The Audi R8 Spyder V8 - starts at £95k
Audi has revealed that the semi-skimmed R8 Spyder – the Audi R8 Spyder V8 – will cost £95,545 for the manual ‘box version when deliveries start in January 2011.
Audi know how to roll out a model range. You start with what you think will be the biggest seller and then you add in the budget option and the halo option once you’ve got the bigger seller running round all over the place. Or at least that’s how it usually works. But not with the Audi R8 Spyder.
With the R8 Spyder Audi decided they needed to launch the most expensive version of the drop-top R8 first – the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI – and mop up sales from as many people as possible who can afford to drop £112k on an Audi and an extra £10k on options.
Having had a big chunk of 2010 to move V10 R8 Spyders Audi now has the V8 version ready to rumble and has told us that the Audi R8 Spyder V8 will be £95,545 for the manual version when UK deliveries start in January 2011. The R-Tronic – which we’d advise you to avoid – will cost £100,855.
The R8 Spyder V8 uses the latest lump from the R8 Coupe which now – in Euro 5 compliant form – produces 424bhp and 317lb/ft or torque. That translates in to a 0-62mph of 4.8 seconds whether you opt to self-shift or not, and on to a top speed of 186mph and an average of just over 20mpg (although you’ll never get that).
Standard kit is pretty much the same as the V8 Coupe, but you do get heated seats to keep your arse warm with the top down and you’ll also get the microphone for the Bluetooth connectivity attached to the seatbelts. You do of course get the same electric soft top as the V10. Oh, and you get metallic paint thrown in as a freebie.
The R8 Spyder V8 may not have quite the savage performance edge the V10 does, but in drop-top form we’d venture to suggest that the V8 is all the R8 Spyder you could need.
And you’ll save £15k.
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