Let’s take it back to 2018 to the special edition Audi R8 V10 Plus Performance Parts Edition. A unique limited edition model created by Audi-Sport, the Performance Parts Edition wasn’t backed with mass promotion by Audi, which could be why some people don’t even know of its existence…
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If you’re a performance car enthusiast, you’re probably no stranger to the Audi R8. With its futuristic looks, blistering performance and revered Germanic build quality, it’s an iconic supercar that has been turning heads since its introduction in 2006. Over the years, Audi has refined the recipe, producing ever faster, more extreme and more capable models that push the boundaries of the model to the limits. Many of these special editions will be well known to fans of the Ingolstadt-based brand, the very latest being the Audi R8 GT. This limited edition model, of which only 333 will be produced, is powered by the firm’s howling V10 powerplant and sends all of its 611bhp to the rear wheels for the purest driving experience possible. It’s also planned to be the very last R8 to feature an internal combustion engine, as future versions of Audi’s halo-supercar will likely utilise a hybrid V8 powerplant, a revision made to comply with ever stricter emissions regulations. But even this radical machine is commonplace in comparison to one limited edition R8. A model that remains under the radar to much of the masses – and even the odd Audi aficionado – to this very day: The Audi R8 V10 Plus Performance Parts Edition. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the details of this incredible hidden gem and discover why it’s the ultimate unicorn for Audi lovers.
Unveiling The Unicorn
The Audi R8 Performance Parts Edition is a limited production model that is arguably the most-hardcore road-going Audi R8 ever made. A collaboration between Audi Sport GmbH and Audi Sport Performance Parts to celebrate the success of the R8 in motorsport, specifically in the GT3 racing series, this amazing motoring marriage has resulted in a car that combines stunning performance with light weight and unique design elements. Only 44 of these beauties were ever produced, with the majority being left-hand-drive and coming in a striking matte Suzuka Gray paint job. However, even rarer still, are the right-hand-drive models, of which only five were produced exclusively for the UK market and are marked out by a stunning coat of Audi Exclusive Misano Red paint, making it an extremely rare find for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Born out of necessity
Unlike most car models, the R8 Performance Parts Edition was a model that was never officially planned. The catalyst for its very existence being in response to an abrupt change in automotive regulations, rather than by design.
The original concept was not to build a special edition model at all, but to simply use the experience and knowledge gained by Audi Sport’s racing enterprises to develop a range of high performance upgrades that owners of even base model R8’s could buy and fit to their cars through the Audi dealer network. It was an idea based on the way the Porsche owners can benefit from parts from its racing arm Mathay Racing, and was considered to be a way to take on their Stuttgart-based cousins in the high performance realm of hardcore trackday enthusiasts, a genre that was dominated by the likes of the Porsche 991.2 GT3 and GT3 RS.
However, before the parts program could be officially launched, a ruling came down from the European union that from 1st September 2018, all cars registered in EU countries must comply with the Worldwide Harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) standards. These standards define levels of pollutants, CO2 emission standards and fuel consumption of conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid automobiles, as well as the all-electric range of plug-in electric vehicles.
Being a high performance machine, the R8 was already a vehicle pushing close to the boundaries of the regulations and, unfortunately, the newly developed race-proven aero parts added so much extra downforce – and therefore drag – that the cars would then not be able to meet the stricter emissions standards, throwing the whole program into disarray, as owners wishing to fit the parts to new cars after the deadline would not be able to register them.
With a whole host of exquisite upgrades parts now becoming redundant, Audi decided to flip the script. Instead of offering these parts as upgrades, they would combine them all in a ultra limited special edition that would be released – and registered – before the new regulations came into effect.
The result was the R8 Performance Parts Edition. With an on-the-road (OTR) retail price of £176,560, only 44 were to be made – 39 in left hand drive and just five in right hand drive, the latter being examples allocated to the UK market.
