Audi R8 4S Coilovers: KW HLS V4 Review (2017-2023)

Upgrading the suspension on a 2017-2023 Audi R8 4S is the single most transformative modification you can make to the second-generation V10 supercar — and the KW HLS with V4 coilover is the flagship option. The R8 4S shares its aluminum-and-carbon spaceframe with the Lamborghini Huracan and sits just 4.4 inches off the ground at the front splitter, so the factory ride height is equal parts hero and headache. The KW HLS with V4 solves both problems at once: an integrated hydraulic lift raises the nose at the touch of a button, while the Variant 4 coilover delivers independently adjustable low-speed compression, high-speed compression, and rebound damping. In this review we break down the KW system, then line it up against four more affordable Audi R8 4S suspension options so you can match the right kit to your driving.

Why the Audi R8 4S Needs a Suspension Upgrade

The second-generation Audi R8 (Type 4S, sold in the U.S. from 2017 through 2023) pairs a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 making 532 to 602 horsepower with a curb weight of roughly 3,600 to 3,950 pounds and a 0-60 mph time as quick as 3.2 seconds. That performance is delivered on a car whose front lip clears the pavement by barely more than four inches, which is why driveway aprons, gas-station approaches, and speed bumps are a daily anxiety for owners. The factory answer — on cars equipped with Audi magnetic ride — is a fixed, non-adjustable ride height with electronically controlled magnetorheological dampers that trade cornering flatness for comfort.

Aftermarket suspension addresses three shortcomings at once: it lets you set a static ride height (or lift the nose on demand), it unlocks real damping adjustment the factory never offered, and on lowered cars it tightens the R8's body control for canyon and track use. At NLP Performance, R8 4S owners consistently tell us that ground clearance is the number-one reason they upgrade — and it is exactly the problem KW's Hydraulic Lift System was engineered to erase.

KW HLS with V4: The R8 4S Flagship, Reviewed

The KW HLS with V4 is a complete coilover system that fuses two KW technologies: the Hydraulic Lift System (HLS) front-axle lift and the Variant 4 (V4) motorsport coilover. Priced around $14,600, it is the most capable — and the most expensive — bolt-in suspension we offer for the R8 4S. It fits the full 4S range, including the R8 Base, Plus, Performance, Performance RWD, RWS, and Spyder body styles from 2017-2018 and 2020-2023.

How Does the KW Hydraulic Lift System Work?

The KW Hydraulic Lift System raises the front axle of the R8 4S by roughly 40 mm (about 1.6 inches) in a few seconds at the push of a button, then lowers it back to your set ride height automatically once you are moving. An electro-hydraulic pump feeds fluid into hydraulic cylinders integrated directly into the front coilover struts, so there is no separate air-spring or bag to leak — the lift is part of the damper assembly itself. That extra clearance is enough to clear driveway aprons, parking structures, and steep gas-station approaches that would otherwise gouge the R8's front splitter.

Because the lift is hydraulic rather than pneumatic, it acts almost instantly and holds a precise height without the slow settle of an air system. The system deactivates above a low threshold speed so it can never be left engaged at pace, and it retains your programmed sport ride height as the default. For an owner who currently plans every route around curbs and inclines, this single feature changes how — and how often — the car gets driven.

What Makes the KW Variant 4 Coilover Special?

The Variant 4 is the top rung of KW's street-legal coilover ladder, sitting above the more familiar Variant 3. Where a V3 gives you separately adjustable rebound and compression, the V4 splits compression into two circuits — low-speed and high-speed — on top of independent rebound. In plain terms, that means you can dial in body roll and dive during slow, deliberate steering inputs without ruining how the car absorbs a sharp, high-speed hit like an expansion joint or a curb. KW ships each V4 kit with a vehicle-specific comfort baseline for the R8, so you are tuning from a sane starting point rather than a blank slate.

KW builds the V4 around inox-line stainless-steel strut bodies, which resist the corrosion that eventually seizes the threaded collars on cheaper zinc-plated coilovers — a real concern in a humid climate like our Tampa, FL home base. Ride height is independently adjustable at each corner, making a proper corner-balance possible, and the integrated adjusters let you make damping changes without pulling the struts out of the car. It is genuine motorsport hardware detuned just enough to live on the street.

Audi R8 4S Suspension Options Compared

Not every R8 owner needs a $14,600 flagship. The right kit depends on whether you prioritize on-demand ground clearance, adjustable damping, or a simple, affordable drop that keeps the factory magnetic dampers. The table below ranks five in-stock Audi R8 4S suspension options from entry-level sport springs to the full hydraulic-lift coilover, with prices ranging from around $424 to $14,594.

Runner-Up: H&R RSS+ Coil Over

If you want a genuine coilover but not the hydraulic lift, the H&R RSS+ Coil Over is the value play at around $4,572. Its standout trait is the "w/ Adaptive Susp." design: it retains the R8's factory magnetic dampers and simply threads the ride height down, so there are no dash faults and no cancellation kit to buy. You get a corner-balanced stance and roughly a 0.4 to 1.4-inch lowering range while keeping the OEM adaptive damping that many owners actually like on long drives.

Budget Lift: KW Height Adjustable Spring Kit

The KW Height Adjustable Spring (H.A.S.) kit is the smart middle ground at around $1,864. It replaces only the springs with height-adjustable perches, keeping the R8's factory dampers — including magnetic ride — fully intact. You get a modest, adjustable amount of lowering (or the ability to level a nose-high stance) without touching the damping or triggering a warning light. For an owner who wants a cleaner stance and a little tuning latitude but not a full coilover budget, it is the easiest entry point KW makes.

Simple Drop: H&R VTF Adjustable Lowering Springs

The H&R VTF (Variable Track Function) springs give you an adjustable drop — you set the amount of lowering within a range at install — while retaining the factory adaptive dampers. At around $1,152 they slot neatly between a fixed sport spring and a spring kit with adjustable perches, and they are a favorite for owners who want a purposeful stance without the coilover price tag. Because they keep the OEM magnetic dampers, no cancellation kit is required.

Do You Need the Electronic Damping Cancellation Kit?

If your R8 4S left the factory with Audi magnetic ride and you fit a non-electronic coilover like the KW V4, the car's control module expects a signal from the original adaptive dampers — and without it, you get a suspension fault on the dash. KW's Electronic Damping Cancellation Kit, priced around $584, emulates that OEM signal so the warning never appears and the rest of the electronics behave normally. Budget for it alongside the KW HLS with V4 on any magnetic-ride car. The spring-based kits and the H&R RSS+ "w/ Adaptive" coilover retain the factory dampers and do not need it.

Installation and Fitment Notes

Plan on a full-day professional installation for the KW HLS with V4. Beyond bolting in the coilovers, the hydraulic lift adds a pump, lines, and wiring that must be routed and bled, and a magnetic-ride car needs the cancellation kit integrated at the same time. A four-wheel alignment afterward is mandatory — the R8's aluminum control-arm geometry is sensitive, and camber and toe must be reset to the new ride height. We recommend having your installer log corner weights so the V4's independent height adjusters can be used to balance the car properly.

Confirm your exact trim and model year before ordering: the 4S range spans Base, Plus, Performance, RWD, RWS, and Spyder variants, and the "w/ Adaptive" versus "w/o Adaptive" distinction on the spring and H&R coilover options must match whether your car has magnetic ride. Every option in this guide is a verified Audi R8 4S fitment in stock at NLP Performance — browse the full range in our coilovers collection or the broader suspension collection, and our Tampa, FL team can confirm the right part for your VIN.