540Nm naturally aspirated V10, which produces 449kW/560Nm in 'Plus' form, making it 45kW more powerful than the old R8 V10 Plus Coupe and matching the Huracan.

Audi says the R8 Plus will reach 100km/h in 3.2 seconds – 0.3 seconds sooner than the quickest current R8 – making it the fastest production Audi ever. Top speed is 330km/h.

There will be no manual option this time round, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission fitted as standard, along with LED headlights.

Laser headlights will be optional and other powertrains – including a plug-in hybrid – will come on stream, but it remains to be seen how much the new R8 Coupe diverges from its current price range of $279,500-$408,200.

Audi sold more than 26,000 original R8 coupes and convertibles and says the MkII R8 will continue without a traditional facelift for its full model cycle, which will again include a convertible version.