Nearly two months ago, spy photographers spotted a production Audi R8 Spyder on the set of Iron Man II, with none other than Robert Downey Jr behind the wheel. Just last week, more images leaked online. Today, the car finally received its official unveiling at the Frankfurt auto show. We’ve got all the details, plus an in-depth photo gallery.
The R8 Spyder will be offered exclusively with V10 power. The engine delivers an impressive 525 horsepower at 8,000 rpm. Peak torque of 391 pound-feet is achieved at 6,500 rpm. The sprint to 62 mph takes just 4.1 seconds, while accelerating to 124 mph is a similarly brisk 12.7-second trip. Top speed is 195 mph. Fuel consumption for the six-speed manual version is 15.79 mpg. The R-tronic automated manual gearbox improves this figure to 16.92 mpg.
Although initial reports suggested the roofless R8 would use a targa top setup – like the recently unveiled Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport — it later became apparent the car would sport a conventional soft top. The full automated top can be closed or opened in just 19 seconds, at speeds of up to 31 mph.
Notably absent are the R8’s trademark aluminum “side blades.” Other visual changes for the Spyder model include additional air intakes located behind the seats as well as a pair of safety roll bars. The placement of the fuel filler cap was also changed due to the lack rear pillars. Changes under sheet metal are focused around chassis strengthening.
Sales are expected to begin in early 2010. The base price is 156,400 euros. U.S. pricing has not yet been announced.



09/14, 8:07 PM
posted by:
Ring-Taxi
Sexy.
09/14, 8:32 PM
posted by:
Long Live The C6.R
Decent, they could have at least showed it with the top up, but yet again, its fun to torment the public.
09/14, 9:29 PM
posted by:
xcatchmyshadowx
gorgeous car, even in ****ty brown.
09/14, 9:38 PM
posted by:
LunaticRider
Beautiful car def. Def not good on that brown color though although that roar of that v10 it sure should sound good. Am not a fan of the convertibles though but still this is one good looking car.
09/14, 9:49 PM
posted by:
KarLoveBoy88
“Do you, KarLoveBoy88, take thee, Audi R8, to be you lawfully registered car?”
“I do…..I do.”
“Do you, Audi R8, take thee, KarLoveBoy88, to be your lawfully registered owner?”
“Vroom, VROOM!”
“I now pronounce you man and supercar”
Atleast that’s how I would have to be when I am able to obtain this beast.
09/14, 9:57 PM
posted by:
Borat
Missing a pedal, but it the way world turns I guess.
09/14, 10:46 PM
posted by:
gugy
nice car, I wish I could afford it.
09/14, 10:47 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
So now they’re advertising mpg to the second decimal? Get a f*cking life. It’s a car. You’re not going to orbit Mars with the f*cking thing.
09/14, 10:59 PM
posted by:
cocksterS
Small point, but I really like that they use a gated shifter in the manual version of this car. When I was 17, I promised myself that at some point in my life, I would own a car with a gated shifter.
09/15, 12:10 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
it is a bit suspicious they have no shots with the top up…probably spoils the roof line we’re all used to seeing on an r8 quite a bit…how much flat trunk lid space is there behind the top, for example…hopefully the top looks integrated and not stuck on like a 350z…
09/15, 1:03 AM
posted by:
Sector_15504
Boring. Ugly. Yawn. Looks like crap.
just figured id respond with the usual stuff. =)
09/15, 1:06 AM
posted by:
AutoCritical
I know I’ve already posted this, but just incase you missed it, I did a quick photoshop of it with the side blade, if you are keen to have a look, http://bit.ly/kWIv9
09/15, 2:25 AM
posted by:
TL
Sexy!
09/15, 1:44 PM
posted by:
lexusman
Ordered mine today receiving in South Africa November 2010
09/15, 1:59 PM
posted by:
AtWork
Look at that.. $250,000 for a Toyota MR2 rear half.. Well done Audi designers
09/15, 3:12 PM
posted by:
CiNO
Oh that’s good, but still… Lexus LF-A is way better. Next month is Japanese sport cars show. I will see which one is the better one.
