Audi R8 Spyder, Drawn Up 3 Years Ago

Audi's designer Achim Badstubner admitted to GoAuto at the Los Angeles Auto Show that both body versions of the Audi R8 were ready, in drawing, at about the same time, but the Spyder was delayed because "it was clear that we needed a little bit of time between" the two versions.

"First we needed to do the V8, and then the 10 cylinder, and now we’re doing the Spyder. And of course there is more to come, you know ..." the designer told the source.

"Because with a car like this you always need to maintain it – you always want some limited editions, just like a Spyder is always the limited edition of a hardtop in volume terms."

The open-top version of the Audi R8 Spyder was unveiled this September at the Frankfurt Auto Show. It comes with a 5.2l TSI engine, the same as in the regular R8, developing 525 hp at 8,000 rpm (rev limit is reached at 8,700) and 530 Nm of torque.

As we said back in September, the only noticeable difference between the two is the lack of a roof. Still, Badstubner says there's more than meets the eye with the Spyder, as the car is drawn to emphasize its passengers, and not its engine, as in the regular R8.

“We think this concept ... really suits the personality of the car. We did not want to expose the engine so much.”

The Spyder will have a starting price in the UK of 109,580 British pounds for the 6-speed manual transmission version and 114,670 for the one which comes with the R tronic gearbox.