Audi 5.2 V10: years, specs & known problems

By CarWhere Research · Updated November 4, 2026

Audi's 5.2 FSI is a naturally aspirated 5,204 cc V10. In the US it powered the 2007–2011 S6 and the S8 at 435–450 hp, then the R8 from the 2010 model year at 525 hp, rising to 602–610 hp in the R8 V10 plus and performance. The 2023 R8 GT RWD was its final US application.

The 5.2 FSI V10 shares its 84.5 × 92.8 mm bore and stroke with the 4.2 FSI V8 and was developed by what is now Audi Sport GmbH. It first reached the US in the 2007 S6 (435 hp) and S8 (450 hp), both rated at 397 lb-ft with a six-speed Tiptronic. Audi's R8 version uses a different crankshaft and dry-sump lubrication, which lets the engine sit lower and resist oil starvation in hard cornering.

The R8 V10 went into production in 2009 at 525 hp, and the second-generation R8 added port and direct dual injection and cylinder deactivation. US ratings ranged from 532 to 610 hp, ending with the 602 hp 2023 R8 GT RWD. Engines are assembled in Győr, Hungary.

5.2 V10 at a glance

Audi 5.2 FSI naturally aspirated 5,204 cc V10 (R8, S6, S8): model years, fuel and peak Audi-published output by version
Engine	Model years	Fuel	Peak hp	Peak torque (lb-ft)
S6 and S8 sedans (435–450 hp)	2007–2011	Gasoline (premium recommended)	450	397
First-generation R8 V10 (525–550 hp)	2010–2015	Gasoline (premium recommended)	550	398
Second-generation R8 V10 (532–610 hp)	2017–2023	Gasoline (premium recommended)	610	413

CarWhere lists 0 documented problems and 0 NHTSA recalls for the 5.2 V10, each with a source.

S6 and S8 sedans (435–450 hp)

The V10 in Audi's C6 S6 and D3 S8 sedans, paired with a six-speed Tiptronic and quattro.

S6 and S8 sedans (435–450 hp) specifications

S6 and S8 sedans (435–450 hp): design facts (2007–2011)
Specification	Value
Torque	397 lb-ft, 90 percent available from 2,300 rpm (S6)[1]
Transmission	Six-speed Tiptronic, quattro[1]
Relationship to R8	Same engine basis; the R8 uses a different crank and dry sump[2]
S6 V10 model years	2007–2011[3]

S6 and S8 sedans (435–450 hp) horsepower and torque by year

S6 and S8 sedans (435–450 hp): Audi-published horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) by model year and application
Model years	Application	Horsepower (hp)	Torque (lb-ft)	Source
2007	S6	435	397	[1]
2007	S8	450	397	[1]

"—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source.

Which vehicles have the S6 and S8 sedans (435–450 hp)?

Models and model years offered with the S6 and S8 sedans (435–450 hp)
Model	Model years	Notes
S6 sedan	2007–2011
S8	2007–2009

First-generation R8 V10 (525–550 hp)

The dry-sump R8 V10, rated at 525 hp; the 2014–2015 R8 V10 plus made 550 hp.

First-generation R8 V10 (525–550 hp) specifications

First-generation R8 V10 (525–550 hp): design facts (2010–2015)
Specification	Value
Bore	84.5 mm[4]
Compression ratio	12.5:1[4]
Lubrication	Dry sump with separate oil reservoir[2]

First-generation R8 V10 (525–550 hp) horsepower and torque by year

First-generation R8 V10 (525–550 hp): Audi-published horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) by model year and application
Model years	Application	Horsepower (hp)	Torque (lb-ft)	Source
2010	R8 V10	525	—	[2]
2014	R8 V10525 hp at 8,000 rpm	525	391	[4]
2014	R8 V10 plus550 hp at 8,000 rpm	550	398	[4]

"—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source.

Which vehicles have the First-generation R8 V10 (525–550 hp)?

