Audi R8 V10 Plus (4S) Tuning Guide 2026 — Body Kits, Wheels & Performance

The Audi R8 V10 Plus (Type 4S) is the last of a dying breed — a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 supercar, mid-engined, quattro-driven, and built on a bespoke aluminium spaceframe with a carbon-fibre rear bulkhead. Production ran from 2015 to 2024, and with no third-generation successor announced, the second-gen 4S has instantly become a collector target. This guide covers every meaningful upgrade for the R8 V10 Plus — body kits, forged wheels, exhaust and engine modifications, and interior work — while being honest about how each choice affects the car's rising residual value.

Platform Overview

The R8 4S rides on Audi's MSS (Modular Sports System) platform — a bespoke architecture shared exclusively with the Lamborghini Huracán, built at the Neckarsulm Böllinger Höfe plant where each chassis is hand-assembled alongside its Italian cousin. The spaceframe uses 79% aluminium and 13% carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) for the rear bulkhead, tunnel and B-pillars, yielding a 200 kg weight saving over a comparable steel monocoque. Power comes from the 5.2-litre FSI V10 — naturally aspirated, 8,700 rpm redline, 40-valve, dry-sumped — driving all four wheels through a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch and a hydraulic multi-plate centre clutch that can shuffle up to 100% of torque to either axle. Because the MSS platform is not shared with any Audi SUV or sedan, kit development is niche and expensive — but the upside is that everything engineered for the Huracán is mechanically compatible, which doubles the available parts pool.

Body Kits — Real Programmes for the R8 4S

Mansory — Soleil di Cristallo (R8 Spyder)

Mansory's most infamous R8 programme, the Soleil di Cristallo, is a one-off Spyder project that has since become a template for the tuner's standard R8 full-carbon offering. The kit replaces nearly every body panel with visible-weave pre-preg carbon fibre: front bumper with enlarged intakes, aggressive side skirts with horizontal blades, rear diffuser housing redesigned quad exhaust tips, a ducktail spoiler and a reshaped engine cover with exposed airbox. Mansory pairs the bodywork with a proprietary tune that claims 802 hp through the addition of auxiliary forced induction — a highly controversial modification that voids warranty, changes the naturally aspirated character of the car, and polarises the R8 community. Purists hate it; flamboyant collectors in Dubai and Monaco order it regardless. The kit is available in both gloss and matte carbon, with custom interior to match.

ABT Sportsline — R8 V10 "Star of Lemans"

ABT's official Audi-partner R8 package is the cleanest and most OEM-faithful of the major programmes. The R8 V10 Star of Lemans combines a subtle aerodynamic kit — front lip spoiler, side-skirt blades, rear diffuser inserts and a discreet lip wing — with an ECU remap that takes the 5.2 FSI V10 from 610 hp to a solid 620 hp and 580 Nm. ABT also offers a full set of matching forged wheels (ABT GR / ABT HR models in 20-inch) and an aluminium pedal set. Because ABT is Audi's factory-recognised tuning partner, the kit is TÜV-certified in Germany and typically does not void powertrain warranty when fitted by an authorised ABT dealer — a rare and meaningful benefit for daily-driven R8s.

Vorsteiner — V-FF and VRS Aero

Vorsteiner's VRS aerodynamic programme for the R8 V10 Plus is the go-to for owners who want visible pre-preg carbon without descending into Mansory territory. The kit includes a carbon front spoiler, side blades, rear diffuser, engine-bay trim and a subtle deck-lid spoiler — all laid up in autoclave-cured 2x2 twill. Vorsteiner also manufactures the V-FF forged wheel range in 20-inch, designed specifically to clear the R8's ceramic-carbon brake discs. The aesthetic is motorsport-derived rather than luxury-baroque, making it a natural match for silver, grey or Mythos Black cars used on track days.

