 The 386 kW (525 hp) V10 engine accelerates
the high-performance sports car with the lightweight cloth top to 100 km/h
(62.14 mph) in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h (194.49
mph). The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro features a fascinating package of
technologies, including the Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum and carbon
fiber composite, quattro permanent all-wheel drive, LED headlights and the
innovative seatbelt microphone. The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro captivates
from the very first glance. Its lines offer a unique interpretation of the
dynamics and emotion of a high-performance sports car. Two distinctive silver
cowls, into which the large air intake openings are integrated, give the
long back a powerful profile. Unlike the Coupé, the R8 Spyder has
classic air intakes behind the doors. The rear side panels and the large
cover over the storage compartment for the cloth top are made of a carbon
fiber composite. The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro sports a cloth soft top in
classic Audi style. The soft top's approximate weight is a mere 42 kilograms
(92.59 lb); it thus keeps the vehicle's total weight and center of gravity
low. When closed it melds harmoniously into the design line - it ends in
two slim fins that extend toward the rear and have a contour similar to that
of the Coupé hard top. The top is suitable without restriction for
high-speed driving and is quiet. With the standard electrohydraulic motor,
the top opens and closes within 19 seconds, even while driving at speeds
up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The heated glass window is integrated separately
into the bulkhead and can be raised and lowered via a switch with the soft
top up or down. Audi also provides a wind deflector that can be installed
in just two steps. The bulkhead includes integrated rollover protection in
the form of two pretensioned plates. The aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF)
body of the R8 Spyder is reinforced at important locations, yet it tips the
scales at a mere 216 kilograms (476.20 lb) - just six kilograms (13.23 lb)
more than the Coupé. Equipped with a manual transmission, the
high-performance sports car weighs only 1,720 kilograms (3,791.95 lb).
Prodigious power: the drivetrain
The new top-of-the-range Audi offers incredible performance. The free-breathing
V10 with the aluminum crankcase features direct gasoline injection. The 12.5:1
compression ratio that the FSI concept enables contributes to the high
performance and good efficiency. Dry sump lubrication, another motorsport
technology, ensures the reliable supply of oil even at the maximum lateral
and longitudinal acceleration. The 5.2-liter engine produces 530 Nm (390.91
lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm and 368 kW (525 hp) at 8,000 rpm. Its specific
power output is 100.9 hp per liter of displacement; each hp only needs to
move 3.3 kilograms (7.28 lb) of weight. The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro accelerates
from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed
of 313 km/h (194.49 mph). The engine offers amazing thrust and hangs tenaciously
on the throttle in every situation accompanied by that unmistakable ten-cylinder
Audi sound. Audi offers the R tronic sequential six-speed transmission as
an option. This has a fully automatic and a manual mode, in which the driver
can change gears in an instant using paddles on the steering wheel. Launch
Control manages engagement of the clutch for maximum acceleration. The
rear-biased quattro permanent all-wheel drive system transfers power to the
road with supreme ease. Together with the locking differential on the rear
axle, it provides significantly greater traction, stability, cornering speed
and precision. Motorsport technology can also be found in the chassis of
the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. There are double triangular wishbones
made of aluminum at all four wheels, and the hydraulic rack-and-pinion power
steering conveys highly-precise road feel. The standard suspension includes
the high-end Audi magnetic ride technology, in which the shock absorbers
adjust their response to the road conditions and the driver's style within
milliseconds. A sports suspension with conventional shock absorbers is available
as an option. The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro rolls on 19-inch wheels shod
up front with 235/35 tires and 295/30 tires in the rear. The four brake discs
are internally ventilated and perforated, and are gripped by a total of 24
calipers. Optionally available from Audi are large carbon fiber-ceramic discs
that are lightweight, robust and long-lived. The ESP stabilization system
has a Sport mode and can also be completely deactivated.
Comfortable: interior, equipment and trim
The open-top two-seater features a generously spacious interior. The ring
of the leather-wrapped, multifunction sports steering wheel is flattened
at the bottom, and the power seats guide and support the body perfectly.
Quality of fit and finish is extraordinary; the controls are clear and logical;
and the driver information system includes a lap timer. The rear bulkhead
includes a storage compartment with three bins, and the luggage compartment
at the front of the car can hold 100 liters (3.53 cubic ft) of luggage. Equipment
highlights include an excellent sound system from Bang & Olufsen, deluxe
automatic air conditioning and heated seats. The leather seat coverings are
specially pigmented to reduce heating as a result of the sun's rays. The
standard navigation plus system with MMI control logic features impressively
high resolution and fast route calculation. Also included standard in the
Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro are the LED headlights - light-emitting diodes
are used for the low beams, the high beams, the daytime running lights and
the turn signals. The LED headlights not only look like technological works
of art, they also offer substantial practical advantages with their excellent
light distribution, long service life and extremely low energy consumption.
Among the exclusive optional equipment available for the new R8 Spyder 5.2
FSI quattro is the innovative seatbelt microphone for the hands-free unit,
which makes it possible to make telephone calls even with the top down on
the highway. Integrated into each of the two belts are three small microphones;
a fourth is mounted on the windshield frame. Audi will begin selling the
open two-seater in Germany in the next few days at a base price of 156,400
euros. |
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