Audi R8 GT Spyder : First Look

Jay Williams - 07/June/2011

Ingolstadt, Germany - Audi has just released details of its, lighter and more powerful opentop high-performance sports car - the Audi R8 GT Spyder.

Thanks to Audi ultra, the R8 GT Spyder sheds 85 kilograms, weighing in at a total of 1,640 kilograms. The Audi Space Frame (ASF) body, consisting of cast nodes, extruded sections and aluminum panels, accounts for just 214 kilograms of the total weight.

The body is assembled predominantly by hand in the R8 workshop at the Neckarsulm plant. Final assembly of the car takes place in the same way.

The engine frame is made of ultra-light magnesium; the long cover over the soft-top compartment and the large side panels at the rear are made of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). CFRP is also used for the modified front spoiler, the fixed rear spoiler and the new rear bumper. Together, these components provide a weight saving of 5.5 kilograms.

Audi engineers also trimmed weight from the technical components in the area of the transmission, wheels and brakes. In the interior, the bucket seats alone, with their chassis of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP), saved 31.5 kilograms of weight.

Sitting under the bonnet of the new top-of-the-line model Audi R8 GT Spyder is a 5.2-litre V10 with an aluminum crankcase that draws its fuel from an FSI direct injection system.

With its modified electronic management (ECU), the engine produces 412kW of power and 540 Nm of torque at 6,500rpm, this allows the R8 GT Spyder to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds before topping out at a hefty 317km/h.

The 5.2-litre V10 is mated to a six-speed R tronic transmission with two fully automatic modes. In the additional manual mode, the driver can shift gears using the paddles on the steering wheel or by flicking the joystick. At high load and revs, gear changes take only one-tenth of a second. The launch control program manages the starting sprint with high engine speed and precision-control of the tyre slip.

Power is sent to the Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system that has a strong rear-wheel bias, granted by the axle load distribution. If the situation calls for it, the system sends additional torque to the front axle. In tandem with the limited slip differential at the rear, it provides an added measure of traction, stability and cornering speed.

Working in sync with the Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system is an aluminium double wishbonefront and rear suspension, and a rack-and-pinion power steering provides intimate contact with the road. Taut tuning lowers the body by approximately 10 millimetres. The open high-performance sports car has 19-inch wheels, with 235/35 tyres up front and 295/30 tyres at the rear. The large, lightweight carbon-fibre ceramic brake discs bring the car to a halt with ease. The ESP stabilisation program has a sport mode and can also be deactivated entirely.

Visual modifications made to the R8 GT Spyder include, a front splitter with a dual lip, flics at the sides of the front bumper, red GT badges, round exhaust tailpipes, an enlarged diffuser and dark LED tail lights in a clear-glass design. Audi offers an optional windshield frame in matte CFRP.

The R8 GT Spyder also features a lightweight fabric soft top that is extremely quiet and fully suitable for highway cruising. Its electrohydraulic drive brings it up or down in 19 seconds, even at speeds up to 50 km/h. The extendible glass rear window is nestled in the bulkhead, separate from the soft top. Integrated in the bulkhead is a rollover protection system comprising two pretensioned plates.

Stepping inside, the open twoseater offers a roomy interior, and its front end can accommodate up to 100 liters of cargo. The rear bulkhead houses three storage compartments.

The interior is black and can be adorned with stitching in a choice of titanium gray or crimson. Alcantara upholstery comes standard - on the sport steering wheel and windshield frame, too.

Audi also offers leather in Fine Nappa quality. Numerous details - including white dials and R8 GT logos - provide classy accents. The distinctive R8 'monoposto,' a large arch encircling the driver's cockpit, is made of matte CFRP.

Standard equipment includes LED headlights, LED tail lights, an automatic air conditioning system, the navigation system plus, an alarm system and the driver information system with a built-in laptimer.

Audi also offers a sophisticated sound system from Bang & Olufsen and a Bluetooth interface including a seatbelt microphone for carrying on a phone conversation conveniently. Options specific to the R8 GT include bucket seats with a carbon-fibre composite chassis, matte CFRP applications and embroidered logos on the seat upholstery.

The R8 GT Spyder will be available in the second half of 2012 with just 5 of the 333 units to be offered in the Australian market. The pricing and specifications will be announced closer to the Australian launch.

Related Links:
- Audi A1 1.4 TFSI (Road Test)
- Audi R8 by Anderson Germany (2011)
- RENM performance Audi R8 Spyder (2010)
- Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI (2010)
- Audi R8 by SR Auto Group (2010)
- Audi R8 V10 Spyder 5.2 FSI (2010)
- Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI (2009)
- Audi R8 LMS (2009)
- Audi R8 Supercar (2007)
- Audi R8 GT3 (2009)
- Audi A6 Hybrid (2011)