2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS Frankfurt Auto Show Debut | Edmunds

Edmunds 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS debut from the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Senior Writer Mark Takahashi checks out the 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS, Audi's new rear-wheel-drive version of the sports car, which will be available as a coupe or convertible. Like the regular R8, it has the seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters and the 540-horsepower V10. But with rear-wheel drive instead of AWD, it has the potential to get really squirrelly and really fun. Watch the video for more on Audi's new rear-wheel-drive R8.

Q. What does RWS in the 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS stand for?
A. "Rear Wheel Series." This new model trades all-wheel drive for rear-wheel drive, making it 110 pounds lighter in front and tail happy.

Q. When does the new Audi R8 V10 RWS go on sale?
A. There will be 999 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS available worldwide, with a third of them coming to the U.S. in the beginning of 2018.

Q. What engine does the Audi R8 V10 RWS have?
A. The 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS will have the 540-horsepower V10 that's in the regular R8.

Have questions for our editors? Leave them in the comments.

[potat]

I build a rwd R8 on Audi’s website it said I cost 130000$

[eddietucker]

Do you have to use the shifters since it’s A dual clutch transmission?

[swanblake]

If only it had the gated shifter on the first gen R8

[stefangrubesic]

It's great but it think they should make it avaible with stick shift and V10+ version

[alvarortega]

For years lambos were bashed for not moving fwd with the times "too much power for just rwd", to the point they were forced to move a towards awd except for rare one-offs. Now, "wow, look at this new R8, how scrumptious with fun fun rwd!!"...
Stop the madness VW group, let each brand do what they do best ...

[HondaCL]

Who's got two thumbs and ISN'T CARLOS LAGO?! Seriously Edmunds, you're screwing this up.