It’s been all but confirmed by Audi that the R8 Spyder is due to debut alongside the new A5 Sportback at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, but according to two reports from Car and Driver, there will be one less vehicle on the show stand in Germany and only one engine available in the drop-top supercar.
The 2011 Audi R8 Spyder will reportedly be available with the 525 hp, 5.2-liter V10 at launch — meaning no V8 — with a standard six-speed manual gearbox or optional R-tronic automated transmission. The 420 hp, 4.2-liter V8 currently fitted to the standard R8 could be added later, but Audi seems to favor sticking with the V10 until the R8’s replacement arrives a few years down the road.
Additionally, it was widely reported that the 2011 Audi A8 would be unveiled in Frankfurt, but C&D says that the launch has been pushed back sometime after the LA Auto Show in December. Apparently, the reason for the delay is two-fold: Audi doesn’t want to risk quelling sales of the current A8 in some of its most important markets (China, Europe and the U.S.) and the automaker is (wisely) worried that the unveiling could be overlooked at a large auto show where too many models are vying for attention. As such, the A8 could be shown initially at a private event in Florida later this year, with the first public exhibition being the Detroit Auto Show in January.
2011 Audi R8 Spyder
The A1 won’t come to the United States–at least, not this first generation–but the R8 spyder will, with nearly 50 percent of the annual production from the Neckarsulm, Germany, plant headed our way. That means upward of 250 spyders will make it to America.
The spyder has the same powertrain as that in the R8 V10 coupe, a car that we noted last year was finally living up to the performance promised by its sporty good looks. With a 5.2-liter direct-injection V10 making 525 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque, the spyder will go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.1 seconds. That compares with 3.9 seconds for the coupe, which weighs 194 pounds more than the 3,597-pound coupe. Audi says a V8-powered spyder will be on sale at some point after the launch of the V10.
2011 Audi R8 Spyder
Audi engineers worked hard to save weight throughout. The aluminum spaceframe chassis, beefed up for the missing roof, weighs only 13.2 pounds more than the coupe’s. The fabric roof with its electro-hydraulic mechanism weighs just 93 pounds. Aluminum is used for the hood and the door panels, while thermoplastic polyurethane and a carbon-fiber compound are used for the quarter-panels and the rear decklid.
The spyder is the same length and width as the coupe but 0.3 inch lower, for a slightly more aggressive, athletic stance. The exterior design has a clean, sleek look thanks in part to the absence of the coupe’s signature design element, the so-called side blade.
“We didn’t want to make the convertible look the same as the coupe,” said project manager Jurgen Wacker. And there is no glass cover to give a view of the V10. “The roof mechanicals took over the space,” he said.
Allowing for these mechanicals also takes away the small space behind the coupe’s rear seats. It is a small sacrifice for those who want the ability to drive topless. The interior is updated from the coupe’s, including full iPod integration and microphones built into the seatbelts to allow for Bluetooth phone operation. Topstitched leather on the seats, dash and door panels plus carbon-fiber and brushed-aluminum trim carry over from the coupe.
The side blade has been a controversial design element since the R8’s introduction in 2008. In a contrasting color, it breaks up the fluid flow of the coupe’s profile. Some might find the spyder’s clean-flowing, side-bladeless look more pleasing.
What will certainly please anyone who gets behind the wheel of an R8 spyder are the terrific mechanical sounds coming from the midship-mounted V10. Even if you don’t lower the roof, you can lower the (heated) glass rear window via a console-mounted switch and let the sweet sounds fill the cabin. At full throttle and with the rear window down, the exhaust note will easily overpower the fine Bang & Olufsen sound system.
The R8 spyder isn’t all about looks. The dry-sump lubrication of the V10 allows the engine to be mounted low in the chassis. Audi engineers wouldn’t reveal the torsional stiffness of the chassis in comparison with that of the coupe, but in a day’s driving, no unwanted chassis flex, vibration or cowl shake was detected. Audi’s magnetic-ride suspension reduces body roll and smooths out the ride, even with 19-inch sport rubber.
A six-speed manual with a gated shifter is standard. Audi’s R-Tronic automatic with paddle shifters is optional. If you don’t like to shift for yourself, the R-Tronic is an OK choice. It’s certainly not as quick-shifting as a dual-clutch transmission found on other Audi and Volkswagen cars, but with a bit of practice in modulating the throttle, you can easily smooth out upshifts. Real enthusiasts most likely will opt for the manual.
The R8 spyder is playing in some rarefied sports-car air, filled with the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, although the potent Porsche plays with four fewer cylinders.The new Audi won’t go on sale in the States until fall, so no firm price was given. But Audi officials estimated that the price will start at about $165,000, nearly $20,000 more than the coupe but more than $20,000 less than the least expensive Italian competitor. Price and exclusivity, along with outstanding performance and terrific looks, create a powerful combination.
Tags: audi a8, c amp, detroit auto show, frankfurt motor show, la auto show, liter v8, manual gearbox, public exhibition