Audi are well-known for their special editions and rightly so - with a reputation like theirs, it’s easy to see why people would scramble for the limited editions. With so many of them out there, which ones are the most iconic and that have made waves over the last 40 years? In this blog we break down the 10 most iconic Audi Special Editions that have ever graced the planet - are there any you would want to get your hands on?
Audi R8 V10 Decennium
Price: around £171,700
This limited edition car was manufactured to celebrate 10 years of V10 R8s. This special edition vehicle has been limited to 222 in the world, with only 10 making their way to the UK. With its sleek matte grey paint and bronze alloy and engine finish, it’s certainly a testament to the brilliance of the R8 range. The side sills, front spoiler and diffuser are gloss black, producing head-turning accents and creating a truly unique car.
Inside the car is a stunning all-black interior, with gloss carbon trim, a diamond pattern engraved into the seats and bronze stitching in the steering wheel. In true Audi style, the quality shines through - sturdy and durable, allowing a speed of 62mph in 3.1 seconds. This is helped by the 5.2 litre engine with 612bhp. It reaches a top speed of 205mph.
Audi A5 DTM Special Edition
Price: around £68,714
To celebrate Audi’s participation in the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) racing series, Audi produced the A5 DTM, complete with exterior elements that have been inspired by the DTM. Its unique design comprises Audi Sport, DTM and Quattro logos adorning the bonnet, doors and rear window. Bright red with black accents, this car oozes sporting greatness - with only 50 cars made and only exclusively for the German market, it’ll be difficult to get your hands on one of these!
This car is kitted out with a 3.0 litre TDI engine which has capabilities of reaching 62mph in 5.9 seconds and produces 241hp. Its top speed can reach 155mph. This model is one of three special editions made to honour the DTM - the other two models were the Audi A4 and the BMW M3.
Audi TT RS Coupe Iconic Edition
Price: around £87,650
With only 100 made worldwide, 11 lucky people in the UK will have been able to get their hands on the TT RS Coupe Iconic Edition - painted in a gorgeous Nardo Grey with black accents along the spoiler, mirror caps and badges. This car has been designed for aerodynamics, with a low chassis and curved roof allows the wind to flow straight over you. The interior offers a honeycomb stitched pattern in the seats which exudes a luxury, comfortable ride, whilst the materials used to manufacture the dashboard are of high quality and durability.
With a 2.5 litre, 394bhp engine that it shares with its standard TT RS counterpart means it can reach speeds of 62mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 174mph. This powerful engine delivers a fun and sporty driving experience - for those die-hard Audi fans, this is a sports car worth considering.
Audi R8 RWS
Price: around £110,000
With only 999 made in the world, the R8 RWS doesn’t offer much more than its standard counterpart - but its rarity is what makes this car special. Body types for this car include the coupe and the convertible versions. This car allows you to request a red stripe that stretches from the bonnet, over the roof and to the tail of the car - this enables you to add a new level of sportiness and uniqueness to the vehicle.
With a top speed of 198mph, the RWS is equipped with a 5.2-litre V10 engine which produces 533bhp. This car is capable of reaching 62mph in 3.7 seconds and is a smooth and intuitive drive - ideal for the Audi fans out there.
Audi TT RS 40 Jahre Quattro
Price: around £95,390
Manufactured to celebrate Audi’s 40 Years of quattro, this is one of the Audi models that is only available in Germany. Only 40 cars have been made, so it will be very difficult to come by. With a five-cylinder engine (which has won the “International Engine of the Year Award” nine years in a row!) that produces a top speed of 174mph and can achieve 62mph in 3.7 seconds.
Inside the car, the interior offers 4 seats for driver and passenger, though rear passengers may find the space a bit cramped. If the owner so requires, this back seat can be replaced with a strut cross brace that enables extra stability and handling when driving. With white stitching along black material and a honeycomb design on the seats, this car is sporty in every sense of the word.
