Audi reveals its final V10 race supercar

AUDI will bid farewell to its iconic R8 supercar and its high-revving V10 engine with a final racetrack-focused GT model.

Officially known as the R8 Coupe V10 GT RWD, it is pitched as the final version of Audi's supercar in its current form before the R8 and its Lamborghini Huracan twin and their shared V10 engine go out of production within the next 18 months.

Audi has vowed to stop launching new internal combustion engine vehicles as early as 2026 on its way to selling only electric cars by 2033.

As such, the R8 V10 GT RWD signals the end of an era by rightfully being the most powerful rear-wheel-drive model the German manufacturer has ever produced.

The two-door coupe will reach showrooms around the globe in early 2023 at a price of 225 000 (R3 990 000) with strictly 333 examples to be built for the entire world, said Audi.

Based on the rear-wheel-drive R8 V10 Performance, the GT sees an uprated 5.2 litre, naturally-aspirated, V10 block generating a monumental 456kW and 565Nm, allowing it to surpass the 100km/h landmark in a brisk 3.4 seconds and 200km/h in 10.1 seconds, while a maximum of 320km/h is on the cards.

Also improved is the seven-speed automatic gearbox which now achieves faster shift times, thanks to altered gear ratios, and an all-new Torque Rear drive mode has also been added.

The latter makes use of information from the wheel speed sensors, steering angle, accelerator position, and the selected gear to control slippage at the rear wheel in seven stages.

Stage one allows 'little slippage', while stage seven provides 'a lot of slippage' for controlled oversteering, said Audi.

Compared to the Performance, the GT sees a weight savings of 20kg, coming down to a dry weight of 1 570kg thereby increasing road-holding and cornering dynamics, said its engineers.

The slimming down is partly a result of 20-inch forged wheels shod with Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres, a carbon ceramic braking system that’s lighter than the steel brakes of old, an anti-roll bar constructed from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, and lightweight bucket seats.

Adding to its exclusivity are fitment R8 GT lettering on the tail, black badging, and the Carbon Aerokit in high gloss that enhances stability and allows faster cornering speeds.

It also gets red seatbelts which have thus far only been available in the previous GT which debuted 12 years ago; blackand-red upholstery, model-designation lettering on the floormats, treadplates, and bucket seats, and a carbon inlay in the gear selector that denotes the specific unit number.