Audi R8 GT - it's here

The Audi version of the Gallardo Superleggera - The Audi R8 GT

Audi has announced a limited run of lightweight R8 V10s – The Audi R8 GT. Just 333 will be made at around £140,000 each.

We knew Audi were working on a hardcore version of the R8. Rumours have persisted almost since the V10 version of the R8 bowed in at Detroit last year that Audi wanted to produce a ‘Superleggera’ version of its supercar.

We reported in March that Audi were planning a Spyder version of the V8 but also a lightweight version of the R8 V10. We thought it would be the R8 V10 RS. But it’s not. It’s the Audi R8 GT. And Audi are going to produce just 333 R8 GTs.

The Audi R8 GT will get a tweaked and fettled version of the V10 from the R8 with 560bhp – up 35bhp on the regular V10 – which tops even its Lamborghini sibling’s output. The chassis gets some work with stiffer springs and dampers, a 10mm lower ride height and a loosening of the ESP.

The extra power is shoved to all four wheels through a modified R-Tronic box (unfortunately) with a default 15/85 F/R Split. That can change to 30/70 depending on traction and the R8 GT also gets a mechanical locking rear diff.

But it’s not just more power for the R8 GT, it’s less weight. The windscreen gets thinner, the back window uses polycarbonate and many of the panels get swapped to carbon fibre for a total weight loss of around 100kg. All of this adds up to a 0-62mph of 3.6 seconds – an improvement of 0.3 seconds over the standard V10 – and a top speed of 199mph.

Cosmetically the R8 GT gets a fixed back wing, a front splitter, a couple of little aerodynamic wings on the front bumper and the chrome bits get a matt grey coating. Inside there is a length or three of Alcantara, a bespoke set of instrument graphics and a new gear lever.

If you want all the Audi-speak on the R8 GT have a look through the Audi R8 GT press release. The order book for the R8 GT opens this summer and the UK will be allocated just 33 of the £140,000 supercars. The complete run is only 333.

But that’ll never be enough. They need to go for the full number of the beast – not half measures.