By Carl Malek
Following the recent unveiling of the company’s R8 GT coupe, Audi has officially taken the wraps off the droptop version of the GT coupe. Known officially as the Audi R8 GT Spyder, this model utilizes many of the same features and enhancements that did their part to help the coupe version stand out from the rest of the supercar crowd. This means the same extensive use of carbon reinforced plastic and other lightweight materials to help shed the car of unnecessary weight, as well as tweaked mechanical components which not only help the car shed even more pounds, but also to improve its driving dynamics and performance on the road.
To help differentiate itself from the GT coupe, the Spyder will utilize several new exterior styling bits. These include the use of a dual front lip spoiler, a larger rear diffuser, carbon fiber winglets located on the front bumper, round exhaust pipes, and darker LED tail lamps. Powering the Spyder will be the familiar 5.2 liter V10 that powers the GT coupe: it’s good for 560 horsepower and 398 lb ft of torque. Audi claims that the GT Spyder can make the sprint from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds, and reach a lofty top speed of 197 mph.
Like its GT coupe sibling which had a limited production run, the Spyder will also see a limited production run. Just 333 copies will leave the factory before Audi ceases production. As one may expect, this level of exclusivity and performance will translate to a hefty price tag at your local Audi dealer, and while no official prices for the U.S market have been released as of this writing. Its 207,800 Euro price tag is equivalent to just over $300,000 USD when exchange rates are applied. With the appearance of the Spyder, Audi has not only successfully filled out the R8 model lineup, but it has also given prospective buyers the ability to soak up the sun while carving up corners at the same time in an exclusive piece of automotive perfection.
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