2011 Audi R8 Spyder

The Audi R8 may still be one of the hottest entries in the sports-car world, but the hype has died down a bit. With its dramatic mid-engine proportions, it is still a stunning sight on the road, but waiting lists have shrunk in many places—in its native Germany, an R8 can now be had in just two to three months' time.

Three years after the coupe’s debut, Audi wants to ratchet up the hype again, and so expect the long-rumored convertible version—which may use the Spyder moniker, although the name is not yet finalized—to come to market in the fall of 2009 in Europe. In the U.S., where dealers still have their hands full allocating coupes, the droptop won't come before the 2010 calendar year.

Rumors that the R8 convertible would have a targa-style roof can safely be squashed, and previous spy shots have shown that it will get a power-operated ragtop. Unmistakably sharing most lines with the coupe, the open-air version nevertheless loses the "side blades,” which mask the coupe’s considerable length and make for interesting effect when rendered in contrasting colors or carbon fiber.

Expect More of the Same Goodness

The interior, which uses many parts derived from the TT bin yet manages to look racy and sophisticated, will carry over from the coupe virtually unchanged, and so will trim and chassis setup.

Engines are shared as well. While the 420-hp V-8 will be the standard engine in the convertible, most customers are expected to opt for the 5.2-liter V-10, which will debut in the R8 coupe at January’s 2009 Detroit auto show. It will make 520 hp and produce 398 lb-ft of torque, a much-needed boost in a competitive environment where—crazy as it sounds—the V-8's 420 horses and 317 lb-ft don't quite cut the beef.

Audi says both engines will be sold alongside each other, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the V-8 go away at a later point. On the road, they can be distinguished by the V-8’s small, quadruple tailpipes versus the wider double pipes of the V-10. They can also be easily recognized by their sound: the gloves are off with the V-10, and it will make you notice.

The Audi R8 shares its architecture with the Lamborghini Gallardo, and with the latest upgrade to the Gallardo LP560-4, Lamborghini has made the switch from its own engine architecture to an Audi-based engine. Nevertheless, neither Audi nor Lamborghini are too worried that the faster R8 would take away sales from the Gallardo. Indeed, the R8 is an easy-to-use, everyday sports car; by contrast, the pleasure derived from a Lamborghini occasionally takes on a slightly masochistic—not to mention narcissistic—quality.

Hunting for Porsches and BMWs

The true competitors for the R8 family don't come from Sant'Agata, but from Munich and Stuttgart in the form of the BMW M6 and the Porsche 911. It is no surprise that Porsche, which holds a controlling stake in Volkswagen, Audi's mother company, is watching the activities in Ingolstadt and Heilbronn, where Audi's Quattro GmbH performance division is located, with little enthusiasm. We, however, are a bit more excited.