Super-rare Audi R8 Plus Performance Parts for sale

Audi only ever supplied five of these incredible R8s to the UK. 60 per cent of them are in the PH classifieds...

It’s always nice when Audi goes a little bit barmy with a limited edition model. It’s been on a rich run of form recently, in fact, creating cars like the RS6 GT and RS4 Competition. While the company could easily have just fitted the nice wheels and (in the case of the RS6) the incredible livery then left them alone, they went the extra mile. Changes to the suspension most notably meant both were properly memorable special editions, rather than just limited-run cosmetic exercises. Laudable, especially given so few were made.

It has form beyond the estate cars, too. When considering special R8s, it’s easy to think of cars like the GT and the LMX - the Audi Sport R8 V10 Plus Performance Parts Edition might need a bit more head-scratching to recall. It was created in 2018, a homage to the great motorsport R8s that achieved such success in global sportscar racing; only 44 were ever produced, and just five of those came to the UK, all Misano Red.

Again, it probably could have got away with the stunning milled alloy wheels and a GT3-aping bodykit - Audi would surely have sold a car that looked like this, and was powered by the 610hp V10, without much help. But it went further, equipping all the PP R8s with three-way adjustable coilovers, a similar trick to that employed on the RS4 a few years later to such dramatic effect. There weren’t ever media drives of the Performance Parts, though it’s hard to imagine an expensive suspension overhaul, lighter wheels and standard ceramic brakes - plus a titanium exhaust - made for a worse R8 V10.

The bodykit wasn’t just for show, either. Audi reckoned that the combination of CFRP splitter, skirts, spoiler and diffuser contributed to another 100kg of downforce at top speed. A quarter of a tonne, in fact. Perhaps more relevantly for those track days that took place away from Nardo, there was 52kg of downforce at 93mph (150kph), or twice that of the standard. A notable difference, surely. Indeed the whole Performance Parts package sounded like it would make the R8 a compelling alternative to the usual supercar track day crowd, complete with standard Michelin Cup 2s and smattering of Alcantara inside. This example has certainly been used as intended, accruing 14,000 miles since 2018; not usually the case when such tiny production numbers are involved, even for ‘just’ an Audi R8.

Still looks ruddy fabulous, of course, and will guarantee attention unlike a standard V10 thanks to the aero add-ons and the paint. It doesn’t take much to surmise this isn’t the average R8. And what a thing for harassing GT3s, Longtails and the like on your next track evening. But don’t move too fast, as somewhat amazingly there is a choice of Performance Parts Editions on PH right now. Of the five originally allocated, there are three for sale. Incredible.

This car is up at £159,995 with 14,000 miles, or about £15k less than the original RRP. There’s also a 4,000-miler on offer at £190k, or a private seller with a 36-mile example for £185,000. Quite a time to be in the market for an uber R8. (For context, the later, rear-drive R8 GT is currently from £180k). Given the saving on offer for what’s still not a great many miles, it’s hard not to be won over by the featured example; none of them seem likely to suffer too much depreciation given the R8 V10’s demise. Whatever Audi conjures up next that might be vaguely supercar-shaped, let’s hope they get the chance to cut loose again at some point. The world needs more great Audis just like the Performance Parts Edition.

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wistec1

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57 months