Audi R8 V10 GT RWD

The V10-engined R8 is nearing the end of the road. Cue the most driver-focused version yet

- RICHARD MEADEN

WE SEEM TO BE DOING A LOT OF THESE LAUNCHES LATELY. Farewells, that is. Be it to some of our favourite sporting models, or the engines that power them. In the case of the R8, this isn't a goodbye (yet) to Audi's mid-engined supercar, but it is a somewhat melancholy adieu to the howling 5.2-litre V10 seen in the back (and front) of numerous quick Audis since 2006.

With time running out for the ten-cylinder engine, the new V10 GT RWD is Audi Sport's last hurrah. Limited to 333 individually numbered units worldwide (15 of which will come to the UK) and priced at c£200,000, it's a lighter, more powerful, more focused model with sharpened responses and track-honed options aimed at elevating the R8 driving experience to a whole new level. Sounds like a similar recipe to that used by Porsche's GT department; whether it brings 911 GT3 levels of enjoyment to the R8 is what we've come to find out.

First the basic stats and hardware changes. For the first time, Audi has given the rear-wheel-drive R8 the same power as the all-wheel-drive version: 611bhp at 8000rpm to be precise. There's slightly less torque (411lb ft, down from 428lb ft), but it arrives 200rpm earlier and holds until 7000rpm. There are shorter ratios for the seven-speed DSG gearbox, which clip 6mph from the top speed (now 199mph) but promise to keep the V10 fires stoked for maximum in-gear punch.

Chassis-wise there's a choice of standard-fit passive dampers or an optional manually adjustable coil-over set-up, the latter allowing you to play with ride height and compression and rebound settings. There's also 'Torque Rear', a standard seven-stage adjustable traction control that allows varying degrees of slip, which sounds like fun. Weight savings depend on which model you compare with the GT RWD, but Audi claims 20kg saved over the Performance RWD. Forged wheels, a carbon fibre front anti-roll bar and standard-fit carbon-ceramic brakes all help here.