Time is a friend to no one. As time progresses, change is inevitable. And so it is that time has caught up with the Audi R8. Audi announced, about a year ago, of their intention to end R8 production. It’s partly down to slowing sales and partly down to stricter emissions regulations and laws. The R8 is no longer the “right fit” for the brand. Yet the R8 is an expression of engineering taken to its limits and that of current thinking and technology. It is a chance for Audi to express themselves, to let their hair down. The latest R8 V10 offering is perhaps the final chapter in the R8 story. It is simply called R8 V10 Limited Edition.

The R8 V10 will be limited to just 30 examples and available in a range of colours from Mugello Blue, Sonoma Green, and Avus Blue. Carbon fibre elements shave off up to 2kg weight. Audi’s magnetic ride will come as standard. The R8 V10 is a sound to behold and experience on its own, a bespoke exhaust will serve to enhance the final edition model. 

As with all Final Edition, the R8 V10 Limited Edition rides on a wave of what otherwise would be optional extras. So you get 20-inch milled alloy wheels, carbon-fiber exterior trim, and an interior design and quality unrivaled by any other supercar manufacturer. The special edition exterior colors are complimented by special edition interior contrast colors.

As for the R8’s beating heart, the 5.2-liter V10 is unchanged, that’s 562bhp and 550 Nm (406 pound-feet) of torque. But all this final, special, limited edition goodness comes at a cost. That’ll be $186,000 for the Coupe and $196,000 for the Spyder. Rumor has it that the R8 will be replaced by an all-electric supercar, E-Tron GTR, a collaboration with Rimac.