The R8 has not only been a huge success for Audi over the years, but it has also built up a reputation for being a sophisticated and comfortable sports car. The ABT XGT is none of those things.

Instead of slightly modifying the base vehicle or adding a few carbon-fiber bits here and there, the German tuning house went all out and created a race car for the road, making this the ultimate swan song for a model that is finally nearing the end of its series production run.

Limited to just 99 units, it will likely also be the most expensive R8 you could ever buy and drive legally on the road.

ABT Sportsline is no stranger to racing. The firm has been competing very successfully in the DTM series for many years, taking part in over 300 races with over 250 podium finishes and many individual victories.

But taking a race car and making it road-legal was a different challenge entirely, and that’s what the XGT pretty much is: an R8 LMS GT2 with number plates. Instead of starting with a normal R8 and making it look and handle like a race car, the team took a GT2 vehicle and modified it to be compliant with strict German laws. A process that took a good two years to complete.

Not only did engineers have to pass over 40 individual government inspections to make it road-legal, but there were also countless technical challenges to make this project happen.

Everything from the engine management software to thermal management, fueling systems, and vehicle diagnostics had to be modified so this machine could drive on the track and public roads without breaking down or breaking any laws.

The result is a wild combination of components and a best-of-both-worlds mix that sees the driver grab the original GT2 steering wheel while driving out on the open road.

Other added creature comforts include a normal electronic handbrake, central locking, a reversing camera, and even an immobilizer to prevent it from being nicked. It even comes with air-conditioning and electrically adjustable side mirrors.

The firm also tested its creation extensively on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, and even had to use one car for the required front- and side-impact crash tests. Add to those strict noise and emission regulations in Germany and you can start to understand why it took two years to complete this endeavor.

Anyone who wants to get behind the wheel of this missile needs to write a check for at least €598,000 (P36.3 million).

That amount of money will give you the keys to start the 640hp, 5.2-liter V10 of this 1,400kg light racer, and let you rip across town while you sort gears with a seven-speed S-Tronic. Power only goes to the rear wheels, which should make the experience of driving the XGT extra interesting. A top speed of 310km/h makes it sufficiently fast.

We have no doubt that ABT will be able to sell all 99 cars, but how many of them will really be used as intended and not tortured with second-gear, inner-city traffic-light sprints for most of their lives will remain to be seen.