Spectacular design and breathtaking dynamism, combined with the allure of open-top driving - Audi presented the new
Audi R8 Spyder V10 at the
2015 New York International Auto Show. Its V10 naturally aspirated engine supplies 397 kW (540 hp) and 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) of torque.
The new open-roof high-performance sports car opens another chapter in the Audi R8 success story. It all started in
2007 with the market introduction of the first-generation Coupé, followed by the
Spyder in
2010.
Sales of both versions combined reached nearly 27,
000. They demonstrate the high-tech expertise of Audi and the brand's affinity with motorsport. The brand restates this with the second R8 generation - its engineers developed the new Audi R8
Le Mans, a
GT3 racing car, in parallel with the production models. As a result, almost 50 percent of all the parts used on the R8
LMS are also to be found in the R8. The success of the new Coupé is confirmed by prestigious awards bestowed on it last year, such as the "
Golden Steering Wheel" and the "
Auto Trophy".
"Our new R8 line is the sporty vanguard of Audi," remarked
Board Member for
Development Dr.-Ing.
Stefan Knirsch. "
Following on from the Coupé, we are now bringing out the second generation of the R8 Spyder. The open high-performance sports car delivers thrillingly captivating performance and gives the driver an even more direct experience of the V10 naturally aspirated engine's unmistakable sound."
Athletic design: wider than predecessor
The dynamic character of the new Audi R8 Spyder V10 is immediately apparent at first glance. The forward position of the passenger compartment, the highly accentuated wheel arches and the long back define the classic silhouette of a mid-engine sports car. The new R8 Spyder is 14 millimeters (0.6 in) shorter than the previous model and measures an overall 4,426 millimeters (14.5 ft) in length. It has grown by 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in width to 1,940 millimeters (
6.4 ft). The height of 1,244 millimeters (4.1 ft) is unchanged from the first-generation R8 Spyder, as is the wheelbase of 2,650 millimeters (8.7 ft).
The flat storage compartment into which the hood is folded down as it opens has a large cover with three sporty ventilation slits on each side. Two fins running to the rear stretch the hood and give the Audi R8 Spyder a dynamic profile. The hood is available in three different colors: black, brown and red.
Lightweight construction with carbon fiber components: dry weight just 1,612 kilograms (3,553.9 lb)
The new Audi R8 Spyder V10 impressively demonstrates the dynamic potential of lightweight automotive construction with a dry weight of 1,612 kilograms (3,553.9 lb). The power-to-weight ratio is just 3.19 kilograms (8.6 lb) per hp.
Inspiring: the V10
With its precise throttle response, free-revving ability all the way up to 7,800 rpm and stunning sound, the ten-cylinder engine guarantees goosebumps. From its 5,204 cm3 displacement, it develops a power of 397 kW (540 hp) and a torque of 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) at 6,
500 rpm. Along with direct injection into the combustion chambers (
FSI), the V10 adds fuel injection into the induction manifold (
MPI). The result is captivating performance: The new Audi R8 Spyder V10 accelerates from 0 to
100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.6 seconds. It races from a standstill to
200 km/h (124.3 mph) in 11.8 seconds. The speedometer needle only stops rising at 318 km/h (197.6 mph). The snarl and roar of the V10 become more full-throated and passionate as the revs rise.
Exhaust flaps are standard; the optional sport exhaust system with gloss black tailpipe trims gives the sound added edge.
Compared with the previous model,
NEDC fuel consumption has been cut by ten percent - thanks to efficiency technologies such as cylinder on demand (
COD), the dual injection system and the freewheeling mode in the seven-speed
S tronic dual-clutch transmission: when the driver takes their foot off the accelerator pedal at speeds over 55 km/h (34.2 mph), the engine is decoupled from the drivetrain - the new Audi R8 Spyder then coasts. It consumes on average 11.7 liters of fuel per
100 kilometers (20.1 US mpg) which corresponds to 277 grams
CO2 per kilometer (445.8 g/mi).
Triple-strength high-tech: the quattro drivetrain
The quattro drivetrain combines three high-tech modules: The seven-speed S tronic, which is located behind the engine, changes gear with lightning speed thanks to its two clutches. There is an electro-hydraulically activated multi-plate clutch on the front wheels, an electronic-control, watercooled system that distributes the V10's torque freely between the axles. A mechanical rear differential lock is the key to sporty road behavior. Its locking values were newly tuned to work together with the actively controlled quattro drive.
- published: 23 Mar 2016
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