2023 Audi R8 GT revealed as supercar’s last hurrah

Audi released the first V10-powered R8 GT sports car in 2011, and it would be more than a decade before the second iteration finally arrived. The 2023 R8 GT goes down in history as the most powerful production rear-wheel-drive Audi ever, and the last of its kind.

Exterior

The new R8 GT continues to sport the familiar aesthetics of the second-generation line, sharing its bones with the Lamborghini Huracan. However, Audi saw it fit to differentiate the latest grand tourer from its siblings with exclusive add-on parts. 

It carries the familiar aesthetics with some obvious enhancements

There are black emblems all around, accompanied by a carbon aero kit rendered in a high gloss finish. The latter includes a front splitter, front flics, side skirt covers, diffuser, and a rear wing mounted on a gooseneck suspension. All components have undergone wind tunnel testing to ensure optimum aerodynamics. 

But being able to cut through the wind doesn’t mean anything if the car is heavy. To that end, Audi kept the new R8 V10’s weight at 1,570 kilograms, beginning with the 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Sport Cup 2 radials. More weight reduction measures include a light yet powerful ceramic braking system and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) front anti-roll bar.   

That rear diffuser is quite a sight

Much like its predecessor, the new R8 GT is offered in a matte Suzuka Gray finish. Other color options include Tangorot Metallic and Daytona Gray Metallic. 

Interior

Accommodations are still strictly for two, while serving as a nod to the original R8 GT’s cabin with the black and red color palette. For instance, this is only the second appearance of the distinctive red seatbelts.

Driver and passenger are surrounded by a race-inspired interior

Bucket seats proclaim the limited-edition model’s name in red contrast stitching, a look that’s reflected on the floor mats as well. The carbon fiber trim on the shift console features the unit’s sequential numbering just below the gearshift lever, a reminder to customers of their membership in a rather exclusive club.         

Tech & Safety

A large digital instrument cluster rests behind the flat-bottomed sport steering wheel, with pertinent data such as fuel level, vehicle speed, and power and torque figures surrounding a large, simulated tachometer. 

Red seatbelts have been carried over from the first R8 GT

New on the R8 GT (and the R8 line in general) is a Torque Rear mode that allows drivers to control the level of rear axle slip as part of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) feature. Seven different levels can be engaged using a satellite knob on the steering wheel, providing the opportunity to get as much oversteer as the user can handle on track days.   

Engine & Drivetrain

For the last time, the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 will sit midships on the latest R8 GT, tweaked to have an output of 602 horsepower and 565 Nm of torque. Routing power to the rear wheels is a new 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox featuring a revised gear ratio for faster shifts. 

This is the final appearance of the 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10

The resulting acceleration is set to impress, with the car blasting from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.4 seconds. An additional 6.7 seconds is all it takes to hit 200 kilometers per hour, and the new R8 GT possesses a top speed of 320 kilometers per hour.

Pricing 

Audi has pegged the 2023 R8 Coupe V10 GT RWD at 225,000 euros (more than Php 13.1 million). Only 333 units globally will be made, with 87 reserved for its home market of Germany. The model will be seen in Audi showrooms by 2023.  

Much like the first R8 GT, the new version will only have 333 examples    

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