First Drive: 2011 Audi R8 V10 Spyder

[Bodhii]

First Drive: 2011 Audi R8 V10 Spyder
( The Idiot's Guide To Driving Gorgeously Quick)

...The R8 V10 Spyder is a tweaking of the R8 V10 Coupe, an exercise in making only the changes necessary that would allow the coupe to lose its roof yet maintain its composure. But since this is Audi, those tweaks are abundant and subtle. According to Jeff Kuhlman, Audi of America's Chief Communications Officer, the brand's consumers spend a lengthy chunk of time researching their purchases, so Audi feels that it's duty bound to reward those investigations with a plethora of things to find.

The bulk of the car's design hasn't changed: animosity up front leading a wedge of facets and bevels that regroup into animosity out back. Unsurprisingly, the noteworthy changes all have to do with the convertible top. The electrohydraulic assembly is coated in three layers of fabric weighs 66 pounds, yet due to necessary stiffening in the sills, tunnel, A- and B-pillars, rear bulkhead and floorpan, the cabrio weighs 3,784 pounds – 213 more than the R8 V10 Coupe. For all that, you lose just 0.3 seconds from 0-to-60 miles per hour with a run time of 4.0 seconds, and you probably won't lose any time putting the top up and down since it can be raised and lowered in 19 seconds at speeds up to 31 miles per hour. You won't even lose much speed, as terminal velocity clocks in at 195 mph.

There could have been more weight, but the panel that covers the top and the rockers is made from carbon fiber. The strakes running down the engine cover are a design element to tie the rear of the car to the aluminum A-pillar that's a trademark of Audi convertibles. The strakes, however, are "Aluminum Optic" – read: not actually aluminum. Visually, though, they work as advertised, being especially striking on R8 V10 Spyders in darker colors. We asked whether Audi had thought of a transparent cover, but were told that heat shielding issues made it a non-starter.

In the Audi world, though, what you give up is usually remedied by what you get. To make your convertible more appealing to live with in light of that added weight and slower times, you get features like the heated rear window independent of the roof that can be raised or lowered to act as an additional wind deflector, similar to that on the BMW 6 Series...."

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/20/2...d-test-review/

[gazza1]

I had my Audi dealer contact me last week and offer a invitation to a performance driving track day at Phillip Island Racetrack to celebrate the launch of the R8 Spyder here in OZ.

Will get the chance to drive the Spyder,Coupe V10 and V8 along with the TTRS,S5 at speed.

I am pretty sure I am going to come away from the event and then walk into the showroom and do something I regret.

[Bodhii]

Will get the chance to drive the Spyder,Coupe V10 and V8 along with the TTRS, S5 at speed.

Now that is a significant SCORE!!! Big congrats! Have fun, and use those SMILE muscles!!

[desperado]

What, no R8 GT? Stay away!! (JK!)

What a great opportunity. I hate to sound like a traitor, but I suspect the TTRS will impress even more than you expect. That is a really fun platform. I'm very much looking forward to all of your impressions.

[akionan]

I'm not traditionally a convertible guy, but the R8 Spyders are absolutely beautiful! I saw the Brown Spyder that has been touring the US at different Audi dealers; impressive!

[gazza1]

What, no R8 GT? Stay away!! (JK!)

Dealer advised today that they have secured 1 R8 GT for sale.

Arrives early in the new year.

$480K Australian dollars..$420 U.S.(OUCH!!!)

[Bodhii]

.$420K U.S.

That's the same price as A new Audi R8 LMS here in USA.... If they weren't already sold out. And they are!

BTW, where are these people buying up all of these new LMS's??? Are you reading this forum? Speak up!


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