Audi has launched its R8 Spyder in the UK for the first time at its new flagship London showroom.
The Audi R8 Spyder will be the firm’s most expensive model ever when it goes on sale in the spring, costing from £109,580 and £114,670 when equipped with the R tronic transmission.
See the hi-res Audi R8 Syder pics
It uses the same 518bhp 5.2-litre V10 and all-wheel drive system as the 5.2 FSI R8 coupe.
Audi has fought hard to keep the weight gain down to a modest 100kg, despite extensive structural strengthening. “Torsional rigidity is not a problem,” an insider previously told Autocar.
Carbonfibre-reinforced plastic is used for the upper rear wings and the rear deck, which is dominated by two rows of cooling vents.
The fabric hood folds away in just 19sec at speeds of up to 31mph.
The car’s 4.1sec sprint to 60mph is the same as the hard-top’s, but the 194mph top speed is a shade lower. A cheaper V8 model is expected to follow the V10’s launch.
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