Audi announces US-exclusive 2021 R8 RWD Panther Edition – Robb Report

Audi enthusiasts living in the United States would be forgiven for thinking the automaker doesn’t see them as a priority. Indeed, European customers tend to benefit from the brand’s most attractive offers, from high-performance wagons to special editions, just for them. Fortunately, that is starting to change, and the new R8 RWD Panther Edition is proof of that.

The German marque has just announced a special blacked-out version of its muscular V10-powered supercar that will only be available for purchase in the United States. And the sports vehicle will not be easy to obtain either, as only 30 copies are about to be built.

What sets this R8 apart from the rest is its special Panther Black Crystal Effect paint job. Added to that stealthy effect are carbon fiber accents and blackened badges, including its iconic four-ring logo. In fact, with the exception of the LED lights, the only other color you’ll find on the exterior are pops of crimson red on the car’s otherwise matte black five-spoke wheels. The pattern is repeated inside the car, with the exception of two racing shell seats covered in sumptuous red nappa leather.

The exclusive variant will also be the first all-wheel drive R8 to also travel to this side of the Atlantic. Other than that, it remains pretty much the same supercar that blew us away last year, according to the brand. That includes its naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10, capable of producing 532 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. All of that power is directed to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and allows the car to sprint from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

The R8 RWD Panther Edition will arrive in US dealerships before the end of the calendar year. The limited-edition coupe starts at $ 183,300, although you also have to pay a destination charge of $ 1,495 and a gasoline consumption tax of $ 1,700.

It’s not the only attractive limited-edition model Audi unveiled this fall. In October, the brand announced the TT RS 40 Years of Quattro, a sporting tribute to the company’s four decades of Quattro rally racing. Unfortunately, the exclusive coupe – which is limited to 40 copies, of course – is only available for purchase in Germany.