Audi used this year?s New York auto show to show off the wares of its Audi Sport division?formerly known as Quattro GmbH?including a special-edition R8 plus the TT RS, the RS3 sedan, and the RS5 coupe as well as this new race car. Dubbed the R8 LMS GT4, it will compete in, you guessed it, the GT4 class coming stateside in racing series such as the Pirelli World Challenge and the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.
Said to share some 60 percent of its parts with the streetgoing R8, including its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and brakes, the GT4 was described to us as ?essentially an R8 V10 Plus with the interior ripped out and that’s been caged.? It uses a 5.2-liter V-10 producing up to 495 horsepower, although output will depend on specific series regulations.
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The car is intended to provide customer racing programs an option that requires a lower financial commitment than the existing?and very successful?R8 GT3 racer. If buyers aren’t interested in racing the car, it also can be bought and used privately as a sort of ballistic weapon for track days. We’re told the GT4 will cost roughly $200,000, spares not included?a smokin’ deal compared with the $450K commanded by the more specialized GT3 car. The new racer is still being ...