2011 Audi R8 GT Revealed: Weight Down, Power Up

AUDI HAS added a fourth model to its growing R8 line-up, in the form of the limited-edition 2011 Audi R8 GT.

Based on the 5.2 FSI V10 model, the R8 GT is both lighter and meaner than its 'regular' siblings.

Thanks to its alumininium spaceframe, the R8 was already close to its optimum weight. Nonetheless, Audi has managed to cut a further 100kg from the supercar's usual 1625kg kerb weight by swapping a number of aluminium panels for carbon fibre versions. There is also a thinner windscreen, and a polycarbonate rear window.

If slicing the equivalent of a human passenger from its mass isn't enough, Audi has eked a further 27kW of power from the big V10, making for a total of 418kW.

The boost in power comes courtesy of tweaks to the engine electronics, leading also to a small boost in torque - up 10Nm to 540Nm at 6500rpm.

The 0-100km/h sprint is now covered in 3.6 seconds (3.9 for the regular R8 V10), and top speed is up to 320km/h (versus 316km/h).

For transmissions, the R8 GT is available only with the hydraulically-actuated R tronic sequential 'manual' transmission, which Audi claims can change gears a within a tenth of a second at high load.

Audi will limit the R8 GT to just 333 units, priced at around €193,000 (AU$276,000) in Europe. With the V10 R8 starting at around $341,900 in Australia, expect local prices to be north of $400,000.