What is it?
The Spyder is the soft-top version of the R8, and the most expensive car that Audi has ever produced for the road.
Unveiled at last year's Frankfurt show to instant acclaim, Audi opted for a fabric roof to save weight, and chose to launch the Spyder with the coupe's bigger 5.2-litre V10 engine.Removing the R8's roof has led to a number of styling tweaks for the convertible; the distinctive sideblades have gone from the car's flanks, and there are now two large cowls extending from behind the cabin's bulkhead towards the rear of the car.
Audi expects the Spyder to attract a slightly different buyer to the coupe, and it is likely that they will spec the optional R tronic automatic transmission over the standard six-speed manual more often than the current R8's customers.As you might expect from the flamboyant price tag, the Spyder gets a generous amount of kit as standard. Every car in the UK will get Audi's magnetic adjustable dampers, a 12 speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, sat-nav, electrically adjustable sports seats, leather interior and a new hands free kit which includes microphones in the seat belts.
