Unicorn 2015 Audi R8 V10 For Sale With Gated Manual and Ultra-Rare Paint Job

If there’s one car most Audi fans would like to bring back from the dead, it’s the iconic R8. The supercar went out of production after the 2023 model year, leaving a gaping hole in the brand’s lineup that can’t be filled by any other expensive Audi.

Fortunately, there’s always the used market to turn to if you want to get your hands on one of this century’s best supercars. A particularly special example of the R8 has popped up for sale, and with four days to go before the auction ends, the high bid is already sitting at $218,888. As we’ll see, there are many reasons this 2015 Audi R8 has attracted so much interest.

Unique Paint Job, Epic V10, And Gated Manual

This is the last model year of the first-generation Audi R8, and although the second-gen model was improved in many respects, it can be argued that the original’s breathtaking design and available gated manual make it the more revered car. The one you see here has a specification to die for. It’s the V10 Plus Coupe with the six-speed gated manual. Exceptionally rare, only eight 2015 R8 V10 Plus manuals were sold in America, according to the listing on Cars & Bids. Of those eight, this is the only one finished in Panther Black Crystal Effect paint, as confirmed in a letter and certificate of production from Audi of America.

Compared to the normal V10 model, the V10 Plus enjoys a weight reduction of 132 pounds, thanks to changes like ceramic brakes and a smaller gas tank. The V10 engine is tuned to deliver 550 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, and power goes to all four corners via the company’s quattro all-wheel-drive system. This one has covered just 13,800 miles in around a decade, so should still be mechanically fresh.

A Capristo exhaust system is the only known modification, but the car will be sold with the factory exhaust, too; this R8 makes an absolutely addictive shriek, which you can hear in a video shared on the listing. New tires were fitted last month, and the service history includes an oil change at 13,578 miles, although this was back in September 2024.

Related: Review: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 reminds us we’re in the wrong tax bracket

Menacing In Black

All these years later, the first-gen R8 is still a design masterpiece. From the instantly recognizable daytime running lights to the dual tailpipes at the back, it’s every inch an exotic, although with a more gentlemanly air than an equivalent Lamborghini.

This one was originally bought for $185,740, including options like the $1,250 Panther Black paint, a $4,000 Full Fine Nappa leather interior package, and a $1,800 Bang & Olufsen sound system. Do note that some of these options add a few pounds, so this particular example won’t enjoy the full 132-lb weight saving Audi engineered into the V10 Plus derivative. 

The seller notes that the modifications may prevent the R8 from passing emissions testing in certain states, so this is something to keep in mind if you’re lucky enough to be able to put in a high enough bid for this gorgeous machine.

R8 Was The Last Of Its Kind

The chances of an R8 comeback are slim—at least, the R8 as we know it. Last year, the company revealed the Concept C, an electric roadster that hopes to recapture the magic of the departed TT and R8. That’s a tough ask, especially without the benefit of the R8’s glorious V10 (or even the V8). But the Concept C’s minimalist design is groundbreaking, as is its approach to interior craftsmanship. A production model could arrive as early as 2027, and although we expect great things, it won’t fully be able to fill the shoes of the iconic R8.

Related: 5 Coolest Features Of Audi’s New Concept C

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