This won't attract attention at all

By Jill Ciminillo, July 12, 2010 at 12:23 pm

It's red. It's gorgeous. And it's going to attract a lot of attention.

So the question is, where in Chicago can I drive (and park!) this beautiful beast to get the most mileage on the see-me factor? I'm absolutely accepting suggestions. I know there's some lakefront time in my future for marathon training and a long road trip somewhere to (cough) test that highway EPA estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg. But what else?

In case you can't tell from the photos, this Audi R8 is a complete stunner. New for 2010 is the 5.2-liter V-10 engine that delivers a heart-thumping 525 horsepower. And the H-gate manual 6-speed manual transmission is a thing of beauty.

I've just swapped into this car and can't wait to get it out on the highway. In the first couple of hours, I'm pleased to report I've already met some of my reclusive neighbors and the driver's seat is perfectly adjustable for those petite frames. Oh, and shifting with an H-gate isn't as difficult as I thought it'd be.

The only problem: I have to pick my sister up from work today, and she has a broken ankle. Where in the heck will I fit those crutches?

PS: Fellow auto blogger Kirk Bell, has already had the chance to drive this beauty and has posted his full review on his blog, On the Road.