A bunch of five for Audi
Home >
News >
Audi
More stories:
SLS
AMG Roadster: another trick for Mercedes-Benz
5th May, 2011
Aston
Martin DB9 update coming soon
29th June, 2010
7th June, 2011
Even lighter, even more powerful, even more
captivating: The Audi R8 GT Spyder delivers breathtaking performance. The open top flagship version
of the high-performance sports car develops 412 kW and – thanks to Audi ultra – has trimmed a full
85 kilogrammes from an already low weight.
The R8 GT Spyder accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317
km/h.
One year ago, Audi unveiled the R8 GT in coupe form as the new flagship model of the R8 model
line. It wasn’t long before all 333 units in the limited series were sold out. Now the open-top
version of the high-performance sports car is being launched, with production again capped at 333
units. Each car sports a tag with its individual number on the gear lever knob.
The Audi ultra-lightweight technology is the key to the R8 GT Spyder’s weight of just 1,640
kilogrammes. That’s 85 kilogrammes less than its technical basis, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. The
Audi Space Frame (ASF) body, consisting of cast nodes, extruded sections and aluminium panels,
accounts for just 214 kilogrammes of the total weight.
The body is assembled predominantly by hand in the R8 workshop at the Neckarsulm plant. Final
assembly of the car takes place in the same way.
The engine frame is made of ultra-light magnesium; the long cover over the soft-top compartment
and the large side panels at the rear are made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP). This
material (CFRP) is also used for the modified front spoiler, the fixed rear spoiler and the new
rear bumper. Together, these components provide a weight saving of 5.5 kilogrammes.
Visual modifications accentuate the styling of the R8 GT Spyder. These include addon parts in
contrasting titanium grey, a front splitter with a dual lip, flics at the sides of the front bumper,
red GT badges, round exhaust tailpipes, an enlarged diffuser and dark LED tail lights in a
clear-glass design. Audi offers an optional windshield frame in matt CFRP.
|
|
|
Self-Catering Holiday
Accommodation in
Denmark, WA
..... more
|
|
|
Audi engineers also trimmed weight from the technical components in the area of the transmission,
wheels and brakes. In the interior, the bucket seats alone, with their chassis of glass
fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP), saved 31.5 kilogrammes of weight.
In classic Audi fashion, the R8 GT Spyder features a lightweight fabric soft top that is
extremely quiet and fully suitable for highway cruising. Its electrohydraulic drive brings it up or
down in 19 seconds, even at speeds up to 50 km/h. The extendible glass rear window is nestled in
the bulkhead, separate from the soft top. Integrated in the bulkhead is a rollover protection
system comprising two pretensioned plates.
Prodigious power: the drivetrain
|
|
|
Mercedes-Benz E 350
road test
..... more
BMW Z4
road test
..... more
Lexus IS 250C
road test
..... more
Mercedes-Benz SL 600
road test
..... more
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
road test
..... more
Jaguar XKR
road test
..... more
|
|
|
The performance offered by the new top-of-the-line model in the R8 family is formidable. The 5.2
litre V10 with an aluminum crankcase draws its fuel from an FSI direct injection system. Dry-sump
lubrication ensures a reliable supply of oil even under maximum lateral or straight-line
acceleration.
With its modified electronic management, the long-stroke engine produces 540 Nm of torque at
6,500 rpm, and its peak output is 412 kW. Each unit of horsepower has only 2.93 kilogrammes to
move.
The R8 GT Spyder catapults from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317
km/h. In every situation, the engine impresses with its thrust and bite – and that unmistakable
sound of an Audi ten-cylinder.
The Audi R8 GT Spyder comes standard with an automated six-speed R tronic transmission with two
fully automatic modes. In the additional manual mode, the driver can shift gears using the paddles
on the steering wheel or by flicking the joystick. At high load and revs, gear changes take only
one-tenth of a second. The launch control programme manages the starting sprint with high engine
speed and precision-control of the tyre slip.
The quattro permanent all-wheel drive has a strong rear-wheel bias, granted by the axle load
distribution. If the situation calls for it, the system sends additional torque to the front axle.
In tandem with the limited slip differential at the rear, it provides an added measure of traction,
stability and cornering speed, giving it a strong lead over the rear-wheel-drive competition.
The suspension, too, is unrivaled in its performance. Aluminium double wishbones locate the
wheels, and the rack-and-pinion power steering provides intimate contact with the road. Taut tuning
lowers the body by approximately 10 millimetres. The open high-performance sports car has 19-inch
wheels, with 235/35 tyres up front and 295/30 tyres at the rear. The large, lightweight carbon-fibre
ceramic brake discs decelerate the car with supreme ease. The ESP stabilisation programme has a
sport mode and can also be deactivated entirely.
Pure comfort: the interior and equipment
Great attention to detail is evident in the materials and workmanship inside the car.
The salient aspect of the controls is their logically structured design. The open two seater
offers a roomy interior, and its front end can accommodate up to 100 litres of cargo. The rear
bulkhead houses three storage compartments.
The interior is black and can be adorned with stitching in a choice of titanium grey or crimson
for added refinement. Alcantara upholstery comes standard – on the sport steering wheel and
windshield frame, too.
Audi also offers leather in Fine Nappa quality. Numerous details – including white dials and R8
GT logos – provide classy accents. The distinctive R8 “monoposto,” a large arch encircling the
driver’s cockpit, is made of matt CFRP.
Audi ultra requires no sacrifice on the part of R8 GT Spyder owners. The standard equipment
includes LED headlights, LED tail lights, an automatic air conditioning system, the navigation
system plus, an alarm system and the driver information system with a built-in laptimer.
Audi also offers a sophisticated sound system from Bang & Olufsen and a Bluetooth interface
including a seatbelt microphone for carrying on a phone conversation conveniently. Options specific
to the R8 GT include bucket seats with a carbon-fibre composite chassis, matt CFRP applications and
embroidered logos on the seat upholstery.
The R8 GT Spyder will be available in the second half of 2012 with just 5 to be offered in the
Australian market. The pricing and specifications will be announced closer to the local launch.
| 
