Sunday, September 20, 2009

2010 Audi R8 Spyder Officially Unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show

No more spy shots or speculation. The highly anticipated Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro, which is a drop-top version of Audi’s brilliant V10-powered R8 supercar, has been unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show.

Only the 5.2-liter V10 engine is available, which is producing an impressive 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque. As such, the R8 Spyder can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds before hitting a top speed of 313 km/h (194 mph). The fuel consumption figure is also acceptable. The six-speed manual models average 14.9L/100km (15.79 US mpg), while R tronic automated manual gearbox get 13.9L/100km (16.92 US mpg).

To keep the weight low, the R8 Spyder features the aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) which only weighs 216 kilograms (476.2 lb). That’s 6 kilograms (13.23 lb) heavier than the one used on the R8 Coupe, because of the strengthening to compensate for the lack of the roof.

Speaking of the roof, Audi uses a traditional cloth top instead of a targa top setup as initially report. It only weighs 30 kilograms (66.14 lb). The soft top is so conventional that it is full automated and can be closed or opened in just 19 seconds at speeds of up to 31 mph. To further maximize convenience, the rear window is separate from the top which allows it to be raised independently of the roof.

In terms of styling, there are black front end accents, a chrome grille, full-LED headlights, an anodized aluminium windscreen surround, three choices of colour for the soft-top. With the lack of a fixed roof, Audi replaced the trademark 'sideblades' with carbon fiber side panels.

Insides, the roadster comes with Nappa leather upholstery, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, GPS navigation, heated seats, and a world-first optional seatbelt microphone for hands-free telephone conversation. If you forget to put the top up on a hot summer day, the seats will be cooler than normal because they use special "pigments that reflect the infrared component of sunlight."

Sales will begin in early 2010. The base price is 156,400 euros. U.S. pricing has not yet been announced.

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