Sure, the R8 is no lame duck, and this is even more so once the sports car has been tuned by ABT Sportsline. The result is a real model athlete, which does not just ooze power, but also doesn't have a single gram of fat on its body. With the limited version R8 GT R (with only 25 units available) engineers and designers have gone one logical step further: experience from motorsport flowed into the design, and all the components have been systematically trimmed to ensure a light-weight construction and optimal weight distribution. As a result not just the bonnet, front and rear aprons, the adjustable rear wing or the tailgate are made of carbon, but the outline edge on the rear, the external mirrors and the door panel are also made of the same material. The side windows are made of Makrolon - the high-tech polycarbonate does not just reduce weight, but also has impressive strength properties. The result: the ABT R8 GT R is a proud 100 kilos lighter than its series counterpart.
How much motorsport the team, which comprises the current winners of the DTM and the ADAC GT Masters, actually brings to the road can be seen from the details: Recaro racing seats, a 4-point seat belt system, stainless steel roll-over bar with seat belt attachment, hand-held fire extinguisher or an ABT Sports steering wheel made of carbon – the people at ABT have thought of everything. "The R8 GT R is an uncompromising racing car for the road, and provides maximum performance", states Christian Abt. The successful motorsport racer indicates his responsibility for the development of this extraordinary vehicle and is impressed with the result. "I recommend trying the GT R on a racing track from time to time, as the car is great fun to drive there", says the General Manager of ABT who is responsible for technology. The adjustable front panel allows sports inserts; the ABT driver overalls, helmet, racing shoes and gloves are just as much as part of the effective GT R special equipment as an on-board video system and the expandable data module.
The well-trained sports car has enormous performance potential: instead of the series-standard 525HP (386 kW), the 5.2 FSI in the ABT R8 GT R provides a massive 620HP (456 kW) and as a result the light car travels extremely quickly: the top speed is 325 km/h, it does 0-100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and the GT R reaches the 200km/h mark in a mere 9.9 seconds. In order to ensure that the power can be optimally applied on the road and on the race track, height-adjustable ABT Sports suspension and adjustable dampers are standard on the ABT R8 GT R. The ceramic brake system with modified brake pads has been adjusted to meet the enormous performance potential of the super sports car. The extremely light ABT CR alloys round off the package. On the front axle they are mounted in 9x18 inch and on the rear axle in 11x18 inch. The Michelin sports cup tyres are the perfect choice for the car. The ABT R8 GT R is a unique vehicle which provides maximum driving enjoyment. It has been designed for driving at the limit: from the weight-optimised exhaust unit to the ABT Titanium special coating – ABT's love of motorsport can be seen in every detail.
