Faster than a speeding bullet? The R8 V10 is the fastest car the German maker has ever marketed, launching from zero-to-60 in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 196 mph, the same as a Ferrari F430.

Few things quite match that knot-in-the-stomach feeling when you crest a hill only to find a radar cop sitting on the other side.

I really wasn’t speeding officer.  Not by much, anyway, and certainly not as fast as I’d been going a few miles back, when the speedometer needle nudged into triple digits.  But 18 over is still enough to earn a ticket.  Unless the cop simply wants to check out your new car.  In this case, the 2010 Audi R8, which seems to be attracting everyone’s attention as I wend my way from San Francisco up to Napa Valley wine country.

“Nice,” he mumbles, as he completes his second loop of the car and starts walking back to his black-and-white cruiser – my license still in my hand.  “We can go?” my driving partner tentatively calls out.  “Oh, yeah,” says Officer Friendly, as he heads back to his stake-out point.

Few cars have the head-turning power of the Audi R8, which made its movie debut in last year’s popular “Iron Man” movie.  But until recently, the German sports car was missing one thing, and that was a different kind of power, horsepower.  The original 4.2-liter V8 seemed peppy enough, at 420 hp, on paper, but on the street, it just didn’t quite make it into the supercar category.  All that’s about to change with the launch of the new 2010 Audi R8 V10.

The heart of the Audi R8 V10 is this race-derived, 5.2-liter V10 that can rev up to 8700 RPMs and make 525 hp in the process. The carbon fiber surround is unique to the V10 package.

With only the most minor modifications, the automaker’s engineers have found a way to stuff into the back of the 2-seater the same 5.2-liter engine that’s used in the Audi GT3 LMS race car.  The rear-mounted, Direct Injection (FSI, in Audi lingo) 10-banger makes all the right numbers: 525 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque.  It’s an incredibly free-revving powertrain, with an amazing 8700 RPM redline – 700 higher than the V8.  And it final puts the R8 into the supercar category, where it belongs, punching out 0 to 60 times of 3.7 seconds, while taking the sleek supercar to a top speed of 196 mph – the same as Ferrari’s far more expensive F430.

Surprisingly, the new powertrain adds less than 100 pounds compared to the original R8’s V-8.  Better yet, it’s easy to use all that power thanks to a revised Quattro drivetrain that is, as you’d expected, heavily biased to the rear, which normally gets 85% of that torque.  At peak, 30% can be directed to the front wheels.

During three days of driving through Northern California, I had the chance to drive two different versions of the 2010 Audi R8 V10, one equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission, the other with the R tronic automated manual.  The conventional gearbox proved easy to whip through and is probably the preferred choice for those who don’t mind a clutch.  These days, however, even supercar drivers seem to hate left-footing it, so automatics and options like the R tronic are becoming increasingly popular alternatives.

The 2010 Audi R8 V10 features a track-ready magnetic ride suspension. The engine is derived from Audi's GT3 LMS race car.

If this were the dual clutch automated manual gearbox Audi is rolling out in its other product lines, it would win our immediate endorsement.  That transmission’s shifts are smooth, fast and can outperform a stick.  The R tronic is a good gearbox, especially when used in sport mode or shifted using the steering wheel-mounted paddles.  But in normal Drive mode, it can be balky and shifts have a tendency to come on with a bang.

That said, there’s little to complain about when you slip behind the wheel of the 2010 Audi R8 V10 – save for the need to constantly be checking your speedometer and keeping a constant vigil for radar cops.

Audi’s fastest-ever production car launches with confidence, the tires letting out nary a squeak.  Steering is quick and precise, as we discovered during a series of runs around the Infineon Raceway, in Sonoma County.  It takes surprisingly little effort to aim the 3571 pound sports car, and even in the tightest turns, cornering is precise, with little to no understeer.

An automatically actuated rear spoiler pops up at 60 mph – and remains open until you’re back to 20 – to improve downforce.  While we didn’t have an Autobahn to test it to the limits, the spoiler appears to help improve direction stability and keep the R8 firmly planted.

The 2010 Audi R8 V10 utilizes 24 LED bulbs in each headlamp, signifying the German maker's dominance on the Le Mans race circuit.

