The last wail of the V10!
As the trend continues within the car industry to electrify everything we are seeing the last of the great petrol-powered sports cars. Audi decided that the last hoorah for the R8 would be the most focused. Most R8s have always competed in the “Everyday Supercar” space however the new GT is more of the track car you could drive on the road. Audi has been making the R8 for some time now and has the formula down for the complete sports car package, much like what Porsche did with the 911.
Fossil Fuel.
As has been mentioned this is the swansong on the naturally aspirated V10 that has found its spot in both the Lamborghini Hurracan and the R8 and in various states of tune. The free-revving 5.2l unit is capable of producing 456kw(620ps) and 565 N.m. It can rev all the way up to sonorous 8700rpm. It’s also the most powerful RWD version of the R8. That power is sent to the rear wheels via a new 7-speed DCT transmission and Audi claims it can achieve the 0-100 kph dash in 3.4 seconds however I think conditions would have to be perfect to achieve that but 3.6s should be consistently achievable. What does help the GT is the new standard fitment of exclusive lightweight 20″ rims to reduce unsprung mass, they also look pretty cool in my opinion. Options include fitting Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres for that track day stickiness.
Not just Skin deep.
Audi has also made some significant changes to the suspension to aid its weight loss and dynamic prowess. With items like a CFRP anti-roll bar and aluminium couplers, they added strength to the areas that need it whilst saving weight. Also standard with the new GT is the Carbon ceramic brakes which as we all know by now almost fade-free use on track when pushing it. If this is still not enough you could also opt for the coil over suspension which is adjustable and Audi will even supply a guide on adjustments for those who what to have it set correctly for the conditions or track type.
A Look to Fit Its Status.
To differentiate the GT from its stablemates Audi has adorned the GT with loads of carbon fibre aero bits which they claim generates downforce and better stability. It also looks pretty sweet! The interior pays homage to the original GT from 2010 with a black and red colour scheme. Apart from that and the unique car number in the centre console as they are only making 333 of them it’s pretty much standard R8 inside which is a good thing as it’s a very nice place to be. Audi will only offer it in 3 colours. You better be fast if you want one as I think they will sell out quickly even with a starting price tag of 225000 euros.
