{"id":298171,"date":"2017-02-21T14:00:40","date_gmt":"2017-02-21T14:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/?p=298171"},"modified":"2024-02-11T23:16:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-11T23:16:16","slug":"2016-audi-r8-spyder-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/2016-audi-r8-spyder-review\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 Audi R8 Spyder Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Audi R8 Spyder is the heaviest, slowest and, arguably, the R8 for posers as much as drivers. But I\u2019m not far into my drive before thinking it could be the best yet.<\/p>\n

That must make me a shameless poser then. Given my first action before departing the launch venue was to press the noisy exhaust button and my second was to drop the roof I guess that would confirm it. But I\u2019ll work on the basis most people buying a V10-powered open-topped supercar aren\u2019t doing so to slip under the radar. Call it the road testing equivalent of method acting\u2026<\/p>\n

The coupe version of the R8 with which we are already familiar is a more than satisfying steer. But, as previously discussed, there\u2019s a danger its all-round competence rather saves the best of the show for onlookers rather than the driver.<\/p>\n

Its highlight remains that naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine; the R8 and the Lamborghini Huracan<\/a> with which it shares its powertrain and hybrid carbon\/aluminum Modular Sportscar System platform likely the last atmospheric-engined mainstream sports\/supercars we\u2019ll see. May as well make the most of it.<\/p>\n

No matter this is the \u2018low power\u2019 version of the R8\u2019s 5.2-litre V10, with 540hp as per the regular V10 coupe. That car costs \u00a3119K, the Spyder commanding a premium of \u00a310,000 to a starting price of \u00a3129,990 while the full-fat V10 Plus, with its Huracan-matching 610hp, starts at \u00a3134,520.<\/p>\n

Outside of the R8 range it\u2019s pretty clear what car Audi has in its sights with this new Spyder too \u2013 in one of those spooky coincidences the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet costs \u00a3135,766 and also has 540hp, albeit with an over boosted 523lb ft of torque that makes the Audi\u2019s naturally aspirated 398lb ft at 6,500rpm look a little breathless in comparison.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a 580hp S version of the Turbo Cabrio too, of course, this costing \u00a3154,614. Audi\u2019s<\/a> not confirming a V10 Plus version of the Spyder yet. Nor is it denying it, \u00a0though.<\/p>\n

As per the coupe the main differences between V10 and V10 Plus, other than the power, include different gearing to group the first six ratios together and use seventh as an overdrive. In the Plus they\u2019re evenly spaced. The Plus also gets standard ceramic brakes over the regular \u2018wavy\u2019 steel rotors, carbon blades and mirror housings, a rear wing, fixed-back seats and an additional three-way Performance selector in addition to the four-step Audi Drive Select, bringing the total \u2018satellite\u2019 button count on the wheel to four. These can be optioned onto the Spyder of course and all but the \u2018race\u2019 seats and rear wing feature on our test car, bringing the price to a burly \u00a3164,240 in total \u2013 see below for full details.<\/p>\n

One other number rather stares out, that being a curb weight of 1,795kg with a not especially powerfully built 75kg driver onboard. Audi points out this is 25kg less than the previous V10 Spyder and the structure is a claimed 50 percent stiffer but it\u2019s still 125kg more than the already pretty hefty coupe, 70kg heavier than the closely related Huracan Spyder and rather exposes on the \u201clightweight\u201d claims of the aluminum Audi Space Frame construction.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got used to modern cars being heavy though and manufacturers have got very good at hiding the extra flab behind a girdle of technology, helping you forget that with a mate and a bit of luggage onboard an R8 Spyder could easily be a two-tonne machine.<\/p>\n

At a superficial level, it certainly doesn\u2019t feel burdened by excess kilos either. The noise from the V10 definitely helps here, the dramatic flare of barely silenced revs on start up setting the scene. Once over its dramatic warm-up cycle, it quietens down but you\u2019ll likely be straight on the exhaust button to make it loud again. Because the engine\u2019s theatrics are a defining feature and, arguably, pack a more emotive punch than the 911 Turbo\u2019s additional power.<\/p>\n

It also rather exposes the curious argument made by a few keyboard warriors that a TT RS is basically a half-price R8 because it\u2019s only a tenth slower to 62mph. It\u2019s not. The R8 is a genuinely dramatic supercar with an engine to match, the like of which we likely won\u2019t see again. And the Spyder lets you enjoy it to the full, even if you keep the hood up and just drop the small vertical rear screen to savour the sound effects.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s rather more exciting to drive than a TT too. Peak power is at 7,800rpm and you don\u2019t get your full torque quota until 6,500rpm, 1,500rpm beyond the point where the 911 Turbo has given you its best. So you need revs. And a bit of space to wind it up. But the response to the throttle and the sensations it unleashes means that is no hardship, the (now compulsory) S Tronic dual-clutch seamlessly blurring shifts and acceleration into one thrilling crescendo. Well, it would be it not for such things as wanting to maintain a grip on your license. Because opportunities to really let rip are frustratingly few and limited to the odd overly-dramatic squirt here and there.<\/p>\n

And throughout all this, you\u2019re never aware of the extra kilos. It might weigh nearly as much as an SL63 but in driving style, it feels more like a computer simulation of a plus-size Lotus Elise.<\/p>\n

The stiffness of the structure helps, there being a very Audi sense of solidity to the R8\u2019s construction and no nasty shudders or wobbles even when attacking properly evil stretches of British B-road. It\u2019s near-impossible to praise Audi quality without slipping into cliche but in both style and the way it\u2019s screwed together, there\u2019s plenty to delight the occupants if little to particularly surprise.<\/p>\n

The Virtual Cockpit display is really, really good, the button-strewn wheel actually makes some sense and pretty much every interaction with the car feels satisfyingly well thought out. Roof up it\u2019s quiet and refined, roof down just the right side of windblown to be exciting without making you wish you\u2019d put the hood back up for the motorway sections. It\u2019ll do its thing at up to 30mph too, increasing the scope for switching on the fly.<\/p>\n

The harder you drive the Spyder the more you realise why features like Dynamic Steering, the sports exhaust and Magnetic Dampers (available separately but saving over a grand when bundled into the Sports Plus Package) are required to contrive that sense of agility. Of all the plethora of modes available the only two you really need are Comfort in Audi Drive Select for mooching and \u2018Dry\u2019 on the Performance Control (if you specced it) for maximum attack. This locks out the Dynamic Steering to a fixed ratio and is as close as you can get to genuine feedback from the car. Which is to say not a whole lot.<\/p>\n

This also sets the dampers to their firmer setting but it never gets unruly, flowing beautifully with the road without even a hint of secondary thump or shudder. It also relaxes the stability control a tad, suggesting it can be provoked into some angles once you navigate past the default understeer.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be going some to get even a hint of this at road speeds though, the \u2018reverse Haldex\u2019 powertrain configuration rear-biased of course but more dedicated to keeping you on the straight and narrow than the first-gen car.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s accordingly very, very fast and extremely capable. If possibly a little remote as a result. Meaning the R8 Spyder is best savoured as an overall experience, rather than purely a driving one. Something it pulls off with arguably more success than the coupe.<\/p>\n

2016 Audi R8 Spyder\u00a0Press Release<\/h2>\n

Faster, tauter, technology-packed Audi convertible super sports car makes its domestic debut at the UK epicentre of Vorsprung durch Technik<\/strong><\/p>\n