We all thought that Audi said goodbye to the soon-to-be discontinued R8 during the Monterey Car Week with the special event held in Laguna Seca. However, a new teaser on Audi’s official Instagram account promises “something special” for the “Last Lap” of the V10-powered supercar, adding that we will learn more on September 12.
The cryptic announcement shows dark photos of the Audi R8 Performance with the special red-themed livery it wore on the track day a couple of weeks ago. While there is nothing new on the vehicle, the caption says: “It’s the R8’s Last Lap. To celebrate its storied history, we have something special planned. Keep your eye on our posts. Stay tuned for details on 9/12 at 9am EST”.
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Photos: Audi/Instagram
The livery on the R8 was designed by Frank Lamberty, the exterior designer of the first-generation model who also attended the event in Laguna Seca. Audi brand ambassador Tom Kristensen, who is a living legend of the 24h of Le Mans with 9 wins under his belt, drove the R8 around the track for its “last laps”. It remains to be seen if the upcoming announcement will have to do with another special edition or some sort of a lap time record.
Last year, Audi launched the R8 Coupe GT RWD, a performance-focused version of the rear-wheel-drive model with a limited production of 333 units. Besides the more aggressive bodykit, revised chassis setup, and lower weight, the GT featured a more powerful version of the 5.2-liter V10 producing 612 hp (456 kW / 620 PS) and 417 lb-ft (565 Nm) of torque. Note that the naturally aspirated engine makes 562 hp (419 kW / 570 PS) in the R8 Performance RWD and 602 hp (449 kW / 610 PS) in the R8 V10 Performance Quattro Coupe.
Audi has confirmed that 2023 will be the final model year of production for the R8 and its V10 powertrain. The first-gen R8 debuted in 2006, three years after being previewed by the 2003 Audi Le Mans concept. The current second-generation model followed in 2015 with a facelift in 2018. Earlier reports suggest that the company is working on a fully electric successor for the mid-engined supercar that could share its underpinnings with the next-gen Porsche Cayman/Boxster, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.
