Following months of rumors and spy shots, it looks as though a convertible version of the Audi R8 supercar has been officially green-lighted for production. Insiders say the open-air R8 should begin production sometime in 2011.
Previous reports suggested the R8 convertible would adopted a targa-style top similar to the one seen on the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, but WhatCar suggests the car will do with a more conventional soft top. Audi engineers reportedly nixed the idea of a retractable hardtop setup due to the R8’s mid-engine configuration.
In production form the R8 convertible will likely be called the R8 Spider.
It remains unclear if Audi plans to offer the R8 Spider with a V8 or V10 powerplant, although it remains likely that both could be offered in the drop-top variant. At any rate, the addition of the convertible model should help the R8 better compete against rivals like the Porsche 911.
04/30, 6:06 PM
posted by:
Ring-Taxi
Not a fan of drop tops, but DAMN!
04/30, 6:48 PM
posted by:
BIG-KC
I hate when companies turn hard top sports car into convertibles. They are always ugly, and it ruins the image of the original.
04/30, 7:28 PM
posted by:
Kid Icarus
Agreed….I am not a fan of convertibles
04/30, 9:36 PM
posted by:
VR6VW
Is LLN forgetting that Porsche owns a majority of VAG now? The R8 and the 911 are pretty much family rather than rivals.
04/30, 9:59 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
Got to drive a friends new R8 on Monday and DAMMM! That car has some punch. The Quattro AWD with the mid engine balence was unbelievable. I can image the convertible would be a blast as well to drive. I don’t think it needs a V10 engine, as this car was so fast it already was pretty challenging to control the power.
04/30, 10:14 PM
posted by:
Das Stig
If the cars original image were to remain, this would certainly need to become a Targa R8, and I think they should divert the idea of a convertible and make it a Targa version, at least the sideblades can still be part of it.
04/30, 10:45 PM
posted by:
orangecones
In my mind, this is indeed a premium coupe (and I guess now convertable) but it is no “supercar” like Enzo or Gumpert, or Kunigssegg
04/30, 11:16 PM
posted by:
olds307
Amerikaner kaufen Müll bauen wir!
05/01, 12:43 AM
posted by:
buytheredcar
I guess Audi isnt going to incorporate the side “blades” on the convertible
05/01, 3:24 AM
posted by:
brocky
WHY Audi? You sell outs.
05/01, 8:01 AM
posted by:
scratchy
@ BIG-KC , i think Lambos are the exception to the rule.
@ olds307 , Du hast Recht
05/01, 8:43 AM
posted by:
zeegone
Why is this such a surprise to everyone? Convertibles sell, that’s why they’re doing it! And who doesn’t like a convertible, they only look bad when the tops are up. This thing is going to rock, remember it already has one of the best handling chassis on the market, a drop-top is not going to destroy too much of that. Less metal over head will also let you hear more of that sweet V8 sound which is never a bad thing.
05/01, 12:48 PM
posted by:
Jon Luc
I’d rather the Targa Top.
05/01, 7:24 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Fine, Fine.
I’ll take the regular R8, or an A8