SUPERCAR sales in Singapore are going through the roof. Brands like Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Aston Martin are all enjoying record sales.

In the first 10 months, over 400 of such cars have been snapped up - double the figure seen in any of the previous boom periods.

Now, there is a new boy in town to give the established super marques a run for their fast money: the R8, Audi's first supercar.

The 420bhp 4.2-litre mid-engined two-seater was unveiled at the National Museum this week, and the first cars are expected to be delivered next week to customers who have waited nearly a year for it.

Seen as a direct challenger to cars like the Porsche 911 and Ferrari 430, the R8 catapults to 100kmh in 4.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 301kmh.

All 10 cars allotted for Singapore this year - each costing $497,000 - have been spoken for. And more than half of the 44 units scheduled for next year have been sold.

In 2009, a 5.2-litre V10 version with in excess of 500bhp should arrive. It will boast noticeable differences in bodywork, and may even be called R10. Following that, an open-top variant will debut.

The R8 is Audi's most audacious attempt to raise its profile, in its quest to become the world's best-selling luxury marque by 2015.

Mr Reinhold Carl, managing director of Audi Singapore, the manufacturer's fully owned regional office which recently assumed the role of importer, says awareness of the Audi brand has grown 'from 22 per cent to 35 per cent in the June-to-September period'.

But he says this is not enough, adding 'we have to do a lot more, spend a lot more money'.

For starters, he is doubling the advertising and marketing budget to '2 to 3 per cent of revenue', from around 1 per cent previously.

Audi dealer Premium Automobiles, owned by Indonesian businessman Hadi Tanaga, is erecting a temporary showroom opposite Cycle & Carriage in Alexandra Road. Its current showroom in Leng Kee Road will be rebuilt to add another display level.

Meanwhile, it is sourcing for a one-stop brand centre.

A slew of new models will arrive next year, including the A5 in March and A4 in May. Sports models like the S5, TT-S and A3 Cabriolet are also due. By the end of next year, the extreme 580bhp RS6 will debut.

More immediately, Audi fans who want to catch a glimpse of the new R8 can see it at the Marriott Hotel. On Sunday morning at 9am, it will parade down Orchard Road, along with an Auto Union Type C, Rallye Quattro A2 and R8 Le Mans - iconic Audi racers of the past.

The cars will then be displayed at the National Museum until Dec 2.