Audi R8 2010

The rear wing is now CFRP, All of the above took 9kgs off the car. The glass used between the cabin and the engine compartment as well as the rear hatch is replaced with polycarbonate plexiglass. The R8 GT has a windshield made of thinner glass. Now for the weight loss details, which I find interesting.

So we have extra power coupled to the weight loss. As if hearing about a 100kg weight loss in an a car already made from the already light aluminium alloy isn't enough Audi has mentioned that this car comes with the V10 engine used in the, very obviously named R8 V10. This car weighs 1525kgs compared to the R8 V8 4.2 which weighs in at 1625kgs. So now Audi has created a lightweight version of their flagship coupe the R8 and are calling it the R8 GT.

Each model slightly more performance oriented than the one before up to a point where it goes pretty extreme and lots of weight loss is the key to increased performance. You have the basic Carerra which becomes the Carerra S, which then morphs into the GT3, which then becomes the GT3 RS. Manufacturers like Porsche have long known this and you can see in their 911 series of cars.  Like most performance car manufacturers these days, losing those extra kilos in their flagship coupe showcases their abilities to build a more serious out and out coupe than the base model, which has to cater to a wider audience and is still built to a certain budgeted cost.