Audi R8 GT To Star At Melbourne International Motor Show

ZETLAND, AUSTRALIA – June 16, 2011: Audi Australia has confirmed the stunning R8 GT will star alongside the all-new A6 at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in July. Lighter, faster and more powerful, the 412 kW R8 GT is the pinnacle of Audi’s performance engineering and with just five cars coming to Australia will be one of the most exclusive cars on the road.

More dynamic, lighter, more powerful and faster: Audi presents the limitedproduction version of its R8 high-performance sports car -- the R8 GT. The output of its 5.2-litre FSI V10 has been increased to 412 kW and 540 Nm, while vehicle weight has been reduced by roughly 100 kilograms through the extensive use of carbonfibre composites.

The R8 GT thunders from zero to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, scorches from 0-200km/h in just 10.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 320 km/h. Yet despite this prodigious performance, the efficient direct-injection V10 engine consumes just 13.9 litres of fuel per 100 km on average.

Its hand-built aluminium body featuring an Audi Space Frame (ASF) tips the scales at just 210 kilograms. With extensive fine-tuning and the use of carbon-fibre composites (CFC), the Audi engineers were able to reduce the weight of the highperformance sports car by 100 kilograms compared to the Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro.

The result is a curb weight of just 1,525 kilograms and an extremely high power toweight ratio of 270 kW per 1000 kilograms. The mid-engine sports car never loses its composure as it delivers its power to the road via quattro permanent all-wheel drive and the lightning-fast shifts of its R tronic transmission.

The R8 GT is a driving machine with breathtaking acceleration and lightning-fast, nearly instantaneous response. The 19-inch wheels keep the car planted firmly on the asphalt, and the optional carbon-fibre ceramic brakes easily keep the power under control.

This limited edition supercar further underscores its exclusive status with visual modifications to the interior and exterior, including newly designed bumpers in CFC and bucket seats with a chassis of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP).

Just 333 Audi R8 GTs will be built, with only 5 coming to Australia and the entire production run sold out within weeks, ensuring the R8 GT is one of the fastest, most exclusive cars available anywhere in the world.