Audi has unveiled plans to begin manufacturing its fastest ever production car for release next year.

The German marque will be producing a limited-edition V10 R8 GT, with the vehicle boasting more power and less weight than its predecessor.

Audi plans to limit the number of the GT vehicles to just 33 in the UK, highlighting the exclusivity of the supercar.

The news could be of interest to Audi car hire enthusiasts who want to sample the enhanced sports vehicle.

Meanwhile, thanks to the use of lightweight materials during the car's construction, Audi has managed to reduce the overall weight of the R8 GT by 100kg.

This ensures that motorists will be able to enjoy more power and better performance, as zero to 62mph can be achieved in 3.6 seconds, while the top speed is a blistering 199mph - making it the quickest ever road-going Audi.

The Audi R8 V10 was recently awarded the 2010 World Performance Car of the Year accolade during the World Car of the Year Awards.

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Posted by Jenny Denham