New Audi R8 Spyder drive test: act like Tony Stark!

Tony Stark alias Iron Man favourite car, Audi R8 Spyder gets a new face. As interesting as its cousin from Lamborghini in terms of style and sound feeling, it knows how to be even more easygoing.

Without the roof, it’s even better

Last year, we have tested second generation of new Audi R8 coupé. Known as Lamborghini Huracan’s cousin, this high-performance German has a little advantage on the Italian, in the register of driving comfort and versatility of use. Despite its true supercar’s proportions, it appears to be more discrete than the Lamborghini. At the risk of sounding transparent?

Take off its roof, and this Audi R8 Spyder immediately become more spectacular. With the electric hood in folded canvas, the Audi R8 Spyder reveals an amazingly pure profile and a fascinating long rear bonnet in terms of details. Regarding to Lamborghini Huracan Spyder’s tense edges, the German answers with a simple but dramatically efficient drawing. So much that bystanders turn around when the car passes by, alike a Ferrari, a Lamborghini or a McLaren.

A V10 or nothing

Getting rid off its closed cabin, Audi R8 Spyder can let its fabulous atmospheric 540hp V10 sing freely. There is no more filter between your ears and this only atmospheric engine available on the market’s exhaust outlets. All competitors have chosen turbo-compressed mechanics for a while now. If these engines have a certain advantage in terms of pure acceleration, they can’t reach the same sound pleasure. But don’t imagine that Audi R8 Spyder is slower: with a 0 to 100km/h in only 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 318 km/h, it’s enough to frighten the passenger between two corners. The four driving wheels make possible to exploit its power easily, particularly if it rains as during our drive test in Barcelona.

Is the German too antiseptic? Clearly not! Thanks to its big Latin heart that beat up to 8700tr/mn, Audi R8 Spyder makes your skin crawl and your eardrum vibrate after each acceleration. Purist will certainly regret its dynamic behaviour that appears to be more filtered than a Ferrari or a McLaren. But with each downshift or first hard breaking, this horribly addictive machine will disarm with no resistance these reluctant purists. However, when it comes to city traffic, the auto will behave alike a classic coupé, with the same easiness thanks to its comfortable suspension, light direction and remarkably soft transmission. Here is Audi R8 Spyder’s strength: to be able to duplicate itself, better than any other supercar, and be the perfect compromise between a sensational machine and a tranquil vehicle for quiet rides.

Starting Price: 184 000€

Cédric Pinatel

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