The Audi R8 V10 looks set to be available
for the 2021 model year in rear-wheel drive guise in the United States.
Information recently posted online by the EPA lists a 2021 Audi R8 2WD model
and not only does it show a Coupe model with rear-wheel drive but also a
Spyder. Listed alongside these two rear-wheel drive models are the 2021 Audi R8
V10 Coupe and Spyder with the standard all-wheel drive system.
Unsurprisingly, the rear-wheel drive
variants have slightly better fuel economy than the all-wheel drive ones.
Whereas the R8 Coupe and R8 Spyder AWD are both listed at 13 mpg city, 20 mpg
highway, and 16 mpg combined, the RWD models are listed at 14 mpg city, 23 mpg
highway, and 17 mpg combined.
The current Audi R8 RWD is already available
in other markets as a member of the R8’s range, in contrast to the limited-run
R8 RWS. Powertrain wise, the car comes outfitted with a 5.2-liter
naturally-aspirated V10 that is good for 532 hp and 540 Nm of
torque. This engine is paired with a seven-speed S Tronic transmission as
standard and a mechanical locking differential.
In R8 RWD Coupe form, this engine and
transmission is good to send the car to 100 km/h in a mere 3.7 seconds
and through to a top speed of 320 km/h. Meanwhile, the Spyder hits 62
mph in 3.8 seconds and is capped at 318 km/h. In all likelihood,
these figures will be maintained for the U.S. spec model.
