Photo: SB-Medien
The 2017 Audi R8 Spyder has been seen on several occasions at the Nurburgring, where engineers performed lap after high-speed lap. However, the team departed for what appears to be sunny Portugal, where it's nice and sunny over the winter.
Even though almost nothing is different except for the roof, the R8 Spyder is completely covered in camouflage. They even took the time to cover each and every vertical louver in the front grille. As if Ferrari or McLaren would suddenly decide to copy the "exciting" new Audi design language!
There's also a little surprise, as the back window is covered by a sticker that asks something roughly along the lines "how am I driving?" That could have something to do with the insurance company that covered the prototype. But we can't imagine anybody can restrain from performing illegal shenanigans in a car like this.
In any case, there are a few changes. For example, two new air vents have appeared between the taillights, which aren't there on the regular R8 coupe. The engine decking is different and so is the roof… obviously.
The R8 Spyder is hot on the heels of its Lamborghini Huracan cousin that was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. However, this particular test prototype appears to be the "basic" model with 540 horsepower, steel brakes, and no rear wing.
Like Porsche, Audi is also thinking about downsizing. While the Carrera S just switched to a 3.0-liter boxer engine with turbocharging, quattro GmbH wants to go even smaller. According to the latest rumors, they want to adapt the 2.5-liter TFSI to fit the role of an entry-level engine by installing an e-turbo and 48V electric circuit.
Development hasn't even started yet, but we're hoping they change their minds and use the twin-turbo V6 that is being tested in the RS4 instead. After all, if R8 customers secretly wanted the TT-RS engine, they would buy a TT-RS.
But the really big fight will be with the €210,000 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, one of the most expensive cars made by the Prancing German Horse. For that job, Audi will continue to rely on the 610 horsepower V10. It will likely run the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) gauntlet in approximately 3.4 seconds, since the lighter coupe needs 3.2 seconds to perform this task.
There's also a little surprise, as the back window is covered by a sticker that asks something roughly along the lines "how am I driving?" That could have something to do with the insurance company that covered the prototype. But we can't imagine anybody can restrain from performing illegal shenanigans in a car like this.
In any case, there are a few changes. For example, two new air vents have appeared between the taillights, which aren't there on the regular R8 coupe. The engine decking is different and so is the roof… obviously.
The R8 Spyder is hot on the heels of its Lamborghini Huracan cousin that was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. However, this particular test prototype appears to be the "basic" model with 540 horsepower, steel brakes, and no rear wing.
Like Porsche, Audi is also thinking about downsizing. While the Carrera S just switched to a 3.0-liter boxer engine with turbocharging, quattro GmbH wants to go even smaller. According to the latest rumors, they want to adapt the 2.5-liter TFSI to fit the role of an entry-level engine by installing an e-turbo and 48V electric circuit.
Development hasn't even started yet, but we're hoping they change their minds and use the twin-turbo V6 that is being tested in the RS4 instead. After all, if R8 customers secretly wanted the TT-RS engine, they would buy a TT-RS.
But the really big fight will be with the €210,000 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, one of the most expensive cars made by the Prancing German Horse. For that job, Audi will continue to rely on the 610 horsepower V10. It will likely run the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) gauntlet in approximately 3.4 seconds, since the lighter coupe needs 3.2 seconds to perform this task.
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