The Audi R8 Spyder: Audi at its Most Extreme

The new R8 Spyder comes to market with the fabulous, naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-10, rated at 540 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. The high-revving engine can play the entire range from a dark growl to a piercing howl, and its soundtrack is no empty promise: From a standstill, 62 mph comes up in 3.6 seconds, according to Audi, and top speed is ungoverned at 198 mph.

A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic channels the power to all four wheels—most of the time. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system can send as much as 100 percent to the front or the rear axle, although the default setup is strongly rear-biased. There is a GKN-supplied, water-cooled front differential and a limited-slip differential in the rear.

At a claimed 3554 pounds dry, the R8 Spyder is reasonably svelte by modern standards; 80 percent of its spaceframe is made from aluminum, and the folding top weighs less than 100 pounds. The standard tires are 245/35R-19 front and 295/35R-19 in the back, with 245/30R-20 front and 305/30R-20 rear rubber optional. The electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering comes from ZF. Adaptive, magnetorheological dampers for the suspension are optional.

The R8 Spyder’s top can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 31 mph. Even with the roof up, the driver and passenger have another option to capture the V-10’s aggressive soundtrack: Simply lowering the rear window, a trick that can be performed independently of the roof’s position.

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