2017 Audi R8 V10 RWS 5.2 V10 7AT (540 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In 2017, Audi revealed the most surprising version of its R8 V10 supercar, which featured a rear-wheel drive instead of its usual quattro all-wheel drive system.

When Audi launched the R8 in 2006, the car was available with the quattro all-wheel drive system. The automaker used that system again when it introduced the second generation of this nameplate in 2015. But then, Audi wanted something different. As a result, in 2017, it unveiled a 999-unit limited edition of the R8 V10 with a rear-wheel drive system only. And that’s where the RWS nameplate came from.

An untrained eye couldn’t distinguish between the R8 RWS and an R8 V10 Plus. They both had the same front fascia with that honeycomb mesh grille wide enough to cover the area between the headlights. But instead of sporting a quattro badge on it, Audi installed an “Audi Sport” one. It was tiny, mounted in the upper left corner. The same honeycomb mesh that filled the main grille adorned the side scoops. Unlike its stablemates, on the R8 RWS, these decorations sported a matte black finish instead of a shiny one.

From its profile, there were a few subtle changes for the R8 RWS compared to the regular R8 V10. While both sported the V10 chromed badges on the front fenders, the RWS body-colored door mirrors instead of black. The same shade of the vehicle was applied to the air intakes mounted behind the doors, while on the R8 V10 or the R8 V10 Plus, those were black. These were tiny details that Audi wanted its fans to discover. Finally, at the back, the automaker placed matte black honeycomb mesh grilles on the rear vents that released the air trapped in the wheel wells. On the lower side of the bumper, the automaker installed a massive diffuser flanked by a pair of rectangular exhausts with a chromed finish. Those were the only shiny elements mounted on the car’s exterior. Every other trim was black.

Inside, Audi installed a pair of sports seats with Alcantara interior and Nappa outer sides. The integrated headrests were part of the package. Between occupants, the automaker installed the center console that housed the automatic transmission lever and the rotary dial for Audi’s MMI multimedia system. Surprisingly, it didn’t use carbon fiber trims for the center console, dashboard, or door panels, like in the R8 V10 Plus. It was just a high-quality plastic. The driver fronted a flat-bottom steering wheel where the red start-stop button was mounted. In addition, a rotary dial placed on the left side of the lower spoke helped the driver select the driving mode.

Under the hood was the same 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 that powered the rest of the range. It produced 540 PS (533 hp) that it sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed S-Tronic automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox. Since the car lacked the front differential, it was lighter than its siblings and made for purists. It was for those who craved a classic RWD supercar.