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Thomas grins. Then he says something. And when you read the next line, read it in a German accent because it works better. I'm not poking fun, I'm just remembering what he said and how he said it. And he's German, like a human embodiment of Vorsprung durch Technic. So, get that accent ready...

"Something strange is working behind us."

Strange. And fantastic. I think I almost like it.

Now it's my turn to slot behind that beautiful flat-bottomed wheel. Thomas has turned the wick right down for our run here, so only half the torque is on tap. The A4 gearbox fitted to the concept is at fault.

I know this because I asked Thomas to turn the wick right up, get his laptop out just for me, so that I could feel The Torque. I explained that I didn't need to drive it at full snap, but would be happy to feel it working at über-boost from the passenger seat.

"See that sign over there?" he answered, pointing to a road sign about 50 yards away. Yep. "The gearbox would be disintegrated entirely before we reached it."

A new gearbox design will be needed for this car, then, an investment I hope Audi decides to sign off. For now, we need to be gentle. I leave the engine ticking over, let the clutch out, and clack up through the R8's metal open-gate gearbox without touching the throttle pedal.

There's probably 60 per cent of max torque available at the 600rpm tickover, so I use it, and am in top gear before I know it, doing about 21mph at 600rpm. At tickover. Astonishing torque, even at half-wick.

Got to remember this is only half of it: 738lb ft must be really something, because 370 feels grunty enough, though there's nothing much to be learned on this silly low-speed drive. Thomas says the gearing will go higher with the production car.

You need to recalibrate your head with this thing. I floor the throttle at 600rpm in sixth and it pulls smoothly and cleanly, with a deep bellow and a hardening of the engine note as the revs build v-e-r-y slowly. Drop two gears, and you have awesome acceleration on tap - apparently, it will pull away in fourth gear without drama.

Later, when I am doing the 'driving photo', I let the thing run almost to the red line at full throttle - sorry Thomas - and by God, the thrust is alien at higher revs (read my full confession in my blog).

It seems to come from nowhere as those turbos spool up effortlessly. That red line happens at a low 4,500rpm, at which speed a Ferrari engine would only just be coming on cam.

Recalibrate your brain, BT. What would this thing be like to live with? Effing incredible, is the answer. The engine is only 89kg heavier than the R8's petrol V8, and it's mounted further forward, which helps the handling.

Serious drivers haven't driven it yet, but Thomas says they will like it, says it's a real bruiser on the track, with no discernible difference in balance to the petrol car. I believe him.

The big unit feels light and revvy. There is almost no flywheel effect - this is a blippy, sporty, light-feeling engine. Thomas says the flywheel had to be small, given the space restriction of the layout. Precise heel-and-toe driving on a track would be a doddle.