Audi is responsible for one of the stars of the Detroit motor show – although you’ll have to look quite closely to tell. In the middle of this fairly normal looking R8 sits a brand-new engine, and it’s the one the company said it would never slide into its 911-rival: a V10 petrol unit.

The 5.2-litre is is a development of the 4.2-litre V8 from the eight-cylinder R8 and the RS4. Add two cylinders and the power is upped to 518bhp and 391lb ft, that bhp figure being perfectly proportional to the 8/10ths as powerful 414bhp R8. The new model weighs 60kg more than the V8 car, but its power-to-weight rises from 270 to 315bhp/ton so 0-62mph is cleared quicker at 3.9sec and top speed rises to 196mph, making it the quickest car ever to wear the four rings.

Dynamically things aren’t too different, save for sharpened-up steering and the addition of Audi’s acclaimed magnetic dampers fitted as standard. Quattro all-wheel drive is also standard, alongside a six-speed manual with the R-tronic semi-auto ‘box as an option. Ceramic brakes can also be added.

Styling-wise, changes are pretty discreet. The headlights go all-LED, a world first apparently, while there’s a set of new 19in alloys housing ventilated disc brakes (380mm front, 356mm rear). There’s gloss black detailing at the rear and revised air intakes, too, but otherwise it’s as you were.

The R8 V10 will set you back £99,575 – around £22k more than the V8, but a healthy £48k less than its Lamborghini LP560-4 cousin. Audi hopes to sell 200 in the UK in 2009, the V10 accounting for around 70 per cent of total R8 sales.

Read about the other highlights from the Detroit motor show.