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Audi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It Cheaper

The rumors were true. Audi Sport has just revealed its first rear-wheel drive sportscar. It's called the R8 V10 RWS and got rid of the quattro system for a more pure experience.
Audi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It Cheaper 83 photos
Photo: Audi
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R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It CheaperAudi R8 V10 RWS Revealed: quattro Delete Shaves 50 KG, Makes It Cheaper
There are no other rear-wheel drive Audis currently in production. And this one will be built in strictly limited numbers: 999 examples. That alone ensures its success.

Just like the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni or the Huracan LP580-2, this Audi wants people to enjoy the power without the organ-torturing traction. By getting rid of the drive shafts to the front and the center diff, engineers have managed to shave approximately 50 kilograms (110 lbs). But at 1,590kg (3,505lbs) without the driver, it's still not a McLaren.

Unlike the Lamborghinis, however, the V10 engine's power also takes a big hit. Audi only saw fit to offer the standard 540 HP and 540 Newton-meters (398 pound-feet). It also does without the big carbon wing of the V10 plus because this R8 wants to have a frisky rear end.

By de-clawing the front end, they've also affected acceleration a little bit, as the 0 to 100 km/h sprint now takes 3.7 seconds. There's also going to be a roadster version that needs 3.8 seconds. In both cases, the times are 0.3s slower. The top speed is now 198mph (Spyder: 197mph), one mph off from what the AWD models manage.

The really good news is that prices are down too. A standard coupe starts from just €140,000, while R8 RWS Spyder starts from €153,000. That's a massive €26,000 discount compared to the equivalent 540 horsepower R8 model.

Deliveries in Europe are scheduled for this fall. It will take a little longer for the UK models to arrive. However, they too will be cheap at £110,000. That sweet engine sound is going to tempt a few people away from the base McLaren models. Let's just hope it handles better than the Balboni!

“A limited-edition special model for customers with an appreciation for essential driving enjoyment, the R8 V10 RWS is an absolutely exclusive offer,” said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH. “With its mid-mounted V10 engine and rear-wheel drive, it successfully brings the driving concept of our R8 LMS racing car to the streets.”
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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