Born on the track.

The Audi R8 name is synonymous with the very pinnacle of high-performance motoring and while both of these models share the R8 moniker, they each exhibit their own unique character. Both striking in design and finish, they differ most in their power delivery and effect that has on the driving experience.

With its mid-mounted V10 engine developing 397kW and power down to the rear wheels, the R8 Spyder V10 RWD is one for the purists. Its stablemate, the R8 Spyder V10 performance quattro boasts 449kW – the addition of the brand’s legendary all-wheel drive changing the dynamic and providing a surefooted feel even at the extremes of performance.

It pays to drive the Audi R8 Spyder V10 with the hood down. An electrohydraulic drive folds the hood under a carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) lid in just 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h. It’s just as easy to retract and extend the rear window in the bulkhead at the push of a button.

Power from the centre

The performance figures are impressive, but they tell just part of the story. Yes, the R8 Spyder V10 RWD dispatches the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in just 3.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 322km/h, but mere numbers can’t convey the pure shot of adrenalin you feel with each serious application of throttle. Nor can numbers describe the sound of the naturally aspirated, 5.2-litre V10 engine under load or impart the feeling of 397kW and 540Nm of torque unleashed.

The fixed wing on the rear of the R8 Spyder V10 performance quattro gives some indication of the car’s potential, but it is the added grip of quattro and the higher engine output, that sets it apart. This stunning combination carves a full 0.5 seconds off the 0 to 100km/h sprint time to see it done and dusted in just 3.3 seconds on the way to a top speed of 330km/h. This maintains the model’s title as the fastest and most powerful Audi model ever produced – a feature even more impressive when experienced first-hand.

The suspension: Precision in all its facets

The Audi R8 Spyder V10 RWD has a pure rear-wheel drive with passive differential lock and RWD sport suspension that has been specially adapted accordingly. Thanks to the mid-engine concept with a low centre of gravity, the vehicle has a balanced weight distribution, enabling high speeds even when cornering. The power steering provides intensive contact to the road. The Audi R8 Spyder V10 RWD has a pure rear-wheel drive with passive differential lock and RWD sport suspension that has been specially adapted accordingly. Thanks to the mid-engine concept with a low centre of gravity, the vehicle has a balanced weight distribution, enabling high speeds even when cornering. The power steering provides intensive contact to the road.

Straight-line speed is just one part of the equation that results in the outstanding performance equation of the Audi R8 models. With the R8 Spyder V10 performance quattro, the Audi magnetic ride with CFRP stabiliser adapts the shock absorbers for each wheel to your driving style and to the road surface in just milliseconds, providing unparalleled handling and road holding. The Audi R8 Spyder V10 RWD utilises the perfect weight distribution of the mid-mounted engine and low centre of gravity with its pure rear-wheel drive, passive differential lock and specially tuned RWD sport suspension to deliver razor-sharp handling with that distinctive rear bias.

Form follows fascination – the design

When closed, the hood accentuates the overall athleticism of the Audi R8 Spyder V10 in conjunction with wheel arches that exude power and flattened grooves over the Singleframe. Deep horizontal lines accentuate the width of the front end and give the R8 an even flatter and sportier look. The rear makes an ultimate statement about sportiness with its high mounted diffuser, the air vent grille that spans the width of the car and the oval exhaust tailpipes in black. The newly designed 20-inch milled wheels are available in 5-V-dynamic design with three different surface options.

Craftsmanship meets technology. The interior.

The cockpit of each Audi R8 is both supremely functional and beautifully appointed. Meticulous attention to detail is evident in every conceivable area of the interior, but with an undeniable emphasis on performance. As befits a high-performance car of this calibre, the design brings a driver focus to all controls and vehicle systems, but comfort and appointment are not sacrificed. Held firm in its sports seats in fine Nappa leather or full-leather package, occupants in the R8 Sypder V10 RWD enjoy the rarified environment where cutting-edge performance meets absolute craftsmanship. Likewise the Audi R8 Spyder V10 performance quattro provides its occupants with an exclusive ride, with deep bucket seats for increased lateral support, its interior featuring a fine Nappa leather combination with contrasting stitching in Mercato blue and trim elements in gloss carbon. Excellence in every detail is standard across the board.