Audi celebrates N24 win with special R8
Limited Audi R8 V10 Plus gains race car’s tricolour paint highlights and extra kitAudi has announced it will commemorate its 2015 win at the Nurburgring 24-Hour with a new special-edition R8 road car inspired by the winning R8 LMS race car.
Just 24 N24-themed special-editions, called the 'R8 V10 plus selection 24h', will be made for interested buyers from around the globe.
The German car-maker says the standard R8 already shares around 50 per cent of its components with the racer but, disappointingly, the road car receives neither more power nor go-faster aero aids from the racer.
Instead, buyers will have to make do with the standard car’s 449kW 5.2-litre V10 engine that eases the supercar to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds before topping out at 330km/h.
Differing from the regular coupe, the special R8 has body panels painted white, grey and black with red highlights. The front spoiler, door mirrors, rear wing and engine cover, meanwhile, are all carbon-fibre with a gloss finish.
Look closer and there’s subtle ‘R8 24h’ logos on the side blades.
Inside, there’s yet more 24h logos and glossy carbon-fibre, plus a serial number indicating which of the 24 cars you own.
Finally, the puddle lamps also join in the celebration, projecting ‘R8 24h’ logos on the road’s surface. In the future, Audi says, all R8 puddle lamps will be customisable to customer wishes.
As well as the style upgrades, Audi says each of the special-editions will come with optional magnetic dampers, a sports exhaust, black 20-inch wheels and laser headlights as standard.
In Europe, the limited-run R8 V10 will be offered to buyers for around $355,000 -- not bad considering our basic R8 V10 Plus models are priced from $389,900 (plus on-road costs). It’s not known how many, if any, of the special-editions will make it Down Under, or for what premium.
Last year’s Nurburgring win was made all the more special for the German car-maker because the N24 was won by the second-generation R8 LMS race car’s on its racing debut.
Since then, the current R8 LMS car has helped Audi rack up more wins in the GT3 category. To date, the manufacturer says it’s won an incredible 323 times in the race series.
The next Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race will take place over May 26-29.
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