The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro Has Arrived In Australia

MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – Sept 28, 2010: The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro captivates from the very first glance. Its lines offer a unique interpretation of the dynamics and emotion of a high-performance sports car. Two distinctive silver cowls, into which the large air intake openings are integrated, give the elongated back a powerful profile. Unlike the Coupé, the R8 Spyder has classic air intakes behind the doors. The rear side panels and the large cover over the storage compartment for the cloth top are made of a carbon fibre composite.

The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro sports a cloth soft top in classic Audi style. The soft top’s approximate weight is a mere 42 kilograms; keeping the vehicle’s total weight and centre of gravity low.

The top is suitable for high-speed driving and the cabin always remains quiet. The roof opens and closes within 19 seconds, at speeds of up to 50 km/h. The heated glass window is integrated separately into the bulkhead and can be raised and lowered via a switch with the soft-top up or down.

The bulkhead includes integrated rollover protection in the form of two pre-tensioned plates. The aluminium Audi Space Frame (ASF) body of the R8 Spyder is reinforced at important locations, yet it tips the scales at a mere 216 kilograms – just 6 kilograms more than the Coupé. Equipped with a manual transmission, the high-performance sports car weighs only 1,720 kilograms.

Prodigious power: the drivetrain
The new top-of-the-range Audi offers incredible performance. The free-breathing V10 with the aluminium crankcase features direct petrol injection. The 12.5:1 compression ratio that the FSI technology enables contributes to high performance and good efficiency. Dry sump lubrication, another motorsport-derived technology, ensures the reliable supply of oil even at maximum lateral and longitudinal acceleration.

The 5.2-litre engine produces 530 Nm at 6,500 rpm and 386 kW at 8,000 rpm. The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro storms from zero to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h. And all accompanied by that unmistakable Audi ten-cylinder symphony.

Audi offers the R tronic sequential six-speed transmission as an option. This has a fully automatic and a manual mode, in which the driver can change gears in using paddles on the steering wheel. Launch Control manages engagement of the clutch for maximum acceleration. The rear-biased quattro permanent all-wheel drive system transfers power to the road with consummate ease. Together with the locking differential on the rear axle, it provides supreme traction, stability and cornering speed.

Motorsport technology can also be found in the chassis of the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. There are aluminium double triangular wishbones at all four corners, and Audi’s advanced magnetic ride technology - the shock absorbers adjust their response to the road conditions and the driver’s style within milliseconds.

The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro rolls on 19-inch wheels shod up front with 235/35 tyres and 295/30 tyres in the rear. The four brake discs are ventilated and perforated, and gripped by a total of 24 callipers. Large carbon-fibre ceramic discs that are lightweight, robust and long-lived are optional. The ESP stabilisation system has a Sport mode and can also be completely deactivated.

Comfortable: interior, equipment and trim
The R8 Spyder features a spacious and exclusive interior. The ring of the leather-wrapped, multifunction sports steering wheel is flattened at the bottom, and the powered seats support the body perfectly. Quality of fit and finish is extraordinary; the controls are clear and logical; and the driver information system includes a lap timer. The interior includes a three-bin storage area and the luggage compartment can hold 100 litres of luggage.

Equipment highlights include an outstanding sound system from Bang & Olufsen, deluxe automatic air conditioning and heated seats. The standard navigation plus system with MMI control logic features impressively high resolution and fast route calculation.

Also included standard in the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro are the LED headlights – light-emitting diodes are used for the low beams, the high beams, the daytime running lights and the turn signals. The LED headlights not only look like technological works of art, they also offer substantial practical advantages with their excellent light distribution, long service life and extremely low energy consumption.

Among the exclusive optional equipment available for the new R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro is the innovative seatbelt microphone for the hands-free unit, which makes it possible to make telephone calls even with the top down on the highway.

Customer deliveries of the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro begin in October.