Believe it or not, the second generation Audi R8 debutws back in 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show. Given the amount of time that has passed, its mid-life facelift is expected in the very near future. We wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen this coming March at Geneva 2019. Although the second-gen R8 isn’t as groundbreaking as the original R8, which debuted in 2006, there is one very limited R8 that’s quite special, the 2019 Audi R8 RWS. RWS stands for Rear Wheel Series.
Only 999 R8 RWS examples are being built (just 320 are heading stateside), with power coming from the same 5.2-liter V10 as the all-wheel-drive R8, with the RWS variant producing 532 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque.
According to Autocar, the R8 RWS is set to make a comeback sometime after the facelifted R8 has its official debut. Audi marketing manager Linda Kurz told the publication the R8 RWS was “a great success” for the brand, and “is something that we are looking into” in regards to a second go-around.
No one should have been surprised the R8 RWS, first revealed exactly a year ago at Frankfurt, was so successful. Although it shares some components and an engine with the Lamborghini Huracan, it’s still a different supercar with a different personality.
The Huracan, like all Lamborghinis, can be a bit rough around the edges while the R8 offers a more user friendly driving experience. So why did Audi take so long to do a RWD R8? Good question, but better late than never. The existence of the R8 RWS can be attributed to one man: now former Audi Sport chief and current Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann. Prior to his Audi gig, Winkelmann was CEO of Lamborghini for 11 years, so he knows a thing or two about supercars. He was also responsible for the RWD Gallardo and Huracan.
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