CarandDriver | Joseph Capparella | 10/18/2018
The performance-oriented Audi Sport division has ginned up a very special version of the R8 sports car just for the U.S. market by adding a Competition package. This new creation is based on the R8 V10 Plus coupe, and it comes equipped with all manner of performance-enhancing extras and visual tweaks. Only 10 examples will be made, making it a highly exclusive proposition.
The modifications begin with a few components meant to reduce weight, such as titanium backing plates for the brake pads, which shed 2.2 pounds, and 20-inch milled wheels that save another 26.4 pounds. A carbon-fiber aerodynamics kit includes a fixed rear wing, a front spoiler, a rear diffuser, and side sills, and Audi claims it will increase downforce by 220.5 pounds when the car is at its 196-mph top speed. Racing seats, an adjustable coil-over suspension, and upgraded brake pads are also on the menu.
It’s not all hard-core track components, though: the Competition package also comes with a few creature comforts, including a Bang & Olufsen sound system and leather upholstery. The 602-hp 5.2-liter V10, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and Quattro all-wheel-drive system are unchanged, but the R8 V10 Plus with Competition package may be slightly quicker than its regularly equipped stablemate—which went from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds in our testing—thanks to the weight saving.
The price for all this exclusivity and performance is steep compared to the standard R8 V10 Plus coupe, which starts at $196,950. Add a whole $42,950 to that for the Competition package, and you reach an all-in price of $239,900. (Both R8 models are subject to a $1300 gas-guzzler tax.) All 10 units will come in Suzuka Gray. If you’re interested, start talking to your dealership now: Audi says the R8 Competition package arrives in November, and there’s sure to be a rush on the extremely limited number of cars that are coming here.
Source: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/audi-r8-competition-package-v10-plus