Audi R8 Spyder will arrive at Frankfurt

The Audi R8 Spyder has been hovering in the background for quite some time. Ever since the R8 was first launched the public and press have been asking “When will the Audi R8 Spyder arrive?”. Well, it’s now virtually certain that it will be revealed in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show before going on sale in 2010.

Audi has admitted that it has been playing a waiting game with the R8. The original V8 Audi R8 was hardly on the roads before speculation started that there would be a more powerful, V10 version. Well, as we know, the Audi R8 V10 arrived at the Detroit Motor Show this year, and is now starting to find its way in to the wild. And Audi were probably quite right to play the waiting game. V8 R8 sales were very strong to start with – huge waiting lists and premiums for quick cars were the order of the day – so Audi wanted to capitalise on that and not undermine it with the R8 V10.

But by early 2010 the sales of R8 V10s will also have settled, so Audi is planning on bringing the R8 Spyder out to keep the momentum going. But what versions will be on offer? Certain is the R8 V8 Spyder, featuring the engine out of the original R8. But also sure to arrive (although perhaps not until later in 2010) is the Audi R8 V10 Spyder, featuring the same 5.2 litre V10 as the coupe.

But that’s not all. The rumour mill is working overtime on this, and there is a strong suggestion that we may get an Audi R8 V10 Spyder RS, with Audi dropping the 5.0 litre, twin-turbo lump from the RS6 in, together with a seriously fettled chassis and suspension. How Audi will get away with that considering it will probably do serious damage to the Lamborghini LP-560-4 Spyder we don’t know.

Time will tell.

Update on the Electric R8

We wrote about rumours of an electric or Hybrid Audi R8 to show at Frankfurt yesterday, although we felt it unlikely to happen. Audi has now said they have no plans to reveal it contrary to the report by Auto Motor und Sport.