So exclusive was the model, that it never had an official launch, with cars only being offered to a handful of respected enthusiasts. In fact, there weren’t even any kept for Audi’s press fleet, meaning not even the most influential motoring journalists could sample Audi’s rarest R8. This lack of column inches in the press had the effect of keeping this hidden gem firmly under the radar of most petrolheads, with only the most knowledgeable Audi aficionados aware of its existence.
Unleashing The Beast
The Audi R8 Audi Sport Performance Parts Edition boasts the same mighty 5.2-litre V10 petrol engine as the V10 Plus model, delivering a jaw-dropping 610bhp and 413 lb ft of torque. This impressive level of grunt has been enhanced with a titanium exhaust system that is devoid of sound-sapping OPF filters, which, when combined with the sophisticated all-wheel drive system, can propel driver and passenger from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, leaving you breathless as it continues to accelerate to a top speed of 205 mph. Thankfully, Audi saw fit to equip the R8 V10 Plus Performance Parts Edition with an equally-impressive carbon-ceramic braking system. Featuring unique Pagid-developed Titanium-backed brakes pads and braided brake lines, it’s more than capable of reigning-in even the most enthusiastic B-road blasts with ease.
Opulent Interior
The interior of the Audi R8 V10 Plus Performance Parts Edition is just as impressive as its exterior and comes complete with a numbered plaque, indicating its limited edition status. Providing information to the driver is Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit, which displays all of the car’s vital data on a 12.3-inch digital display. The deep Recaro bucket seats (which are an option of the V10 Plus, but standard of the Performance Parts Editon) are upholstered in perforated fine Nappa leather, with contrasting stitching and carbon fibre trim, while the Sport contour steering wheel is trimmed in tactile Alcantara with a red 12 o’clock marker. The car also features a high fidelity Bang & Olufsen sound system, making it the perfect blend of both high performance and luxury.
Add Lightness
The striking sharp lines of the body are made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), which combine with upgraded Titanium componentry to reduce the weight of this most special of special editions by 100kg. As well as the aforementioned exhaust system (which on this particular example owned by us here at Automotive Addiction has been upgraded even further to a custom made Brook Racing unit in exotic Inconel), it also features Audi Sport three-way adjustable coilovers. Fully adjustable for height, rebound and compressions, and coming with additional shims (for use on the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife, where the car was developed) this motorsport-inspired suspension works in harmony with ultra-light 20in forged alloy wheels shod with grippy Michelin Cup 2 tyres. These offer a substantial 8kg reduction in unsprung mass, aiding agility, acceleration and braking.
Greater than the sum of its parts
As you can see, the Audi R8 V10 Plus Performance Parts Edition is a true unicorn in the world of high-performance sports cars. With its impressive performance upgrades, striking model-exclusive exterior modifications, and luxurious interior enhancements, it is sure to impress even the most discerning car enthusiasts. Add to this its severely limited availability, (especially in right hand drive) and this is a car that is sure to hold its value and become a coveted collector’s item as well as a great investment piece for any true petrolhead. So if you’re in the market to purchase a high-performance sports car, and if you can find one, the Audi R8 V10 Plus Performance Parts Edition should be right at the top of your list.
Kept under lock and key
If you like the idea of owning a Performance Parts Edition, but can’t find one for sale – or afford one for that matter! – you might think you could create your own by purchasing the upgraded parts from Audi and fitting them yourself. Nope! To keep the model exclusive, Audi will only release these special parts to existing owners, and even then, you have to produce a current V5C logbook for the car, in person, and also prove why you need the part – buy showing the original part to be damaged for example. This might sound stingy, but it ensures only genuine cars get to wear these revered parts and keeps the legend of the unicorn intact.
Where are they now?
Of the five right hand drive examples that were allocated to the UK, at the time of writing, all are currently thought to remain in existence. One has been written off with structural damage and returned to the road as a Cat S, two are owned by one enthusiast and remain with delivery mileage, one has covered almost 10,000 miles and one, with just 3600 miles, has been the personal car of Automotive Addiction’s managing director Dhyllan since just 700 miles from new.
