Audi Releases Images of 2011 R8 Spyder

It seems that the design crew at Audi is among the best in the industry. Not only has it managed to churn out sexy coupes including the A5/S5 and the R8, but now it is keeping each car’s attractive design while hacking off the top. Earlier this year, the 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet and 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet made their debut in Paris, and now Audi is set to launch a more high profile convertible courtesy of the R8. Changes to Audi’s halo supercar are minimal, which means that the car will keep its sexy lines and breathtaking performance with the added enjoyment of an open-air cockpit. The 2011 Audi R8 Spyder will make its official debut next week at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The transformation from hardtop to convertible meant that some of the R8’s signature cues be eliminated, but Audi managed to do so without ruining the car’s look, shape or stance. The most noticeable omissions from the Spyder are R8’s signature sideblades as well as the glass-encased engine compartment. The final major change involved moving the fuel-filler cap from the B-pillar down onto the fender. On the R8 coupe that made its splashing debut last year, the attractive sideblade inserts were Audi’s way of masking the massive air intakes needed to feed the mid-mounted engine its fresh air, but they probably would not have looked as good on the Spyder as on the coupe. As for the engine compartment, the R8 Spyder now uses an opaque, vented hooted more similar to the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder which shares its platform with the R8.

Like the A5 Convertible, the 2010 Audi R8 Spyder will use a cloth top, which should help keep the overall weight down. Other than the obvious changes made to accommodate the retractable top, the R8 Spyder features the same design cues as the recently introduced R8 5.2 FSI V-10 including LED headlights and taillights and a pair of distinctive oval exhaust outlets. A signature among Audi convertible models, the R8 Spyder’s look will be finished off with an aluminum frame surrounding the windshield. While the pictures that Audi released showing the chocolate brown R8 Spyder is pretty much a dead ringer for the production model despite some photographs showing an interior that looks like a concept vehicle. The only change Audi plans for the open-air R8’s cabin is the addition of Audi’s latest MMI system.

Audi has already said that the 2011 R8 Spyder will be limited to the 5.2-liter FSI engine, so we don’t expect the V-8 to be offered in the drop-top model. With the high-revving V-10 just making its debut, the R8 Spyder is an excellent encore with 525 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque lurking beneath those rear vents. Audi hasn’t released any official specs for the car yet regarding weights or measurements, but it will come standard with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system and hopefully won’t weight too much more than the hardtop R8 5.2 FSI’s 3,700-pound curb weight.

Pricing will likely be announced closer to production, but we expect it to start north of the 2010 R8 V10’s $146,000 - quite a premium over the base R8 that starts at $114,200. We also reported on the speculation regarding an all-electric version of the R8, and hopefully some more information outside of Audi’s teaser site will be announced in Frankfurt on September 15.