WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS?
This is the Audi R8 LMX, a special edition R8 inspired by Audi’s great success at the 24 hours of Lemans, hence the name, Lemans exclusive.
SO WHAT LEMANS-TYPE FEATURES DOES THIS HAVE?
The lights for a start, are ‘Laser LED lights’- the first on a production run road car. Originally derived from Audi’s Lemans program, they made it onto the road on the LMX first, today’s generation of laser lights can display images, and play films. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?
SO HOW GOOD ARE THESE LIGHTS?
According to Audi, it generates a range of about twice as much as the ‘standard’ R8 of the period. Not that it mattered for long- these lights found their way on to the next generation Audis as an option anyway.
WELL THEN ITS FASTER THAN THE STANDARD CAR, RIGHT?
Yes, in fact, at the time, it was the fastest R8 ever built. At 562 BHP, that over 10 more than the top of the normal range V10 plus. That means a 0-62 mph time of 3.4 second and a top speed of 198mph, 318 kph. And its not just the engine that been upgraded: Carbon ceramics now come standard, along with a fixed rear wing and front canards and other aero trickery- making it the fastest Audi of the time… until Audi Revealed the R8 competition the year after.
AND HOW MUCH DID THEY CHARGE FOR THIS?
By today’s standards of a special edition, the LMX seems like a bargain- €210,00- or €35,600 over the standard model. That, by no means is a small amount, especially back then. Put it this way: that’s a lot more than what say, McLaren charged for the 675lt over the 650s (not to mention the forgotten 625c), which considering the LMX is limited to 99 units could almost be ‘justified’ in today’s special edition pricing standards.
The McLaren 625c? What’s that?
Well, back 2014, McLaren had unveiled the 650s, and somehow ‘saw’ a gap in the market for a look alike car with less power… and to be sold exclusively in the Asian market. Unsurprisingly, most people just went for the 650s and the 625c flopped. Not long after, they launched the slightly more successful 540c, which was actually sold in Europe for a start. Still, success was weak, and the McLaren ‘c’ line died with the 540. Anyway, back to the Audi. Similarly, the R8 LMX wasn’t the instant sell of norm for special editions, and neither was the R8 competition that came soon… a special edition probably just to get rid of the remaining stock of R8 chassis…
A TRIBUTE TO THE AUDI R8
Unless you’ve disconnected for the week, you’ll know Audi has made the final Audi R8. Its been around since 2003. In just over the 20 years of life, the Audi R8 has become one of Audi’s most iconic models, creating a second-hand performance bargain, as well as the most usable supercar on sale… the performance car you could use everyday. With the quattro system, Audi proved that supercars weren’t too heavy with 4-wheel drive. With the v8 and v10 powertrains, they proved that two engines could work equally well in a car of this caliber. It showed the world you didn’t need complicated doors, rock suspension and impracticality to be a supercar. Multiple R8 models were world first, like the LMX with its lights. A true innovation. What a car.
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