Fastest ever Audi R8 coming to LA

The standard Audi supercar is no slouch, but the Competition version takes things to another level in terms of performance and exclusivity.

Audi has looked to the track racing versions of the R8 for inspiration and managed to find an extra 20bhp from the four-wheel-drive flagship's mid-mounted 5.2-liter V10 engine -- so 562bhp is available every time you drop your right foot. 

That means the Competition can hit a top speed of 199mph (320 km/h) and can go from 0-60mph in just 3.2 seconds and all without turbos or superchargers offering a helping hand.

"The limited-edition Audi R8 competition is the closest road car to our R8 LMS ultra race car that has won virtually every race around the world," said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. "It is designed for the driving enthusiast and we're excited to bring 60 units as a limited-edition to the U.S."

Which means that as well as being the fastest, it is also the rarest street-legal R8 ever offered for sale; and the reason it is debuting at the LA Auto Show rather than Geneva is because it is for the US only.

Onlookers will be able to tell that the car is the Competition rather than standard version thanks to its matte carbon fixed rear spoiler, mirror housings, blades, diffusers and tweaked nose. The touches make the car striking but also help to improve downforce and save weight while the carbon ceramic brakes complete with bright red calipers will ensure that the car stops as quickly as it goes.

The interior also gets the same matte carbon treatment plus illuminated doorsills but the most impressive aspect of the car will be its reliability.

Supercars tend to be delicate and despite their power reserves don't like to be pushed hard on a regular basis. The tolerances involved in building engines and other systems mean that unless they are meticulously maintained and serviced every time they are pushed hard things can start to go wrong.

Not so the Audi: its wonderful V10 engine redefines the concept of durability. Developed through endurance racing, it only needs a service once every 13,000 miles (20,900 km) when driven in racing conditions.

So, if you're lucky enough to become one of the 60 owners and actually want to take the car to the track and race it properly in a competition series, for instance, it will only be in the garage once a year.

As such the Competition is a fitting send-off for the R8. Production will cease in 2015 and a new model will be arriving in 2016, the first concept of which is expected to be unveiled in Geneva in March.

In the meantime, the R8 Competition will make its global debut on November 18 when the LA Auto Show opens its doors to the media.