The American version of the 2010 Audi R8 V10 features an adjustable magnetic ride control system as standard equipment.  High-speed sensors constantly monitor both road conditions and driving behavior, instantly varying the damping of the individual shock absorbers.  The system perfectly compliments the customized Quattro all-wheel-drive system, especially at high speeds.  And it can be adjusted to a more comfortable ride when you’re just cruising the highway.

So do the oversized brakes: an 8-piston, 14.4-inch package, up front, four-piston 14-inch in the rear.  Both front and rear discs are perforated and ventilated to keep them cool under even the most aggressive driving.

Now, let’s face it, with American highways so heavily patrolled, the chance to really push the 2010 Audi R8 V10 to its limits are sadly rare, unless you’ve got a membership in one of the many private race tracks popping up all over the country.  So, for most potential buyers, the car’s performance will be more about bragging rights, and what will really matter is how it looks, feels and handles during more normal driving situations.

While the extreme styling of the typical supercar may reflect aerodynamic performance, the reality is that they’re also designed to shout, “Check me out.”  And few do a better job of catching everyone’s eyes.  Drifting down the Embarcadero, in San Francisco, the R8 drew constant thumbs up, both from pedestrians and from other drivers.  One middle-aged businessman, spying me crawling by in traffic, frantically grabbed for his cellphone camera, waving at me to slow down so he could snap a couple pics.

Most of the design features on the 2010 Audi R8 V10, including the side intakes, are functional enhancements.

There have been a number of relatively subtle but distinct changes made with the V10 version, including a more open front grille meant to enhance engine breathing.  The car now gets full LED headlights, 24 bulbs intended to signify Audi’s continuing performance on the Le Mans endurance circuit.  (The shape of the coved lamp reflectors, by the way, are inspired by the legendary Sydney Opera House.)  There are dedicated V10 wheels, and flared side intakes which, again, have a decidedly functional purpose.  The V8’s quad exhaust system is replaced by a distinctive pair of chromed oval tailpipes, and the rear end features a large diffuser designed to further enhance downforce.

Getting in and out of any car in the R8 class is a bit of a challenge, though the Audi’s cockpit is a bit more roomy than, say, the Gallardo, which is produced by that other Volkswagen luxury subsidiary, Lamborghini.

The cabin is beautifully executed, and while you may notice a few bits and pieces borrowed from the Audi TT parts bin, there’s no sense of cut corners, what with the 2010 Audi R8 V10 interior swathed in a truly luxurious blend of metals, leather and alcantra suede.  The seats, by the way, are wide, comfortable and easy to adjust.  The one surprise was the decision to save a few dollars – and, yes, a couple pounds – with a manually-adjustable tilt/telescope steering wheel, not a powered package.

The rear of the Audi R8 V10 features new oval exhaust pipes, a lower diffuser and a pop-up spoiler that activates at 60 mph.

As with any rear-engine automobile, there’s an immediate sacrifice in cargo space.  The front “trunk” proved big enough to carry both a well stuffed computer bag, a large camera bag and another small sack, however.  And there’s a modest amount of additional space immediately behind the seats, in all, nearly 7 cubic feet of capacity, though you won’t find room for that airline roll-on suitcase unless you use the passenger seat.

With the V10, you get a number of standard features not found on the V8 version, including navigation, leather and the premium Bang & Olufson sound system.  But you still pay for it.  The 2010 R8 V10 carrying a base price of $146,000, compared to $117,500 for the V8 with manual gearbox.

Is it worth it?  If you’re looking for an exotic car that’s both eye candy and an extreme performer, the 2010 Audi R8 V10 certainly has to be put on your list.  Sure, it’s about $30,000 more than the V8 version, but if you can afford this much, why not go all the way.  And it’s still a relative bargain compared to better-established exotics, like the Lamborghini Gallardo.  Best of all, with its Quattro drivetrain, the R8 V10 really can perform as a daily driver – as long as you don’t need it to handle a week’s worth of groceries.

The new 2010 Audi R8 V10 weighs less than 100 pounds more than the V8 model, but it will add nearly $30,000 more to the price tag.

Beautiful, competent, confident, the 2010 Audi R8 V10 is not just the fastest car the German maker has ever brought to market, it’s the brand’s newly defining mark.