Capristo Automotive — Exhaust & Engine Bay

Not a body kit in the traditional sense, but Capristo's carbon engine-cover replacement, visible-carbon airbox trims and carbon intake manifold shrouds transform the R8's under-glass engine bay into a showpiece. Paired with the company's titanium cat-back exhaust (see Performance section), Capristo's work is the most popular "aesthetic-only" upgrade for V10 Plus owners who want the car to look special when the rear hatch is open at Cars & Coffee, without altering the exterior silhouette.

Prior Design — PD800WB Widebody

For owners who want maximum visual drama without crossing into Mansory territory, Prior Design's PD800WB widebody adds bolt-on fender flares, a redesigned front bumper, side skirts and a massive rear wing. Constructed in fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) rather than carbon to keep price accessible, the kit is reversible and does not require cutting the original fenders. A popular choice for R8 owners who want the stance of a GT3 race car without the Mansory price tag.

Wheels — Sizes, Offsets, Forged Options

The R8 V10 Plus ships from the factory on 20-inch forged 5-Y-spoke wheels (8.5J front, 11J rear, ET42/ET50) wrapped in 245/30 ZR20 front and 305/30 ZR20 rear rubber — usually Pirelli P Zero Corsa. Most aftermarket upgrades stay at 20 inches because the ceramic brake option (optional on V10 Plus, standard on V10 Performance) uses enormous 380 mm front / 356 mm rear discs that do not physically clear anything smaller. Going to 21 inch is possible but the availability of suitable tyre sizes drops sharply and ride quality suffers on the already-firm magnetic ride suspension.

Recommended fitments: HRE P101 in 20x9 ET40 front / 20x12 ET50 rear, ADV.1 ADV5.0 M.V2 CS in 20x8.5 / 20x11.5, or Vorsteiner V-FF 107 in OEM-replacement fitments. All should be genuine forged (not cast/flow-formed) because of the R8's high kerb loadings and 330 km/h top speed. Tyre profile: 245/30 R20 front, 305/30 R20 rear, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S for road use or Pirelli Trofeo R for track days. Centre-lock conversion kits are available from ABT and Mansory but are not street-legal in most EU markets.

Performance — Stage 1/2 and Exhaust

The 5.2 FSI V10 is a naturally aspirated engine with already-aggressive mapping, so meaningful Stage 1 ECU gains are modest: +15 to +25 hp on 98 RON fuel, usually achieved through throttle mapping, revised ignition timing and a slight redline lift. ABT's Stage 1 tune quotes 620 hp (the same as the later V10 Performance variant), while specialist tuners such as APR and Eurocharged target 630–640 hp with full de-cat exhaust systems fitted.

Real gains require forced induction. VF Engineering's Hyperflow supercharger kit — a centrifugal blower mounted on the intake side — is the most mature bolt-on kit, producing 750–850 hp with a TUV-certified installation and retaining the stock dry sump and quattro drivetrain. For extreme builds, Underground Racing (Charlotte, NC, USA) offers a twin-turbo conversion producing 1,200 to 1,500+ hp on race fuel — the most powerful R8 builds in the world, at a cost of approximately USD 120,000 plus the donor car. Underground Racing builds halve resale value on the European market but create a cult following among US collectors.

Exhausts: Capristo titanium cat-back with valve control is the benchmark for tone and weight savings (−12 kg). Akrapovic Slip-On Evolution is the most popular choice for owners who want a simpler fitment, adding 6–8 hp and a more aggressive idle/overrun character. iPE Innotech is the third major option, often paired with de-cat downpipes for track cars.

Interior

The R8 4S cabin is driver-focused and already premium out of the factory, so interior tuning is typically limited to Nappa leather re-trimming in bespoke colour combinations, Alcantara headliner and pillar wrapping, and carbon-fibre replacements for the steering wheel spokes, centre console and Virtual Cockpit surround. Vilner and Carlex Design offer full bespoke programmes; Mansory integrates matching carbon and stitched leather with its exterior kits.

