After the German automaker Audi confirmed that the R8 Spider will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the luxury manufacturer also announced they are now accepting orders for the new open air variant of their R8 super car.
However, while the coupe version is being offered with both a 420 HP 4.2 Liter FSI V8 and a 500 HP 5.2 Liter V10 engine, the roadster version will only come with the high horsepower V10 power plant behind the driver’s head. In addition to the coupe version, the Spider will not have the same iconic carbon fiber side blades, instead it will get a pair of newly sculpted air intakes located just in front of the rear wheels.
For those of you looking to buy an R8 Spider in the U.K. you’ll be happy to know that you can already place an order with Stafford Audi by clicking the link below.
For those of you who don’t know, having over 400 HP on a winding mountain road covered in black ice can be a little hairy, even if you have the ultimate in Quattro all wheel drive technology underneath you. As evidence by this snow covered Audi R8 super car, the experience was a little more than the owner of the black R8 bargained for. Apparently the owner was caught by surprise during a vacation in the Swiss Alps decided it would be better to park his baby on the side of the road for a few days instead of risking it.
The pride and joy of the Audi lineup has made quite a bit of news in the recent weeks. Despite earlier rumors there will be an R8 electric vehicle at Frankfurt. On the heels of the Lamborghini Gallardo Lp 550-2 Valentino Balboni, the German automaker was spotted working testing a rear wheel drive version and the very sheik R8 Convertible was spotted on the set of a major Hollywood motion picture. However most importantly, the R8 shared the stage with a classic Auto Union streamliner during the luxury automaker’s 100th anniversary celebration at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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First it was Mercedes Benz who announced that they would be producing an electric version for the SLS AMG super car. Despite earlier reports, it is now time for the competition to make their move: Audi has announced that the R8 Eperformance electric sports car will make a Frankfurt debut. However we won’t see the production version in showrooms until 2015.
Unlike its gas burning brothers the electrified R8 will not be powered by either an exotic V8 or a high revving V10. Instead it will be a large electric motor and quite a bit of batteries, as the ePerformance name suggests.
Just like the power train, the exterior design will also be different than the standard R8, for example the signature side blades and huge air inlets will be reduced or completely eliminated as they are unnecessary for an electric vehicle, the front grille will disappear as well. However it’s the deep air intakes in the front bumper underneath the while LED headlamps that will set this particular R8 apart from the standard model. Audi will also bring the long waited R8 Roadster to the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The new Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro V10 finally has an official price, $146,000 for the manual version and $155,100 for the R tronic equipped model. At the same time the German automaker also announced that the price for the 2010 Audi R8 4.2 FSI quattro will remain unchanged at $114,200.
For the V10 equipped version, standard equipment includes: innovative full-LED headlights, new 19-inch Y-design forged aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in low profile summer performance tires, carbon fiber sideblades with larger air intakes, front grille with chrome-optic accents, unique rocker panel shaping, dual oval rear exhaust tips, “V10” front fender badges and instrument cluster labeling, unique front and rear sections along with a larger rear diffuser all finished in high-gloss black.
Press release after the jump.
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Usually when you say the name Audi you think of extremely bold all wheel drive sports cars like the R8 super car with its 420 HP FSI V8, quattro permanent four wheel drive and light weight aluminum construction that all work in harmony to make one incredible automobile. However, ever since Audi’s cousins at Lamborghini decided to unveil a special edition rear wheel drive Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni with its 550 HP V10, daydreamers have wondered about what would happen if Audi went the same way with the R8.
Thanks to a few recent spy shots, it appears that this just might come true. Audi is already offering RWD offering with their R8 LMS GT racecar, and rumors say that the German automaker might just come up with a road going version of the track ready R8. However, a RWD drive train goes against Audi’s marketing strategy.
Despite the evidence shown by the spy shot that appeared in the Dutch magazine that shows a RWD R8 wearing a huge rear spoiler, Audi has yet to make any official statement about bringing the R8 variant into production, however the only question that remains is whether Audi will go with the V8 or the new ten cylinder power plant.
