Limited Edition Audi R8 V10 RWS Is A Rear-Drive Supercar Made For Purists

Audi has revealed the new member of the R8 family, the limited edition RWS which stands for Rear Wheel Series.

The new R8 V10 RWS will be available in both the Coupe and Spyder versions and, as you might have guessed already, is exclusively rear-driven, ditching the all-wheel drive the standard model uses.

“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.”

Power comes from the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter FSI V10 of the “normal” R8, meaning 540PS (532hp) and 540Nm (398lb-ft) of peak torque. Audi claims a 0-62mph (100km/h) in 3.7 seconds (Spyder: 3.8 seconds), 0.3 seconds slower than the R8 V10 Quattro, and a top speed of 198mph (Spyder: 197mph), 1 mph off what the all-wheel drive model can achieve.

The new Audi R8 RWS is also 50kg (110.2 lb) lighter than the standard Quattro model, as it does away with things like a propshaft, multi-plate clutch and centre differential, tipping the scales at 1,590kg (3,505lbs) without the driver.

Audi plans to offer just 999 examples of the new R8 RWS worldwide, with prices starting at £110,000 ($144k in current exchange rates) for customers in the UK.