All About Japan Autos

Tony Stark may need 10-cylinders in his R8 Spyder, but for most people eight-cylinders will do just fine, especially if it’s Audi’s burly 4.2-liter V8.

After a year on the market, Audi will begin selling R8 Spyder’s with the “base” V8 engine to compliment the raucous 5.2-liter V10 engine.

“Notably, Audi has liberated an extra 10 horsepower from the direct-injected 4.2-liter V8, so it’s now rated at 430 hp. Peak torque holds steady at 317 pound-feet,” reports Edmunds, adding that, “The 2011 Audi R8 4.2 FSI hardtop will also get the new version of this engine.”

Going the V8 route not only costs customers two-cylinders, but customers, “will have to make do with conventional dampers and 18-inch wheels, although the magnetic ride dampers and 19-inch rolling stock that are standard on the V10 are available at a ‘slight’ increase in cost,” says Autoblog.

Enthusiast drivers will be pleased to find that the V8 R8 Spyder can be had with the V8 R8 coupe’s six-speed gated manual gearbox. Optional is the V10’s six-speed sequential transmission.

Autoweek expects the V8 R8 Spyder to arrive, “in the United States in the first quarter of 2011.”

Check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals.