The end is near for the Audi R8, but it is leaving with a bang. The 2023 R8 GT RWD is the most powerful rear-drive Audi of them all, and it’ll take a quarter of a million dollars to buy one in the US.
To be more specific, the 2023 Audi R8 GT starts at $249,900 in the United States. With Audi’s destination fee of $1,495 added, the figure jumps to $251,395. It’s certainly an expensive end to the R8’s long life, but even if you can afford one, your garage could be left empty. 333 are slated for worldwide production, but only 150 will come to the United States.
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What do you get for that price? We got to know the R8 GT and its 602-hp 5.2-liter V10 engine when it debuted in October, and slipped behind the wheel for a special first drive shortly before Thanksgiving. Borrowing a lot of inspiration from the R8 LMS race car, it’s 55 pounds lighter and as such can hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds – provided the rear wheels have traction. A new Torque Rear mode helps make the most of that traction, or lack thereof if the driver feels like drifting on the R8. Top speed hits just under 200 at a proud 199 mph.
In the US market, the R8 GT gains some special features. A sports exhaust system gives the V10 a fresh voice, while the side blades, exterior mirror housings and door sill inlays get a carbon treatment. Inside, you’ll find a Bang & Olufsen stereo, diamond-stitched headliner and more.
When the R8 GT reaches US dealerships in early 2023, it will embody the legacy of two R8 generations spanning 16 years. Launched in 2006 as a 2007 model, it first appeared with a 4.2-liter V8 producing 414 hp. The 5.2-liter V10 arrived for the 2009 model year, raising the bar to 525 hp. The first Audi R8 GT debuted in 2011, generating 552 hp sent to all four wheels.
