Audi is known for few things. Unique style and German luxury
are two of them, and a close third is all-wheel drive, which the marque brands
as quattro.
Sitting at the top of the lineup, and making excellent use
of quattro to help it claw its way around a track or up a steep Beverly Hills
driveway is the R8.
Now, Audi Sport is aiming to make the R8 an even more
focused enthusiast's car with the rear-drive R8 V-10 RWS (Rear Wheel Series).
Audi revealed the car today on the eve of the Frankfurt auto show.
Audi says the R8 V10 RWS is the company's first production
model with rear-drive as a limited edition, and it will build just 999
examples, with a mix of coupe and convertible Spyder variants.
"The R8 V10 RWS is made for purists," said Stephan
Winkelmann, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH. "A limited-edition special model for
customers with an appreciation for essential driving enjoyment, the R8 V10 RWS
is an absolutely exclusive offer. With its mid-mounted V10 engine and
rear-wheel drive, it successfully brings the driving concept of our R8 LMS
racing car to the streets."
The R8 V10 RWS is powered by the 5.2-liter V10 in its
standard form, meaning it puts out 540 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque.
Audi quotes 0-60 mph times of 3.7 seconds for the coupe and 3.8 seconds for the
Spyder, both of which are about 0.2 second behind the quattro versions. Without
the pieces for the quattro system (propshaft, multi-plate clutch, and center
differential), the coupe weighs 110 pounds less than its AWD sibling and the
Spyder weighs 88 pounds less. Audi says the suspension is tuned for the
rear-drive setup.
Between the rear-drive layout and the car's control systems,
the R8 will be able to perform controlled drifts. To do so, the driver must
chose the Dynamic mode in the Audi drive select system and the Sport mode in
the stability control system.
Onlookers will have visual cues to tell that they have
spotted a rear-drive R8. The grille has a matte black finish, the front and
rear air ducts are matte black, and the coupe's upper sideblade is gloss black
while the lower blade is body color. Both body styles also have black 5-spoke
19-inch wheels, with 245/35 tires up front and 295/35s at the rear. Like the R8
LMS GT 4, the engineering of which likely made this car possible, buyers can
opt for unique red graphics running over the hood, roof, and rear end.
Inside, the sport seats are upholstered in leather and
Alcantara, and the dash has a "1 of 999" emblem. Audi will offer a
bucket seat option as well.
Audi is taking orders for the R8 V10 RWS in Europe this fall
with the first deliveries in early 2018. The coupe starts at 140,000 euros, the
Spyder at 153,000 euros.
Audi of America CEO Scott Keogh told Motor Authority that
the car is confirmed for the U.S. in very limited quantities, but pricing
hasn't been announced. Keogh also said, "We know we're a quattro company,
but we also have a very strong racing heritage, and that's what we're
bringing."
We like the passion.
source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1112618_audi-r8-v10-rws-goes-rear-drive-for-driving-purists
by Kirk Bell
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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