New R8 GT is the last Audi V10 supercar | GRR
Audi is getting ready to say goodbye to the R8 as we know it, as the second-generation car and its long-serving beloved V10 engine head for the history books. It isn’t going out without a fight though. Meet the R8 V10 GT, a bewinged rear-driven swansong for Audi’s excellent supercar.
You won’t mistake the GT for other R8s, with a smattering of carbon aero addenda, from the extended front splitter and canards, to the swan-neck rear wing. Black R8 GT badging and ten-spoke lightweight forged wheels complete the look.
Speaking of the wheels, they join a raft of changes that lead to a 20kg reduction in weight overall compared with the R8 RWD, even with the added aero bits. They join carbon seats and carbon brakes in dropping the meat, to 1,570kg without the driver.
The GT gets the full meat and potatoes of the R8’s 5.2-litre V10, with 620PS on tap spinning at up to 8,700rpm, going to the rear wheels via a quickened seven-speed DSG with shorter snappier ratios. It’ll get to 62mph officially in 3.4 seconds, on the way to a 199mph top speed.
Chassis and electronics wise, there’s a Torque Rear Drive Mode, which sounds an awful lot like Ferrari’s Side Slip Control, with its seven varying levels of rear slip allowance. The R8 GT comes as standard with sports suspension, with a carbon anti-roll bar, though there is a sportier adjustable coilover setup that comes as an option.
The new R8 GT pays homage to the previous version from 2010 with its red and black interior and its colour palette, with Suzuka Gray pictured. Tango Red, Mythos Black and Daytona Gray are also available.
We don’t expect Huracan STO levels of hardcore from the R8 GT, which is perhaps a shame, though this is befitting the R8’s often more restrained character when compared to its Lamborghini siblings. The last R8 could well be the definitive R8 of this generation.
As with the original, just 333 R8 GTs are to be made, with only 15 expected to make their way to the UK. There’s no word on price yet, though we expect the GT to approach but not breach the £200,000 mark, compared with the next most expensive version, the £156,000 R8 V10 Performance.