KW HLS V4 Coilover Review for 2017-2021 Audi R8 (4S)

The KW HLS V4 coilover for the 2017-2021 Audi R8 (4S) answers the single most frustrating problem of owning a naturally aspirated V10 supercar: the front lip that scrapes on every driveway apron, parking ramp, and speed bump in Tampa. With a factory ground clearance of roughly 110 mm (4.3 inches), the Type 4S R8 sits low enough that daily use means constant anxiety about the carbon front splitter. KW’s Hydraulic Lift System (HLS), paired here with the flagship V4 coilover, raises the front axle up to 45 mm at the push of a button in about 5 seconds — and then hands you a genuinely track-capable, three-way adjustable suspension the rest of the time. In our Tampa shop we consider it the halo suspension setup for the R8, and this review breaks down exactly what you get, how it fits, and how it stacks up against the other Audi R8 coilover options we stock.

Why the 2017-2021 Audi R8 (4S) Needs a Lift System

The second-generation Audi R8 (Type 4S) is one of the lowest-slung cars on the road, and that is exactly why a hydraulic lift matters. It rides on the Modular Sports System platform shared with the Lamborghini Huracan, carries a 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10, and produces 533 hp in base trim and up to 602 hp in V10 Performance guise. All of that sits behind a low, forward-jutting front splitter with a factory ground clearance near 4.3 inches. Every steep driveway, garage ramp, or raised crosswalk becomes a scraping hazard, and replacement carbon aero on an R8 is expensive.

Lowering the car on coilovers — which most R8 owners eventually want for the stance and handling — makes the clearance problem worse, not better. That is the gap the KW HLS is built to close. Instead of forcing you to choose between a slammed track setup and a usable daily driver, the HLS lets you run an aggressive ride height and lift the nose on demand. For a car that shares its bones with a Huracan but gets driven far more often, that combination is close to essential.

What Is the KW HLS Hydraulic Lift System?

The KW HLS (Hydraulic Lift System) is a front-axle hydraulic lift that raises the Audi R8 by up to 45 mm to clear obstacles, then lowers it back to your set ride height. On this kit KW pairs the HLS 2 front-axle hardware with a complete V4 coilover kit (KW part number kws3A7102AM). The hydraulic cylinder is positioned on the coilover body between the spring perch and the spring, which gives a mechanical advantage and, importantly, means there is no compression of the extended cylinder unit and therefore no unwanted extra suspension movement while you drive.

You activate the lift from inside the cabin with an LED position-control switch. Full front lift takes about 5 seconds, and — unlike many nose-lift systems — the KW HLS can be raised or held while the car is rolling at speeds up to 50 mph, so you can pre-lift before a known bad crossing without stopping. KW offers the system as HLS 2 (front axle only, as fitted here) or HLS 4 (front and rear axle) for owners who want to raise the entire car. Because the lift hardware integrates directly with the V4 coilover, you keep full ride-height and damping adjustability underneath it.

KW V4 Coilover: 3-Way Damping Explained

Underneath the lift hardware, the KW V4 is the brand’s flagship street-and-track coilover, and it is the same platform KW develops for cars like the Audi RS6, BMW M5, Mercedes-AMG GT and the Lamborghini Aventador SV. The V4 gives you independent adjustment of rebound damping plus separate low-speed and high-speed compression damping — the “3-way” setup that lets you tune body control and bump absorption separately. Rebound runs across 16 clicks, while the low-speed and high-speed compression circuits are set with their own dials using KW’s patented TVR-A (rebound) and TVCLH-A (compression) valve technology.

In practical terms, the low-speed compression stage controls body roll through corners and pitch under braking and acceleration, while the high-speed compression stage soaks up sharp inputs like potholes, expansion joints and cross grooves. That separation is what makes a car like the R8 feel planted on track without turning brutal on Florida’s patchwork pavement. Combined with the on-demand ride height from the HLS and the coilover’s own threaded height adjustment, the KW HLS V4 is genuinely the most configurable suspension you can bolt to a second-gen R8.

Installation, Fitment and What Is in the Box

This complete kit (KW part kws3A7102AM) is designed for 2017-2018 and 2020-2021 Audi R8 (Type 4S) Coupe and Spyder models, covering Base, Plus and Performance trims. It ships as a full HLS 2 front-axle lift plus a matched set of V4 coilovers, so you are not sourcing hydraulics and dampers separately. The hydraulic pump, lines, LED control switch and coilovers are engineered to work as one system.

Because the HLS routes hydraulic lines and adds an in-cabin control, this is not a driveway install. We strongly recommend professional fitment with a proper corner-balance and four-wheel alignment afterward — on a car with the R8’s value and geometry, correct corner weighting is what turns adjustable hardware into a car that actually handles. Plan for the shop to set your baseline ride height, bleed and calibrate the lift, and dial in a street-friendly damping setting before you start experimenting. Budget a full day of labor. Once set up, the system is transparent in daily use: drive at your low height, tap the switch before a bad ramp, and the nose rises in about 5 seconds.

KW HLS V4 vs Other Audi R8 Suspension Options

The HLS V4 is the top of the ladder, but it is not the only Audi R8 suspension we stock. If you own a first-generation R8 (Type 42, 2008-2015) or you do not need the hydraulic lift, KW and H&R offer several coilover and height-adjustable spring options at lower price points. Here is how the five most relevant R8 suspension kits compare. Note the chassis column: the HLS V4 and the H.A.S. springs fit the second-gen 4S, while the standalone V4, V3 and H&R RSS+ coilovers here are built for the first-gen Type 42.

KW V4 Coilover for the First-Gen R8 (Type 42)

If you have a 2010-2015 R8 42 V8 and want the same flagship 3-way KW damping without the hydraulic lift, the standalone V4 coilover is the pick. It uses the identical rebound and low-/high-speed compression tuning found on the HLS kit, at $8,774.00.

KW V3 Coilover — The 2-Way Value Play

The KW V3 for the Type 42 keeps independent rebound and compression adjustment (2-way) and is the value-focused way into premium KW damping at $6,964.00. This version is built for R8 42 cars equipped with magnetic ride.

H&R RSS+ and KW H.A.S. Springs

For owners who want a lighter spend, the H&R RSS+ mono-tube coilover ($4,005.00, marked down from $4,450.00) brings externally adjustable damping and race-derived hardware to the Type 42. And if you only want a cleaner stance on a second-gen 4S without full coilovers, the KW H.A.S. height-adjustable spring kit ($1,864.00) lets you set ride height on the factory dampers — the most budget-friendly R8 lowering option we stock.

Pros and Cons of the KW HLS V4 Kit