Road-ready race car: ABT bids farewell to the R8 model
12:49 PM EST, November 26, 2023
ABT's limited edition XGT, with a mere 99 units available, is essentially a race car designed and approved for road use. Its blueprint is borrowed from the Audi R8 LMS GT2, in a respectful nod to the supercar's history from this prestigious German manufacturer.
The notion of a 'race car for the roads' is a label often misused when describing certain production cars. Such an analogy has been applied to the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, for instance. However, it's merely the foundation used to build a race car, and it's already disqualified from road traffic.
As a longstanding associate of Audi motorsport, ABT has achieved what Porsche hasn't. They've meticulously prepared a race car that's received road approval. The XGT encompasses all the aspects of a race car, undergoing a series of adjustments exclusively geared towards achieving legal road use.
Among the features included in the roadworthy Audi R8 GT2 is a standard dashboard equipped with necessary switches and functions for regular driving, as well as added conveniences such as a parking brake, climate control, central locking, immobilizer, and backup camera. Fundamentally, it still complies with noise control and emission standards.
In principle, the vehicle remains a race car with a prominent 640-horsepower engine, dual-clutch transmission, track-optimized brakes and suspension, plus advanced aerodynamics. Power is directed exclusively to the rear axle, with the car's top speed being contingent upon the wing setting.
"The car's road handling, steering response, and acceleration surpass any standard road vehicle," summarized ABT's test driver.
The XGT's distributor is Scherer Sport, which will also undertake the servicing responsibilities for this beast. The vehicle's basic configuration costs 598,000 euros excluding taxes, which translates to over $2.7 million net.
