Open Dream

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

With the R8 Coupe, Audi has already created an extremely attractive alternative to Porsche and Co. The pleasure can now also be enjoyed openly. For most, the Spyder unfortunately remains an unreachable dream.

By Thomas Flehmer

Wow, it echoes from the tailpipes that the joy doesn't want to leave you. Forget Porsche, here comes the sister company that celebrated its origins as a coupe when the sports company from Zuffenhausen did not even have the takeover of VW on its agenda. In the meantime, Audi and Porsche are at eye level in the higher segments as group sisters, but offer different vehicles in the high price segment apart from the 150,000 euros, whereby the A8 Spyder is very different from the sports models from the Swabian metropolis due to its new presence.

Plan your weekend trip carefully

While the 911 Turbo Cabrio comes around with its 500 hp, the Spyder has the appearance of a flounder spread over 4.44 meters and a 2.60 meter wheelbase. Flat and sometimes ostentatious at the rear, the “most beautiful Audi of all time”, according to the top management, approaches the Italian potency potters in order to outdo them. Because the workmanship in the interior is absolutely top class. Red seams surround the leather cladding, the sports seats can be seated equally for slim and full-slender people, and the instruments are clearly laid out without being overburdened.

The sports seats adapt to the respective figure. There is a little purism, as the optionally available bowls are not electronically adjustable. If you want to enjoy comfort, you have to fall back on the standard equipment, which is below par for a real sporty driver. The clientele used to comfort, on the other hand, does not have to forego anything, really nothing - except of course space. Although the driver and front passenger have the same in abundance, things are getting tight for the things they have brought with them. The rear is occupied by the 5.2 liter mid-engine, at the front just 100 liters can be stowed away, which corresponds to roughly two larger shoulder bags. The weekend vacation must therefore be planned so that it does not fail because of the luggage from the outset.

Echoing symphony

But the space problems are forgotten the moment the 525 hp are let off the leash. The instrument needles swing as far as they will go when you start, a gentle roar announces the symphony that will soon follow. Because the staccato of the ten-cylinder is always a melodious sound - not too bulky, not too loud, but precisely proportioned. The Bang and Olufsen system remains switched off, but the rear window is lowered so that the bubbling when the accelerator is released can really penetrate into the interior as long as the roof is closed.

The soft top, which weighs just 42 kilograms, can be opened within 19 seconds and up to a speed of 50 km / h. Sun is not necessary, as the interior is well protected when open and the seats can also be heated. According to Audi, only a few should miss the hair dryer in the headrest in this segment, which is available in the Mercedes SLK and the Peugeot 308.. But the construction of the sports seats more or less prevents installation.

Third gear for all situations

But even that takes a back seat in view of the concentrated power. The 530 Nm of torque quickly provide propulsion. The addiction to depress the gas pedal occurs just as quickly. On the one hand, given a sprinting ability of 4.1 seconds up to the 100 km / h mark, you are literally pushed into the seat, and on the other hand, your ear craves the grandiose sound so much that you accelerate even when idling. Sounds chubby, maybe it is, but it has to be.

The sound is of course much more enjoyable in the engaged gear, whereby preference should be given to the manual transmission over the in no way disappointing R-Tronic, for which around 80 percent of buyers choose. But engaging the gears in the beautiful gear box makes the super sports car even sportier and apparently even stronger. And you don't really need a lot of shifting, third gear is just as useful for cornering country roads as it is for city traffic. But the Spyder's real purpose is speed. Even more than a board, the R8 lies on the road thanks to its long wheelbase. The curves can be mastered as if they don't even exist. The steering is so direct, the interaction with the chassis so optimal,that the super sports car does not leave its line even at high cornering speed. A pleasure!

Belt microphone as a hands-free system

While other competitors' forward thrust is electronically curbed at 250 km / h, the open dream car lasts up to 313 km / h. It is not surprising that much more than the specified 14.9 liters of Superplus rush through the hoses over 100 kilometers. But those who can invest 156,400 euros - and thus around 12,000 euros more than the coupe - are only interested in the fluctuations in the price of petrol at the pumps. But it is incomprehensible why the cruise control was not installed in this high-price range, but instead costs an extra 200 euros. Any remaining money can generally be invested further. The seat belt microphone, which functions as a hands-free system, is completely new to the range. In view of the short test time and the driving pleasure, this part took a back seat. But also the parking system,as well as a Bluetooth device and high beam assistant are available. Not to mention various spoilers and rims.

If you don't have that much money left, you have to be patient until the 4.2 liter eight-cylinder comes. It will start at around 122,000 euros. But even this variant will remain an unfulfilled open dream for most.