One of the easiest mistakes to make in the spy photo industry is to mis-identify test prototypes, especially those lurking in and around the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife on test days.
The UK's leading weekly print magazine AutoExpress by Dennis Publishing and their corresponding web site are no exception as these photos of an Audi R8 thought to be a new RS model are shot down by Audi fans.
Details such as a new front splitter, side skirts, larger side air intakes from the R8 LMS racing car and Audi motorsport-style body graphics led AutoExpress to call it the R8 GT RS. Certainly an obvious yet excellent name for the potential range topping R8 model to slot above the 552bhp 5.2-litre V10-engined R8 GT, however, Audi forum site Fourtitude has identified it as something else.
Recalling a visit they made to MTM headquarters last year, the Audi tuner was starting a conversion which attempted to squeeze a 5.0-liter V10 biturbo engine from the RS6 into R8. A year on, apparently MTM was successful and the vehicle you see here is that final product. Through contacts close to MTM, the project has since been confirmed to Fourtitude.
