The new model, unlike its predecessor, R8 V10 RWS is here to stay.
Audi stated in September 2018 that it would be looking at bringing back its not a-Quattro flagship sports car. Now they are doing it with a rear-wheel-drive variant. It’s a permanent member the lineup, and will not be limited to 999 copies like its predecessor. The Four Rings will also change the car’s name to RWD (Rear Wheel Series), which makes more sense.
The rear-wheel-drive R8 comes standard with the front blade, side inserts and diffuser in glossy black. However, you can choose to add a carbon package. You can order the droptop version with an extended-black appearance pack. The body can also be painted in a new color called “Kemora grey.”
This new version is tailored for purists and uses Audi’s 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10. The FSI unit produces 532 horsepower and 398 pound feet (540 Newton-meters), of torque to the rear axle via a seven speed S tronic transmission with a mechanical locking differential. The new R8 is smaller than the base R8 Coupe V10 Quattro which has 562 horsepower and 413 lb.ft (560Nm). To match the RWS, the RWD has been slashed by 30 HP and 15 lb/ft (20 Nm).
Long Live the R8
The setup allows for a sprint of 0 to 62mph (100 km/h), in just 3.7 seconds. In the case of the Coupe the top speed is 199 mph/320 km/h, while the Spyder, due to its heavier weight, requires a tenth more to sprint to the maximum speed of 198 mph (318km/h).
The Quattro setup was removed and the R8 V10 RWD weighs 65 kg (143 lbs) less than the R8 V10 Quattro coupe, which is 1,595 kg (3 516 lbs) without the driver. After removing the propeller shaft and multi-plate clutches and the front axle differential, the R8 V10 RWD Spyder now weighs 1,695 kilograms (3,737 lbs).
Audi will soon have the R8 V10 RWD available in Europe.