Marking the ultimate in R8 performance, the R8 GT uses Audi's 5.2-liter V10, producing 560 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. Although the R8 GT focuses on lightness, it retains Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. The quattro system delivers power to the wheels with a 15 percent front, 85 percent rear split by default. If needed, power distribution can be swapped to provide for 30 percent in the front and 70 in the rear.
Since AWD was retained, Audi had to find non-traditional ways to drop the weight of the R8 GT to a total of just 3,362 lbs.
How Audi managed to shave over 220 pounds from the R8
To achieve the drop in weight, the German automaker first turned to the glass on the supercar. The windshield now uses thinner glass, with the bulkhead between the passenger cell and engine compartment, as well as the window in the rear hatch being replaced with lightweight polycarbonate. The changes to the glass shaved just shy of 20 lbs from the total weight. The switch to the fixed rear wing saved 2.65 lbs, the thinner sheet metal and additional body cutouts dropped 5.73 more lbs.
Audi didn’t just cut the materials out, they also swapped them out. The rear hatch, rear bumper and slideblades are now made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, saving another 30 lbs. Other various vehicle technical components, such as brakes and suspension bits, were modified for an impressive 43 lbs of savings – before turning to the interior for changes.
Inside, Audi swapped in lighter carpet and bucket seats, along with various structural changes for another 87 lbs of weight savings.
Although not involved in weight savings, the R8 GT also features white dial gauges with unique badges, along with a newly designed gear selector lever made from CFRP and aluminum. The center tunnel and the door liners sport decorative inlays in the body color, while the door sills feature trims of matte aluminum decorated with the R8 GT logo.
R8 GT gets an exclusive look
Audi says that many of the changes made to reduce the weight of the R8 GT also reduce the weight and enhance the aerodynamics. The R8 GT produces even more downforce at high speeds than the standard production model – without any increase in the Cd value (0.36) or frontal area (21.42 sq ft).
The grille is painted matte black, surrounded by a single frame which is finished in matte titanium gray – along with the struts and slats in the air intakes. The lower front splitter is double lipped and is made from carbon fiber. On either side of the front fascia you will find curved flics to help increase downforce over the front axle – which are also formed from carbon fiber.
Down each side of the R8 GT are the characteristic slingblades – finished in matte carbon fiber – the same material found in the reduced-size side mirrors.
Under the R8 GT sit 19-inch, twin five-spoke wheels with a Y design that are finished in a titanium color. the wheels are wrapped in 235/35/R19 rubber in the front with an 8.5-inch wide wheel, while the rear wheels are 11 inches wide and are covered in 295/30/R19 rubber. Audi says that upon request it can also fit 305/30R19 tires for the rear.
Being as the R8 GT is a supercar, buyers are given flexibility for other wheel designs and tires as well, including Sport Cup tires.
Hiding behind whichever wheels the buyer decides to go with are internally ventilated and drilled carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs, shedding nine lbs from the standard brakes. Rotors measure 15 inches in the front and 14 inches in the rear - the same size as some wheels on economy cars.
Behind the R8 GT – a view which will be common for standard R8 owners – there are several obvious and unique changes. The motorized rear wing has been replaced with a large, fixed wing, also finished in matte carbon fiber. The ventilation louvers found on both sides of the rear hatch and the CFRP bumper, which now integrates the larger, round tailpipes and vents for the wheel wells, have also been redesigned.
Audi made R8 GT available in Samoa Orange metallic, Suzuka Gray metallic, Ice Silver metallic and Phantom Black pearl.
Lighter AND more powerful
Rather than stopping at just shedding weight to provide for performance enhancements, Audi decided to also increase the output of its 5.2-liter V10 to 560 horsepower. Torque is up to 398 lb-ft – an increase of 7.38 over the standard R8. Audi says the changes came from changes to the vehicle’s ECU, and allow the R8 GT to “sprint from a standing start to highway speed (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds,” and on to 124 mph in just 10.8 seconds. The R8 GT tops out at 198.84 mph.
Audi says that the ESP stabilization program has also received unique tuning for the R8 GT, including a Sport mode with the push of a button. Audi says that using Sport mode will provide for “spectacular, but safe, oversteer when accelerating out of a corner.”
If you are looking to pick an R8 GT up for yourself, you will have to look to the used market as just 333 examples were produced for global consumption, with a scant 90 being U.S.-bound - all of which have been accounted for.
Key Competitors
As a lightweight, driver-focused performance machine, the R8 GT faces competition from the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.
Basic Specs
| Base Price | $196,800 |
| Drivetrain | All Wheel Drive |
| Curb Weight (lbs) | 3362 |
| City (MPG) | 13 |
| Hwy (MPG) | 19 |
| Horsepower | 560@8000 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 398@6500 |
| Wheelbase | 104.3 |
| Length (in.) | 174.6 |
| Width (in.) | 79.9 |
| Height (in.) | 49.9 |
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