Even if Audi has decided to hold off on the R8 Spider for pubic consumption, there is still someone who is already enjoying the benefits of going topless. Actor Robert Downey Jr. was recently spotted behind the wheel of the drop top Audi super car while filming the next episode of the Iron Man franchise. The original R8 was introduced to the theater going world when Richard Stark, Iron Man, galavanted around as the playboy that he is pulled up in the 420 FSI HP Quattro super car.
Based on the buzz created by the original, Audi should be very happy with the sequel. The Audi R8 Spider will only be offered with a V10 engine mounted behind the driver. Considering this latest images, we can expect to see the official unveiling in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Usually when you see a mirror-finish car you expect to be owned by an Arabian guy. But this Audi R8 seems to be an exception although it is most likely destined for some oil rich Saudi Arabian sheik, the car has been spotted in Europe. The chrome finish is quite a symbolic finish for the Audi super car. It was not the Lemans Quattro concept car from 2003 that the R8 is based on, but the blingy Avus concept car that got the ball rolling back in 1991.
According to the Audi Internet Forum, Fourtitude, Audi Exclusive takes care of special requests like this reflective paint job. However due to the limited supply of shops that can apply this kind of finish it is believed that it was built due to a customer’s demand by a specialized tuning house located in the area.
There is no mention of whether this is a V10 powered vehicle or not, but regardless the owner’s choice to black out the emblems and carbon fiber side blade that is a signature of the Audi super car. However being such big fans of the wavy black stuff we would have just sanded down the clear coat to compliment the dull accents. Either way this is one impressive custom R8.
Audi celebrated their centennial at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend and Top Speed previously showed you a teaser image from the German automaker’s centerpiece at the event. Commemorating 100 years of automobile production and over 70 years of rich racing heritage, the four ringed automaker showed off competition proven models like the classic Auto Union Grand Prix cars, Audi Sport Quattro based rally and touring cars as well as their latest alternatively fueled Le Mans competitor. However Audi’s the crown was the sculpture in front of Lord March’s home that showed where the Germans have been and where they are going. At one end pointed an Auto Union streamliner and at the other a V10 powered R8 super car shooting up into the heavens. The two high performance machines are linked by a stretch of road that resemble the historic Avus race track with it’s highly banked, nearly 180 degree curve.
Meanwhile the rest of Audi’s racing fleet was busy entertaining the crowd making passes up the 1.8 Mile hill climb course. Formula 1 and Le Mans legend, Jacky Ickx, and Pink Floyd drummer and Auto Union enthusiast Nick Mason, drove a pair of the 1950s race cars up the hill, the first was a full blown Type D Dual Compressor driven by the professional and D Type with the drummer behind the wheel. This was also the last running of the mostly original 1938 Type D before it goes on permanent display at the Audi Tradition’s museum in Ingolstadt, Germany.
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Audi has prepared three of their signature models: the A3, TT and R8 with one of the greatest navigation system available at the moment. The new Audi navigation system plus with MMI is being priced between 2,270 and 2,565 Euros; that is depending on which model you choose.
The heart of the unit is the 800 x 480 pixel, high-resolution 6.5 inch screen. Route calculation is now blazingly fast thanks to a latest-generation processor clocked at 600 MHz. In addition to the recommended path, the split-screen display now also shows speed limits taken from the navigation data for freeways and highways. In topographic map view, the driver and front passenger can scroll vertically, horizontally and now also along the route as they wish.
Press release after the jump.
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Audi’s R8 super car is a dream: razor sharp bodywork, over 400 horse power behind your head and a set of eye catching rims. Unfortunately, that kind of superior automotive status comes at a sizable cost. That is why the German tuning firm Prior Design have come up with a very aggressive R8 inspired aero kit for the last generation Audi TT, bringing super car fashion to the masses.
Up front the TT wears a new front bumper complete with horizontal carbon fiber blades stretching across the oversized intakes. The rear bumper is equally as speed inspired, they are tied together nicely by the new side skirts and the TT’s already wide fender bulges. The tuner kept everything unchanged under the hood, the 3.2 Liter V6 making 250 HP being sent through Quattro, Audi’s proven four wheel drive system.
So if the Audi R8 is your dream car, but for whatever reason isn’t in your garage, the Prior Design TT is not a bad substitute. By combining the looks of Audi’s halo car, the R8 with a solid German engineered power train, Prior Design made a good car into something special. Check out the link below to find out more on their web site.
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