The £511k ABT XGT is an Audi R8 racecar for the road

ABT has announced a new version of its R8 LMS GT2 and it’s absolutely ludicrous. It's called the ‘XGT’, it's restricted to 99 units, and almost hilariously it's road-legal.

So, while it gets substantially less boot space than, say, a regular R8, it does get that car's really rather substantial V10, here sending 640bhp to the rear wheels through a seven-speed transmission. A set of forged alloys are wrapped in road-going Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres, too.

Weight comes in at around 1,400kg - less than an Audi RS3 - and it's equipped with dual-adjustable suspension and modified springs, which means owners have more wiggle room setting it up for the Ikea run.

The XGT's top speed depends on the car's rear wing setting, but ABT quotes a maximum of 192mph.

There’s a lot to unpack with the design, led by a typically Audi grey paint scheme and black and bronzed accents. The bronzed sections include the front canards, wing mirrors and alloys, providing plenty of talking points while unbuckling your passenger at their chosen destination.

Wedged right in the centre is a massive roof scoop that directs air towards the active rear wing. The bonnet has two separate cave indentations above its racing pins, while prominent vents reside along the flanks. Not as subtle as an entry-level A6 Avant, that's for sure.

The mid-section racing exhaust also remains but has been tweaked to allow the XGT to pass emissions regulations, while elements of the XGT’s bloodline appear inside, with it retaining the same steering wheel found in the GT2 version. ABT also says it has “carefully implemented” creature comforts such as a proper instrument cluster, a handbrake, central locking system and even a reversing camera. We should hope so, given this thing starts at £511,000.

Aside from modifying Audis from time to time, ABT also has some pretty serious accomplishments to its name in racing. Having debuted in the DTM series 23 years ago, it has gone on to amass more than 250 podium finishes in over 300 races. Experience that has filtered perfectly down into a car capable of lapping the Nürburgring and circling the supermarket car park.