09/15, 3:43 PM
posted by:
JSi
looks like a TT…
09/15, 6:04 PM
posted by:
alsvw
one of the hottest convertables ever produced. for the money it blows away anything made to date.
09/15, 6:05 PM
posted by:
Francois_1616
Lexusman Waar pretoria?
09/15, 7:25 PM
posted by:
teahead
NIce, but still too CUTE to be worth $150k.
09/16, 12:26 AM
posted by:
lexusman
Francois, Nee ek bly hier in die Kaap
09/16, 1:23 AM
posted by:
Francois_1616
Lexusman. aah. I would have sponged a ride in one then hehe
09/16, 1:47 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
It looks even better as a convertible than it does a coupe….. Oh I do like….
09/16, 8:49 PM
posted by:
F50
While I like the convertible R8, I prefer the Coupe. The LP560 on the other hand….
09/16, 10:08 PM
posted by:
reedfast
looks good, but i can see why the coupe r8 has a side blade. It helps brake up that huge rear end.
09/17, 10:19 AM
posted by:
Techno
Lexusman…Die Kaapstad of sal ek se Slaapstad het die beste weer vir sulke droomwiele. geniet dit , net jammer jy moet so K@K lank wag daarvoor. Francois_1616 bly jy in Tshwane ( Pretoria)? The V8 Coupe’ gave me the thrills until I Piloted the V10…Needless to say it is an absolute orgasmic experience…one you can not explain unless you have had first hand experience.
09/17, 9:25 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I still can’t believe they missed the possible shots of the top up! You can youtube it, it actually looks really nice!
09/21, 7:38 AM
posted by:
n2k
no side blade?
id take coupe but they really werent going to mess up here!
09/24, 10:00 AM
posted by:
hsr0601
Theme : Addressing Range Anxieties.
1. The range of noticeable EVs are sufficient to meet the daily driving needs of more than 95% of drivers ((The vast majority of people (95%) drive less than 100/km a day, 82% of the respondents said they drive 40 miles or less a day, with an average daily driving distance of 27 miles.)).
As for long trip needs, all but Americans and many of developed nations have existing automobiles, in this regard, EVs are best suited to their daily use until the infrastructure comes into wide use. And people are already doing that.
2. The on-board IT system shows the driving radius on a maximum range display under the current state of charge and calculates if the vehicle is within range of a pre-set destination. And the navigation system points out the latest information on available charging stations within the current driving range.
3. In 21st century, home, workplace, or stores etc also serve as a charge station as electricity is everywhere. With a long extension code inside, just in case, riders can get help from almost anyplace, not to mention the stores to provide charge service, and many of EVs are equipped with a quick charger.
4. Unlike fuel price, as time goes by, the price of battery is expected to drop dramatically in the foreseeable future as with computer components, in that case, mounting additional battery might be not a problem. And the EVs that come in a range of 200 to 300 miles between charges are on fast-tract toward mass-market, as Batteries become more efficient.
5. Indian EV maker Reva said it has also set about addressing anxieties about e-car range, this fantastic wireless electricity/ “instant remote recharge” will be widely available down the line.
6. The vehicle-to-grid communication technology is helping the battery serve as a storage to prevent the costly blackout standing at about $90 to 100bn per year. That means utilities are shedding cost for additional storage facilities and ratepayers are selling electricity during peak demand so that EVs can make more economic sense, as we know. ((The cost of running the vehicle should be 1 to 2 cents per mile, compared to 10 cents or more per mile to run a gas car. Electric vehicles require little maintenance — no oil changes, for instance –. Better still, they can sell electricity or charge at the stores offering charge service.))
It is also in the best interest of electricity utilities that EVs are going mainstream, thereby they need to put in charge stands where needed around highways, major roads with card readers or cell phone tech.
7. I’m hopeful that the charge network will extend the select districts to nation-wide scale throughout the world, and this environment can usher in active private investings in EVs. And I remain confident that investing in charge stands could give rise to multiple times as much investing effect, so to speak, some billions of investing, this simple deployment, could call into the most-sought energy independence and solid recovery around the world.
Thank You !
10/19, 1:41 AM
posted by:
LunaticRider
At johny canuck u are the biggest ****ing deuche i ever seen write on this blog spot