Audi R8 Spyder
Audi R8 Spyder FIRST DRIVE Drop-top adds to drama of V10 supercar
THE headline numbers for Audi’s current-generation R8 focus around how much lighter, stiffer and faster it is – and this deeply sexy new £129,990 Spyder model is no exception.
Everything that moves beneath the car’s handsomely redesigned bodywork has been pared back, improved and mechanically enhanced. The chassis is several kilograms lighter than in the previous-generation model (but still 50kg more than the current coupé) thanks to the use of carbon and aluminium.
But – and this is the truly impressive stat – it’s also 55 per cent stiffer than before. This provides a basic platform that bosses claim is unsurpassed by any other rival, at any price point. The R8 Spyder, in other words, is the stiffest open-top car money can buy.
Yet it’s not the most powerful. Nor does it have the most torque. That’s because Audi has chosen not to offer the car in Plus guise with the 602bhp version of its thundering 5.2-litre V10 engine – instead giving the Spyder the standard car’s 533bhp unit. The Plus will come later. As a result, 0-62mph takes a somewhat languid 3.6 seconds, while top speed is a weedy 197mph.
We're joking, of course. In reality, the allwheel-drive Spyder has more than enough performance to please all but the most crazed speed junkies. On paper it trails a like-for-like coupé by a tenth of a second, but on the move it doesn’t feel much slower than the range-topping Plus – even though it’s heavier and less powerful.
The canvas hood is an all-electric masterpiece of street theatre that takes 20 seconds to perform its ballet routine. It can be lowered or raised at speeds of up to 31mph, folding neatly behind the seats. There’s almost no buffeting with the windbreaker in place, while once raised the close-fitting roof provides the Spyder with an uncanny level of refinement.
The cabin is as beautifully crafted as it is in the coupé, too. The super-clear Virtual Cockpit dials give it a futuristic edge, while the high-quality switchgear – such as the digital climate controls nestled in the air vents – allow it to compete with every Porsche, Mclaren or Ferrari in this price segment. The driving position is lowslung and cocoons you perfectly.
Don’t think for a second that this R8 Spyder has lost any sense of excitement. Drop the little aero screen and floor the throttle, and you’ll quickly realise the noise that erupts past 4,000rpm is truly epic. The 8,500rpm red line is enough to make a full head of hair stand on its ends.
On the move there is accuracy and precision by the bucket load thanks to the R8’s new optional Dynamic steering. There’s little in the way of feel, though, so you end up trusting that the front tyres are going to go where you aim them. Your hands and fingertips don't get much information, although to be fair the Dynamic-equipped Spyder did seem to steer with a touch more purity than the hard-top we’ve tried in the past. This could well be something to do with the equivalent suspension settings being a fraction softer than they are in the coupé, due to Audi’s desire to make the Spyder feel that little bit more like a cruiser.
Elsewhere, the new R8 Spyder is tough to fault. The engine is a gem, the ride and
Newcars “On the move there is accuracy and precision by the bucket load thanks to the Dynamic steering”
handling are beautifully balanced, while the sense of refinement is second to none. The hood is a thing of genius and the dualclutch gearbox works every bit as brilliantly as it does in the coupé. Yes, we’d occasionally like more feedback in Dynamic mode, but the smooth changes make this Audi a joy to drive quickly. That said, the small boot in the nose doesn’t leave much room for bigger cases. A week away continues to demand some very practical packing.
As with most cars of this ilk, the compromises suffered by the Spyder are so hard to spot that you end up thinking; why bother with the coupé? The Spyder is every bit as engaging to drive as its fixed-roof sibling, with the huge added bonus of being able to drop the roof whenever the sun shines. If it was our money, we'd spend the extra ten grand on the Spyder every day of the week.
“The all-wheel-drive Spyder has more than enough performance to please"