2011 Audi R8 Spider in V-10 only, for now
#1
07-25-2009, 11:26 AM
2011 Audi R8 Spider in V-10 only, for now This could be good news or bad news, depending on how you look at it.
Audi is continuing its plans to debut the 2011 Audi R8 Spider at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. But it will only be available with a 525-hp V-10, according to Car and Driver. The 5.2-liter engine is closely related to the Lamborghini Gallardo’s V-10. It will make almost 400 ft-lbs of torque in the R8 Spider and will be mated either to a six-speed manual or Audi’s R-Tronic automated transmission.
The bad news? In a leaked memo found by our friends over at worldcarfans.com, pricing for the V-10 Audi is expected to be about $45,000 more than the current R8, or about $160,000. Technically that’s still a bargain for a supercar.
Audi execs also told C&D the Spider may get the 4.2-liter V-8 in the current Audi, but at a later date. Also reported, Audi won’t be debuting the 2011 Audi A8 sedan in Frankfurt as planned. Audi doesn’t want their new flagship overlooked at the big show, and they don’t want to risk slowing sales of the current version. They’ve decided to wait until after the Los Angeles Auto Show, possibly at Detroit in 2010.
Audi is continuing its plans to debut the 2011 Audi R8 Spider at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. But it will only be available with a 525-hp V-10, according to Car and Driver. The 5.2-liter engine is closely related to the Lamborghini Gallardo’s V-10. It will make almost 400 ft-lbs of torque in the R8 Spider and will be mated either to a six-speed manual or Audi’s R-Tronic automated transmission.
The bad news? In a leaked memo found by our friends over at worldcarfans.com, pricing for the V-10 Audi is expected to be about $45,000 more than the current R8, or about $160,000. Technically that’s still a bargain for a supercar.
Audi execs also told C&D the Spider may get the 4.2-liter V-8 in the current Audi, but at a later date. Also reported, Audi won’t be debuting the 2011 Audi A8 sedan in Frankfurt as planned. Audi doesn’t want their new flagship overlooked at the big show, and they don’t want to risk slowing sales of the current version. They’ve decided to wait until after the Los Angeles Auto Show, possibly at Detroit in 2010.
#2
07-25-2009, 11:35 AM
Audi is getting ready to launch the R8 Spyder at the Frankfurt auto show this September. But the company told us that no teaser shots will be provided in advance, so these spy shots likely are the closest we’ll get to the real thing before then.
Like its cousin, the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, the Audi R8 Spyder will have a fabric top. Audi executives like to point out that every one of the company’s convertibles has a cloth roof rather than a folding metal one, unlike some BMW and Mercedes offerings. Today's state-of-the-art fabric tops are so well-isolated that they have virtually no disadvantages in the areas of noise, interior comfort and temperature, or high-speed driving.
Folding hardtops, on the other hand, can add weight and complexity, and they often call for ungainly changes to a vehicle’s shape to accommodate stowing the hardtop panels—witness the Ferrari California’s ungainly butt. Looking at the California, we don't want to start imagining what a folding-hardtop R8 would look like.
When the R8 was conceived, engineers were content with just having a coupe version, and a Spyder wasn’t under serious consideration. This changed after the initial success of the nameplate, and Audi came up with a conversion that looks organic and altogether convincing. We even think the loss of the coupe’s distinctive sideblade adds a touch of elegance.
The R8 Spyder will be launched with the magnificent 5.2-liter V-10 engine that makes 525 hp and is a close relative to the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4's 560-hp engine. It provides 391 lb-ft of torque; 0–60 should take four seconds or less, and top speed will be in the neighborhood of 195 mph. A slick-shifting six-speed manual box will be standard, but most customers will opt for the R tronic six-speed automated manual, which blips the throttle at virtually every downshift. In our opinion, though, even that bit of tech can't make up for losing the beautiful gated shifter of the standard transmission. The 420-hp V-8 might be added later, but it’s looking more likely that the V-10 will remain the only engine until the R8 is replaced by a successor a few years down the road.
Like its cousin, the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, the Audi R8 Spyder will have a fabric top. Audi executives like to point out that every one of the company’s convertibles has a cloth roof rather than a folding metal one, unlike some BMW and Mercedes offerings. Today's state-of-the-art fabric tops are so well-isolated that they have virtually no disadvantages in the areas of noise, interior comfort and temperature, or high-speed driving.
Folding hardtops, on the other hand, can add weight and complexity, and they often call for ungainly changes to a vehicle’s shape to accommodate stowing the hardtop panels—witness the Ferrari California’s ungainly butt. Looking at the California, we don't want to start imagining what a folding-hardtop R8 would look like.
When the R8 was conceived, engineers were content with just having a coupe version, and a Spyder wasn’t under serious consideration. This changed after the initial success of the nameplate, and Audi came up with a conversion that looks organic and altogether convincing. We even think the loss of the coupe’s distinctive sideblade adds a touch of elegance.
The R8 Spyder will be launched with the magnificent 5.2-liter V-10 engine that makes 525 hp and is a close relative to the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4's 560-hp engine. It provides 391 lb-ft of torque; 0–60 should take four seconds or less, and top speed will be in the neighborhood of 195 mph. A slick-shifting six-speed manual box will be standard, but most customers will opt for the R tronic six-speed automated manual, which blips the throttle at virtually every downshift. In our opinion, though, even that bit of tech can't make up for losing the beautiful gated shifter of the standard transmission. The 420-hp V-8 might be added later, but it’s looking more likely that the V-10 will remain the only engine until the R8 is replaced by a successor a few years down the road.
#10
07-27-2009, 02:17 PM
Wait, so is a Gallardo an "exotic" or "supercar"? Because this is the same car or better than the pre-LP Gallardo and shares probably more than 75% of its components with the LP560.