Models and model years offered with the First-generation R8 V10 (525–550 hp)
Model	Model years	Notes
R8 V10 coupe and Spyder	2010–2015
R8 V10 plus	2014–2015

Second-generation R8 V10 (532–610 hp)

The redesigned V10 with dual injection, cylinder deactivation and titanium valvetrain parts, offered in quattro and later RWD form.

Second-generation R8 V10 (532–610 hp) specifications

Second-generation R8 V10 (532–610 hp): design facts (2017–2023)
Specification	Value
Displacement	5,204 cc (317.6 cu in)[5]
Bore × stroke	84.5 × 92.8 mm[9]
Compression ratio	12.5:1 (quattro), 12.7:1 (RWD)[9]
Fuel system	Port and direct dual injection[2]
Cylinder deactivation	Cylinder on demand shuts one bank at low and medium load[2]
Rev limit	8,700 rpm[2]

Second-generation R8 V10 (532–610 hp) horsepower and torque by year

Second-generation R8 V10 (532–610 hp): Audi-published horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) by model year and application
Model years	Application	Horsepower (hp)	Torque (lb-ft)	Source
2017	R8 V10540 hp at 7,800 rpm	540	398	[5]
2017	R8 V10 plus610 hp at 8,250 rpm	610	413	[5]
2018	R8 V10	532	398	[6]
2018	R8 V10 plus	602	413	[6]
2020	R8 V10562 hp at 8,100 rpm	562	406	[7]
2020	R8 V10 performance	602	413	[7]
2021	R8 V10 RWD	532	398	[8]
2022	R8 V10 performance RWD	562	406	[9]
2022	R8 V10 performance quattro	602	413	[9]
2023	R8 GT RWD	602	413	[10]

"—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source.

Which vehicles have the Second-generation R8 V10 (532–610 hp)?

Models and model years offered with the Second-generation R8 V10 (532–610 hp)
Model	Model years	Notes
R8 V10 coupe and Spyder (quattro)	2017–2023
R8 V10 RWD / performance RWD	2021–2023
R8 GT RWD	2023	Final V10 R8

Related Audi research

Confirm a car really has the 5.2 V10.

The engine an Audi left the factory with is part of its build record. The CarWhere Audi build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.

Audi build sheet by VIN

Frequently asked questions

Which Audis have the V10?

In the US: the 2007–2011 S6, the 2007–2009 S8 and the R8 V10 from 2010 through 2023.

Does the Audi R8 V10 have cylinder deactivation?

The second-generation R8 V10 does. Audi's cylinder on demand system shuts down one bank under low to medium load in the upper gears and reactivates it as soon as you accelerate harder.

How much horsepower does the Audi R8 V10 make?

525 hp at launch and 550 hp in the 2014–2015 V10 plus. Second-generation base and RWD versions made 532–562 hp, and the V10 plus, V10 performance and R8 GT made 602–610 hp.

When did Audi stop making the V10?

The 2023 R8 GT RWD, with 602 hp, was billed by Audi as the R8's farewell to the V10.

Sources

Ratings are Audi-published figures as cited; descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the sources below. Repair costs appear only where a source states them and vary by shop and region.

Audi announces U.S. pricing for 2007 S6 and S8 (Audi of America release, Sept. 2006) — Audi of America (reposted by AudiWorld) (secondary reference)
Tech talk: Making the Audi R8 V10 engine fast and robust — Audi of America
Audi S6 model page (media site data) — Audi of America
2014 Audi R8 media kit — Audi of America
2017 Audi R8 press kit (Mar. 2016) — Audi of America
2018 Audi R8 media kit (revised July 2018) — Audi of America
2020 Audi R8 press kit — Audi of America
Audi announces model year 2022 Audi Sport updates — Audi of America
2022 Audi R8 technical specifications — Audi of America
High performance in its purest form: the new Audi R8 GT — Audi AG / Audi of America

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Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by AUDI AG or Audi of America. Audi, quattro, TFSI, S tronic, e-tron and the model names are trademarks of their owners.