• First test drives for “Evolution 2”
• Testing program concluded in USA
• Vehicles returning to Europe

Audi has put the next stage of its R18 project to the test: The latest version of its new diesel race car, which will appear in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was test-driven for the first time in the USA.

The only thing not to love about the 2012 Audi R8 GT would be its price tag. Audi announced that the fastest and lightest production car in its lineup will start at $196,800, $4K more than a starter Ferrari California. Factor in the $1,250 destination charge, and you’re pretty close to $200,000 before you factor in taxes, licensing, registration, and options. But it’s about what you’d expect for a 560-horsepower supercar made of this much carbon fiber.

Generous use of the lightweight material is how the Audi R8 GT keeps the weight down. To put it in perspective, it’s 180 pounds lighter than the Audi R8 5.2 Quattro coupe. The exotic vehicle features a modified 5.2-liter V-10 FSI engine that produces 560 horsepower (35 hp more than the R8 5.2 Quattro and the R8 Spyder 5.2 Quattro), paired with the R Tronic sequential manual transmission. Read more