Audi R8 Spyder goes on sale

The new Audi R8 Spyder has officially gone on sale in Australia at $388,500. That price is around $1400 less than the R8 Coupe plus, but over $34,000 more than the standard R8 Coupe with the same 397kW output.

At least the R8 Spyder remains a more affordable alternative to the Lamborghini Huracan, which shares almost all the hardware with the Audi, as we reported late last year.

Much of the price premium being asked of R8 buyers hints that they place open-air motoring ahead of performance in their R8. Although the Spyder can't match the 449kW of the R8 Coupe plus, it still completes the 0-100km/h dash in just 3.6 seconds. The V10 in the Spyder produces 540Nm and Audi claims a top speed of 318km/h.

In line with other second-generation variants, the new Spyder is more frugal and cleaner-running than its antecedent, posting a combined-cycle fuel consumption of 11.7L/100km. That figure is achieved through a raft of measures, including a free-wheeling mode that decouples the engine from the seven-speed S tronic (dual-clutch) transmission when performance isn't required.

The constant all-wheel drive quattro system relays torque to all four wheels, but in adversity can deliver as much as 100 per cent of the available torque to the front or rear wheels, according to need.

Audi claims the powered fabric roof will open and close within 20 seconds, at speeds up to 50km/h. Other comfort and convenience features fitted as standard to the R8 Spyder include 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit, MMI navigation plus, seatbelt microphones, smartphone interface, Bang & Olufsen audio with two loudspeakers in each front-seat headrest, electrically-adjustable seats, LED lighting and magnetic ride.

Pricing for the full R8 range is as follows:
R8 Coupe 5.2 FSI V10 397kW – $354,900
R8 Coupe 5.2 FSI V10 plus 449kW – $389,900
R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI V10 397 kW – $388,500