What is it?
2010 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI
What's special about it?
The long-awaited (and not at all surprising) 2010 Audi R8 Spyder will now assume the role of Audi's flagship model, the most expensive and exclusive vehicle in the Bavarian company's lineup.
It will have no problem fulfilling that role, as the Spyder won't even bother with the V8 engine of the entry-level R8 model. Instead, every Spyder gets Audi's 5.2-liter direct-injection V10, the power plant that only became available in the R8 coupe this summer. With 525 horsepower and a lovely exhaust note, the V10 should do quite well against similar rivals like the Lamborghini Gallardo and the uh?uniquely styled Ferrari California.
A lightweight, power-operated soft top has been fitted to the R8 Spyder to deliver weatherproofing without compromising the car's performance. Audi claims the top weighs just over 66 pounds, so it shouldn't have much of an impact on performance. Same goes for the R8 Spyder's reinforced structure, which packs only an extra 13 pounds of weight. Oh, and the top will open or close in around 19 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph if you're into that sort of thing.
Depending on your view of the coupe's styling, the Spyder's biggest downside could be the fact that it requires removal of the R8's signature side blades and the window over the engine bay. On the upside, the panels that take the place of the side blades are made of carbon fiber, as is the hard tonneau cover that covers the folded top.
There are a few other small changes to the R8 Spyder. It gets special UV-reflecting leather upholstery to reduce the number of times you scald the back of your legs while crawling into the sun-baked interior. There are extra storage compartments behind the seats. Aluminum door sills with black-satin trim are unique to the R8 Spyder. Also unique is a new seatbelt-mounted microphone system that allows the driver to talk on the telephone with the top down — it's the world's first, according to Audi.
The 2010 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI will go on sale in Germany next spring, so expect to see it in the U.S. by late summer.
Inside Line says: Audi continues its slow, methodical rollout of R8 variants. At this pace, the next-generation version should be along by 2015 or so. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
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