2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI Spyder
Audi very successfully decapitated the R8 and delivered a Spyder that in my opinion works better than the original. I always struggled with those side blades. The choice between a Gallardo and an R8 Spyder would be a very hard one, I think I would air on the side of the R8, any car that looks good in brown has to be of a somewhat timeless design. The other significant styling change is obviously the rear deck treatment, and again from my point of view this is mostly successful. I feel it would have been near perfect if they had forgone the crease that traces the line of the old coupes roof.
While I am a fan of the Alcantra and the minimalist and purposeful styling of the Gallardo interior, again to me the Audi interior winds hands down. With the much more luxurious and complete design of the interior Audi have very cleverly further distanced the R8 Spyder from the Lamborghini - to the extent that it will open the appeal to a different buyer. I could be wrong but I would imagine that there are a lot of buyers whose partners may feel more comfortable getting into an R8 Spyder than the Gallardo, and once sitting in those sumptuous leather seats would be happier still. This is a car for a more discerning and self assured buyer that prefers more refinement.
That refinement extends to the convertible soft top which features an outer skin of a leakproof textile fabric. Coupled with the headliner, driving at moderate speeds with the top up results in an interior noise level barely higher than in the Coupé. The soft top is fully compatible with high speed driving as well.
The Spyder gets a new bulkhead that includes an integrated rollover protection in the form of two strong, spring-tensioned plates. Despite this and with extra reinforcements in the area of the sills, the center tunnel, the rear wall, the floor pan and the A- and B-pillars, the body weighs only 216 kilograms (476.2 lb) - just 6 kilograms (13.23 lb) more than that of the R8 Coupé.
The V10 engine produces 386 kW (525 hp) and the Spyder accelerates to 100 kph 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h (194.49 mph). So refinement and performance steals the show.
While I am a fan of the Alcantra and the minimalist and purposeful styling of the Gallardo interior, again to me the Audi interior winds hands down. With the much more luxurious and complete design of the interior Audi have very cleverly further distanced the R8 Spyder from the Lamborghini - to the extent that it will open the appeal to a different buyer. I could be wrong but I would imagine that there are a lot of buyers whose partners may feel more comfortable getting into an R8 Spyder than the Gallardo, and once sitting in those sumptuous leather seats would be happier still. This is a car for a more discerning and self assured buyer that prefers more refinement.
That refinement extends to the convertible soft top which features an outer skin of a leakproof textile fabric. Coupled with the headliner, driving at moderate speeds with the top up results in an interior noise level barely higher than in the Coupé. The soft top is fully compatible with high speed driving as well.
The Spyder gets a new bulkhead that includes an integrated rollover protection in the form of two strong, spring-tensioned plates. Despite this and with extra reinforcements in the area of the sills, the center tunnel, the rear wall, the floor pan and the A- and B-pillars, the body weighs only 216 kilograms (476.2 lb) - just 6 kilograms (13.23 lb) more than that of the R8 Coupé.
The V10 engine produces 386 kW (525 hp) and the Spyder accelerates to 100 kph 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h (194.49 mph). So refinement and performance steals the show.
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