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A lighter, faster, more powerful Audi R8 GT has just been announced for those who find the standard car just that little bit tame.

Based on the R8 V10, the GT features a new front splitter, air-smoothing 'flicks' on its front corners, matt carbon side blades, polycarbonate rear windows, a lightweight engine cover and a fixed rear wing. Black 19-inch wheels, bazooka-sized exhausts and tinted rear light clusters top off the external mods.

Lift the carbon fibre-reinforced rear deck and you'll find a reworked version of the standard 5.2-litre V10 engine. Various software and mechanical enhancements have yielded an extra 42bhp and 7lb/ft of torque, bringing the total output to 552bhp and 398lb/ft.

The extra power, allied to the R8's 100kg weight loss brings the 0-62mph time down to 3.6 seconds and ups the top speed to 199mph.

Lower suspension with revised geometry and optional 'cup' tyres should ensure that the R8 GT's handling is a touch sharper too. The stability control system has a reprogrammed Sport setting, which Audi says "allows spectacular, but safe, oversteer when accelerating out of a corner."

Quattro four-wheel drive remains, but with 85 per cent of the power heading to the rear wheels in normal driving, although up to 30 per cent can be channelled to the fronts if needed. A six-speed paddle-shift gearbox is standard.

Only 333 examples will be built, with just 33 heading to the UK. So if you want one, we would suggest you head down to your local dealer as quickly as possible with the £142,585 required to park one in you garage.

That should give you just enough time to decide between Samao Orange, Sukuka Gray (pictured), Ice Silver or Phantom Black paint.

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