All About Japan Autos

Audi shows off V8 R8 Spyder German firm adds 4.2-litre V8 to drop-top Spyder line-up.
Here’s news that’ll be music to the ears of Audi fans. The firm’s howling 4.2-litre V8 has now joined the 5.2-litre V10 in the R8 Spyder line-up. The newcomer is on sale now, with the first customer deliveries being made in January.

To prepare the V8 for its new life in the Spyder, the unit has been given a recuperation system which saves fuel when braking, allowing the engine to pass the stricter Euro V emissions standards. However, Audi’s engineers have also added an extra 10bhp, taking power up to 424bhp and 430Nm.

Performance is understandably brisk – when fitted with the R Tronic gearbox, the V8 will sprint from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, 0.7 seconds slower than the V10 model, and top speed is 8mph down, at 186mph. That said, fuel economy improves from 20.3mpg to 20.9mpg.

The R8 Spyder gets the same spec at the V8 Coupe, but adds the drop-top, which retracts in just 19 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph; plus metallic paint, electric heated seats and Bluetooth.

Buyers will have the choice of six-speed manual or R Tronic automated manual gearboxes. The manual costs £95,545 and auto £100,855, including the new 20 per cent VAT rate which kicks in from January.