Audi R8 GT debuts with small upgrades

Audi is now peddling a mildy-upgraded version of their R8 V10 beluga whale, at a substantially higher price, dubbing it the Audi R8 GT.

The “upgrades” actually involved reducing weight by using a thinner glass windshield, polycarbonate rear windows and the replacement of various aluminum body panels with carbon-fibre, cutting down 100 kg of whale blubber. Other downgrades include a fixed rear wing, thinner sheet metal and additional “cutouts,” none of which sound good in terms of crashworthiness.

The real upgrade would be the 5.2-litre V10, which has been bumped up to 560 hp and 540 Nm of torque, bettering its Lamborghini Gallardo platform-mate, but still unlikely to better the Nissan GT-R SpecV. The R8 GT is only available with the universally-panned R-Tronic semi-automatic gearbox, mated to Quattro all-wheel-drive. Audi claims the R8 GT can do the 0-100 kph run in 3.6 seconds and 0-200 kph in 10.6 seconds, with a top speed of 318 kph.

A race package is available that includes a bolt-in roll bar, four-point belts, a fire extinguisher and a kill switch for the battery. Given the “lightness” of the car, it seems like this safety package would be a good idea.

Thankfully, only 333 examples of the R8 GT will be built and the price in Germany is €193,000, or about Dhs 940,000. Considering our fallout with Audi Middle East, we have no information about availability in the UAE and other GCC countries.