For as long as it’s existed, the Audi R8 has been all-wheel drive. Yes, it could send the vast majority of its power to the rear wheels, but the front ones were never completely disengaged. That changes with the R8 V10 RWS. Dedicated enthusiasts will now be able to buy the rear-wheel-drive R8 they’ve been dreaming about. Porsche took a slightly different approach to its latest 911. The Touring package deletes the GT3’s rear wing and adds leather to the cabin, effectively creating a full-production version of the 911 R. We’re looking forward to getting to drive them both, but until then, let’s take a look at how these two Frankfurt debuts stack up against each other.
Less is More
A lot of times, enthusiast specials add features to draw in buyers. You might get a sportier suspension, more power, or extra aero components. In the case of these two cars, you get less. The R8 V10 RWS loses its all-wheel-drive system, and with it, 110 pounds of weight. Porsche took a similar approach to the 911 GT3 when it created the Touring package. You get the same car as the regular GT3, just without the massive rear wing. On the track, you might miss the downforce, but on public roads, you’ll probably appreciate getting less attention.
Surprising Subtlety
No one is ever going to mistake an Audi R8 or a Porsche 911 for a Toyota Prius. They’re clearly high-performance coupes no matter how you order them. But even with a 540-hp V-10 tucked right behind the driver’s seat, it’s impressive how little Audi did to differentiate the RWS from the regular version. To most people on the street, the R8 for hardcore driving enthusiasts could easily be mistaken for any other R8. You don’t even have to order the red stripe if you don’t want it.
With the 911 GT3 Touring, Porsche went even further. It took the hardcore, enthusiast-focused GT3, removed the attention-grabbing wing, and added a more comfortable leather interior. You’ll still love the way it drives, but the GT3 Touring is a car for the driver, not other people. If you want attention, stick with the regular GT3.
Limited Edition vs. Full Production
If you like the idea of an R8 that’s been built to drive like a Le Mans GT race car for the streets, you better place your order quickly. Only 999 examples of the coupe will be built, and while there will also be a convertible version, only 999 of those will be built, as well. The dashboard will even come with a numbered plaque to let people know it’s a limited edition car.
But after seeing what speculators did to the price of the limited-edition 911 R, Porsche went a different direction with the 911 GT3 Touring. As long as it still offers the 911 GT3, you’ll be able to add the Touring package as a no-cost option. Unless you absolutely have to have a carbon-fiber hood, carbon-fiber fenders, and a magnesium roof, there’s now no reason to pay extra for a second-hand 911 R.
Restrained Looks, Not Specs
Both of these cars are more about the intangible enjoyment of a pure driving experience than they are about maximizing their performance figures. But neither one is slow. Oh, now. Quite the opposite. Without the front wheels to provide grip, Audi says the R8 V10 RWS can hit 62 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds, with the convertible clocking in a tenth of a second behind that. Porsche hasn’t released acceleration numbers for the 911 GT3 Touring, which packs the same 500-hp naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six as the regular GT3, but expect it to be on par with its bewinged counterpart’s estimated 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds with PDK and 3.9 seconds with the manual transmission.
Pricey but Less Than you Might Think
Porsche is notorious for charging you more for less, so you’d think the Touring package would add thousands of dollars to the 911 GT3’s price. But that’s not actually the case. Perhaps to get back at 911 R speculators, Porsche made the Touring package a no-cost option. So as long as you have the $144,650 to buy a regular GT3, you can also afford the GT3 Touring. It’s a little unexpected, but you won’t catch us complaining.
Even more unexpected is the price of the R8 V10 RWS. Audi says it will start at €140,000 in Europe, a whopping €26,000 less than the cheapest Euro-spec all-wheel-drive R8. That’s right. Audi charges less for a limited-edition, driver-focused version of the R8 than it charges for the regular version. We’ve reached out to Audi to confirm this is actually the case, and are anxiously awaiting its reply. And while U.S. pricing isn’t available yet, a similar drop in price would suggest a base price right around $140,000. In the world of mid-engine V-10 supercars, that’s what we call a serious bargain.
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