Report: Audi R8 GT3 Prototype Already Built, Awaiting Final Approval
News that Audi is planning a light-weight version of the R8 emerged several weeks ago, but according to a recent report the car already exists – or at least one of them does, anyway. Designed to bring Audi’s R8 GT3 LMS car to the production realm, it could get the R8 GT3 moniker, designed to take on Porsche’s iconic GT3.
According to Audi R8 project boss Armin Kappler, one road-ready car has already been produced, but has yet to be given the full approval. Likely to keep the 5.2 FSI V10 engine, the car would shed pounds though the use of light weight carbon fiber body parts and a stripped-down interior, while also see the use of a dual-clutch gearbox. What remains to be seen is if Audi would deliver the car without quattro all-wheel drive, as the GT3 race car is a rear-drive machine. This would go against Audi’s quattro philosophy, but would make sense considering the GT3 name and would also help keep weight to a minimum.
If Audi does move ahead with plans for an R8 GT3 street car, it would mean that much like Porsche and Lamborghini, a new R8 iteration would debut almost every year.
[Source: AutoCar]
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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love the R8