FOR what was originally tagged an ‘approachable’ and ‘attainable’ supercar, the second-generation Audi R8 certainly extended further from reach and became out of touch for several buyers.

While it remained a fantastic choice, the lack of V8 entry model or manual transmission meant the V10-only supercar started at a $350K opening price – almost $100K more than the $260K entry when the original launched a decade ago.

The new price point puts the Audi R8 up against the top end of Porsche 911 town and cuts some of the grass of its Lamborghini Huracan cousin (with which it shares its platform).

Now, however, Audi has been able to split the difference between original and current pricing, with the 40-unit R8 Rear Wheel Series (RWS) asking $299,500 plus on-road costs. As the name indicates, the front driveshaft and centre differential have been ditched along with quattro badges.

However, the Audi R8 also gains a new competitor set, with the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, Jaguar F-Type SVR, Mercedes-AMG GT S and even the BMW i8 all costing within a few thousand dollars of this RWS. So then, how successfully can this Audi supercar return to its original turf?