New 2017 Audi R8 Spyder – complete with V10 – debuts in New York

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The new Audi R8 V10 Spyder has been revealed at the New York Motor Show, complete with folding soft-top. On sale UK late 2016.

It’s a year since the second generation Audi R8 arrived, and so far it’s only available with the 553bhp V10, good for 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, and the V10 Plus with 602bhp and a 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds. And now there’s a convertible version – the new Audi R8 V10 Spyder – revealed this week at the New York Motor Show.

Although we’re expecting Audi to reveal an R8 Spyder V10 Plus before the end of 2016, only the less powerful version of the V10 is available in the new Spyder, but despite an increase in weight from the added strengthening to keep the R8 from flexing, it can still hit 62mph in 3.6 seconds.

Audi reckons the new Spyder is 50 per cent stiffer than the last Spyder, and its canvas roof stows beneath a massive rear deck, able to open or close at speeds up to 31mph in 20 seconds.

The rear deck is the only real change from the R8 Coupe, and even the folding roof is very similar to the previous Spyder with its buttresses extending back along the engine cover, with a textile wind deflector said to reduce turbulence by 90 per cent.

Audi has also improved economy (well, official economy anyway) to 24.1mpg, in part thanks to a coasting feature that idles the engine on a trailing throttle.

Audi hasn’t revealed UK prices for the new R8 Spyder, but when it goes on sale later in the year you can probably expect it to costs around £130,000.