Audi R8 V10 GT
Price: around £200,000
To mark the discontinuation of the R8, Audi has manufactured its last R8 model as a send-off - the R8 V10 GT. With just 333 made, they were bought before they were even made! A top speed of 199mph makes this car an aerodynamic dream - although there is more drag than the R8 Quattro Performance. The stunning bright red with black accents is certainly a head-turner, whilst the interior includes black material with red accents - the perfect, sporty combination.
Performance-wise, this car achieves 620hp and a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds, so it’s very swift. Being 20kg lighter than the RWD Performance, meaning you get a more controlled drive with better handling. This car looks good and it does good, providing those Audi enthusiasts with nostalgic farewell to an iconic model.
Audi S1 Hoonitron
Price: around £10,000,000
Whilst Audi’s design is classic and it’s easy to know what car you’re looking at without even needing to look at the brand. The S1 Hoonitron, however, is definitely something different for Audi - and just like its name, its design is unique. Drawing inspiration from the Sport Quattro S1 which competed at the Pikes Peak in 1987, this car has a top speed of 125mph and offers 671bhp, so the fully electric car really does push boundaries.
Designed as a drift car in collaboration with the late Ken Block (a famous rally racer who sadly passed away in 2023), the Hoonitron even sounds like it’s one with the wind - a high pitched whistle during acceleration means there’s no mistake made at what car is being driven. It is unknown how many were made, but one thing is for sure - it’s one of the most unique drift cars out there.
Audi RS 2 Avant
Price: from £25,000 to over £100,000
Taking it back a few years, the RS 2 Avant was launched in the UK in 1994 for £45,705 (now worth £94,633 in December 2024). Audi’s first RS model and one of the first estates on the market, it’s top speed was 163mph with 315bhp and achieving 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds. There were only 182 right-hand drive versions that were exported to the UK.
Developed in collaboration with Porsche, the RS2 was very quick - it looked the part and was seriously worth the money. The template of the RS2 has been copied onto many other Audi vehicles since, including the RS3s and A4s, with quattro grip and extreme turbo. By the time they came to the end of their serviceable life, their value had dropped significantly so there really aren’t that many around - a true rarity.
Audi RS 6 Avant GT
Price: around £176,975
With 660 units sold worldwide and only 60 of them in the UK, the RS 6 Avant GT is Audi’s send-off ICE car before we turn fully electric. This car offers a light and fast ride, reaching 62mph in just 3.3 seconds and managing a top speed of 190 mph. The exterior is truly a head-turner, with standout markings and colours, showing its sporty luxuriousness. The aggressive front bumper and thin headlights add to the sporty aesthetic.
The interior exudes sporty comfort, with red-stitched honeycomb part-leather seats and impressive dashboard layout to ensure the driver gets the very best out of this car. A high tech centre console almost borrows its look from the new electric designs, ironically, as this is the last ICE special edition before electric becomes the norm.
Audi Sport Quattro
Price: from £150,000 (dependant on condition)
Another blast from the past comes the Audi Sport Quattro. Launched in 1980, it made a name for itself when it entered into its first rally and won. With 197bhp and a top speed of 155mph, this car could reach 62mph in 4.8 seconds. Back in the day, this car was priced in the UK at £15,037, but one model was sold at auction for £163,125 - a worthwhile investment for the Audi enthusiast.
Buy a new or used Audi with Swansway
You may not be able to buy these variations of Audi (as most of them will have been sold a long time ago), but there’s still a chance for you to own an Audi yourself - whether it be new or used! You can take a look at our new Audi vehicles that we have available today, along with a range of offers that you can consider. If you’re budgeting for your next car, why not take a look at some of the used Audi cars we have available today? Our friendly team can help answer any questions you may have about any of the cars we have on our websites or in our dealerships. If you’re unsure what you're looking for or would like more information about one of the vehicles you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team and we’d be happy to help you.
