The 2021 Audi R8 RWD is a rear-wheel-drive version of the German-made R8 supercar. Essentially a regular Audi R8 stripped of its Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the 2021 R8 RWD comes with the same 5.2-liter V-10 engine under the hood and similar features inside and out.

The big news is that the RWD model is notably lighter and a bit more affordable. The 2021 R8 RWD isn't the first R8 with rear-wheel drive, but it's the first RWD that's s regular production model. Back in 2018 offered the R8 RWS, also an RWD variant, but it was limited to just 320 examples. Let's find out more about it in the review below.

2021 Audi R8 RWD Coupe and Spyder

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2021 Audi R8 RWD Coupe and Spyder
  • Engine/Motor: V10
  • Horsepower: 532
  • Torque: 398
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

What makes the 2021 Audi R8 RWD special?

- first full-scale production RWD model - not so many unique features - plenty of options available - 5.2-liter V-10 engine - 532 horsepower - 398 pound-feet of torque - not as powerful as the other R8 models - 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds - top speed of 201 mph - retuned chassis - the most affordable R8 you can buy

Sure, it doesn't feature the goodies that you get with the R8 Performance model, including Titanium-colored trim and five-spoke milled-cut wheels, but it's hard to tell it apart from non-Performance models as well. However, if you look close enough, you will notice that the front splitter, the side sill inserts, and the rear diffuser are painted in high-gloss black as standard.

The side blades are finished in Mythos black, while the rear exhaust tips are chrome. Not a big deal, but hey, you can brag about these tiny special features at the annual Audi R8 meeting.

Everything else remains unchanged, so the R8 RWD comes with the sharpened exterior design introduced with the 2018 facelift and the honeycomb-design Singleframe grille. The RWD model comes standard with LED lights and dynamic turn signals, but you can opt for Audi's laser lights. There's also an available carbon exterior package that adds carbon-fiber side blades and lightweight elements in the engine compartment.

Inside the cabin, the RWD is fitted with sports seats with 14-way adjustability and upholstery in Nappa leather. If you want a fancier cabin, the options list includes a Premium Package with 18-way adjustable power seats with pneumatic bolsters, an Alcantara headliner, and leather on the center console and door armrests. It also includes a 550-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system with 13 speakers and illuminated door sill inlays. For a sportier feel, Audi offers a carbon package with carbon-fiber surrounds in high-gloss for both the displays and the A/C vents.

The Audi R8 RWD is available in both Coupe and Spyder body styles. The latter comes with the same soft-top roof as the AWD model, featuring an electro-hydraulic drive system that raises and lowers the roof in about 20 seconds. You can operate the roof at speeds of up to 31 mph.

This is important because even though Audi upgraded the V-10 in the AWD models for 2019, the RWD remains at the power and torque levels of the pre-facelift R8.

Specifically, the R8 RWD boasts 532 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. That's 30 horses and 15 pound-feet below the all-wheel drive R8 and 80 horsepower and 30 pound-feet below the range-topping R8 Performance.

On the other hand, in the absence of an all-wheel-drive system, the R8 RWD is notably lighter than the R8 and R8 Performance.

The sprint from 0 to 60 mph takes 3.6 seconds in the R8 RWD Coupe and 3.7 clicks in the Spyder model. That's only two tenths slower than the R8 with AWD and a half-second slower than the R8 Performance model. Top speed comes in at 201 mph, two mph more than the old R8 RWS and on par with the R8 AWD. The RWD model is five mph slower than the R8 Performance.

The R8 RWD comes with a special tuning for the chassis in order to increase performance in the absence of all-wheel drive. It features solid rear axles instead of hollow, a stiffer front anti-roll bar, and an increased rear negative camber.

Priced from $142,700, the Audi R8 RWD is the most affordable version of the current-generation R8. The Spyder model comes in at $154,900. Both stickers exclude the $1,495 destination charge and the $1,700 gas guzzler tax. The 2021 R8 RWD is around $17,000 more affordable than the R8 AWD and about $54,000 cheaper than the R8 Performance.