We are not expecting too many enquiries from those looking to contract hire an Audi R8 GT, not least because Audi are producing just three hundred and thirty three models; thirty three of those are for the UK market, which have all been sold.

The selling price is £144,000, for this supercar with a 5,204 cc engine which produces 552bhp. The R8 GT has a top speed of 199 mph and can achieve 0 – 62 in 3.6 seconds, 0 – 124 in 10.8 seconds.

You could not call this car economical but at 20.3 mpg, is not bad considering the vehicle’s power. It has CO2 emissions of 327 g/km and revised engine management software to produce the extra bhp. It has Quattro all-wheel drive.

Everything has been about weight saving with this car; it has lightweight seats, a lightweight battery, a polycarbonate rear screen and rear windows, a thinner windscreen, an aluminum bonnet and as improbable as it may sound; a lightweight carpet.

This is a real supercar by any measure but have Audi made a mistake by trying to sell an R8 for £144,000? Cleary not if all thirty three destined for the UK have already been sold. As an alternative you could lease an Audi R8; such as the impressive 4.2 FSI Quattro Coupe and keep most of your £144,000 in the bank.