Tuning and Resale Value — The Collector Reality

The R8 V10 Plus (4S) is in a unique position: with production ended in 2024 and no successor announced, it is the final naturally aspirated V10 road car that will ever wear the four rings. This "last of the breed" status has already begun to push residuals upward on both sides of the Atlantic, and how you modify the car now directly determines whether it participates in that appreciation.

Reversible modifications are neutral or slightly positive. Aftermarket exhausts (Capristo, Akrapovic), aftermarket forged wheels (HRE, ADV.1), lowering modules and interior re-trims — if the OEM parts are retained and re-installed for sale — typically have zero negative impact and can even attract enthusiast buyers who value the bolt-on upgrades. Expect parity to +3% relative to stock examples.

ABT bodywork is mixed. ABT's Star of Lemans kit appeals to a specific German/Swiss buyer demographic and commands roughly stock money on Bring a Trailer; outside that niche, it adds no value and some purist buyers actively deduct for it.

Mansory conversions destroy collector value. A full Mansory Soleil di Cristallo conversion can reduce an R8's auction price by 20–25% against a stock comparable, because the core collector pool — which is rapidly becoming the dominant buyer group — wants factory-spec, low-mileage examples. The car becomes saleable only to the flamboyant-spec buyer segment, which is small and geographically concentrated.

Underground Racing twin-turbo conversions are a world unto themselves: they effectively remove the car from the general market, but Underground-built R8s have their own dedicated buyer pool in the US where clean twin-turbo builds regularly trade for USD 250,000–400,000 on Bring a Trailer and specialist brokers. The calculation is: halve your potential buyer count, but transact within a passionate niche that pays a premium for provenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the R8 V10 Plus the same platform as the Lamborghini Huracán?

Yes. Both cars are built on Audi's bespoke MSS (Modular Sports System) platform — an aluminium spaceframe with carbon-fibre rear bulkhead, tunnel and B-pillars. Production takes place at Audi's Böllinger Höfe facility in Neckarsulm, where the R8 and Huracán share an assembly line. The MSS platform is not used by any SUV or sedan in the VW Group; it is exclusive to these two mid-engine supercars, which is why parts engineered for the Huracán (suspension, brakes, engine internals) are mechanically compatible with the R8.

Does tuning void Audi's factory warranty?

Non-ABT powertrain modifications (ECU tunes, forced-induction conversions, full exhaust systems with de-cat) will void the drivetrain warranty. ABT, as Audi's official tuning partner, provides its own separate warranty on its tuned components and does not void the Audi warranty when fitted by an authorised ABT dealer in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Body kits and wheels (if within legal offset/tyre-size parameters) do not affect the warranty. VF Engineering's Hyperflow supercharger is TÜV-certified but voids the powertrain warranty; Underground Racing conversions are explicitly a warranty-ending modification.

Which wheel size is best — keep 20 inch or go 21 inch?

Stay at 20 inch unless the car is a show build. The factory 20-inch setup is already optimised for the R8's ceramic-carbon brake package (380 mm front discs), magnetic-ride damping and 330 km/h top speed rating. Going to 21 inch requires ultra-low-profile 25-section tyres that harm ride quality, reduce brake-disc clearance, and come in very limited Y-rated sizes. Factory forged 20s or a quality aftermarket forged 20-inch set (HRE, ADV.1, Vorsteiner V-FF) is the correct choice for the 4S platform.

Is the R8 V10 Plus going to appreciate as a collector car?

Early signs strongly suggest yes. The R8 4S is the last naturally aspirated V10 Audi — and, with the switch to electrification across the group, the last naturally aspirated V10 supercar Audi will ever build. Low-mileage manual-gearbox first-gen R8s (Type 42) have already crossed the USD 150,000 mark at auction, and the 4S V10 Plus is following the same trajectory roughly 5–7 years behind. Keep original documentation, service history, the OEM wheels and exhaust in storage, avoid irreversible modifications, and the car should appreciate faster than inflation over the next decade. Modified cars (especially Mansory or Underground Racing builds) move on a completely different value curve and should be bought/sold on enthusiasm, not appreciation math.