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The Germanic Lamborghini, the Audi R8, has received the Superleggera treatment. Shortly after the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera was released, Audi has done the same. It’s called the R8 GT, and it’s a limited production run of 333 cars worldwide. The GT comes only with Quattro all-wheel drive, equipped with the R tronic single-clutch automated manual transmission and powered by a massaged 5.2-liter V-10 making 560 bhp, up 35 bhp from stock and only 10 shy of the Lambo. But more important, this beauty has lost 220 pounds! In comparison, the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera shed only 154 lb.
The Audi GT went on a diet of lighter parts, but didn’t remove any of the car’s amenities or options. Lightweight bucket seats alone save 69 lb. Other places where weight was saved were the battery (21 lb.), carpet (17 lb.), brake hats (9 lb.), insulation (6 lb.) and air intake (5 lb.). Weight in smaller amounts was shaved with the use of thinner windshield glass, a high-grade steel exhaust and use of carbon fiber in selected elements such as the smaller side mirrors and signature sideblades. Its fixed carbon wing that replaces the movable aerodynamic flap indicates just how track- oriented this model is, as does the car’s adjustable coil-over suspension with 10-mm lower ride height and an increased amount of static camber. The aerodynamic tweaks of the car are said to improve downforce, but not change the 0.36 coefficient of drag or the 21.42 sq.-ft. frontal area.
Options on the regular R8 that are standard on the GT are the LED headlamps and park assist system, but there are a few exclusive to the GT. These all hinge on replacing things with those made of carbon fiber, exchanging leather for Alcantara, or adding “R8 GT” embroidery.
For those who just want an ultimate track toy, a race package is available and includes a bolt-in roll bar, four-point street-legal safety harness, battery kill switch and fire extinguisher. Or let the boys at the Neckarsulm plant take it to the next level and have them install a full cage and opt for sticky street legal race rubber to be mounted on the unique 19-in. forged wheels. Standard sizes are 235/35-19 front and 295/30-19 rear on 8.5- and 11-in. width rims. Coincidently these are the same as on the Lamborghini. Optional 305 rear tires with unique wheels can be requested. Inside those wheels are the standard carbon ceramic brakes, but with the aluminum calipers painted red.
The R8 started as a tribute to Audi’s success at Le Mans. It has become a success in its own right. Is it taking the car too far, to challenge sibling Lamborghini? We thought that might be the case with the 5.2-liter V-10, and now that the R8 GT has appeared, there is only the thinnest of lines that seem to separate the Gallardo and R8. We don’t know which car we prefer, and likely will have to ponder that very question for time to come. Pricing of the R8 GT starts at €193,000. That translates to just over a quarter million U.S. currency—as the saying goes, if you have to ask...
