2016 Audi R8 Spyder spied testing at Nurburgring

The Audi R8 supercar was unveiled earlier this year and it comes as a little surprise then that the soft-top version has been spotted on test. The second generation Spyder might also be unveiled in Geneva ahead of the global launch.

The new R8 spyder looks similar to the hardtop model, which isn’t radically different from the current car. For most parts it is easily identifiable as the R8, though there are few elemental changes like the new hexagonal grille and matrix headlamps. The R8 in the second generation is shorter, wider and marginally lower than the predecessor, and has managed to lose close to 50 kilograms. All of these changes should certainly make the car more dynamic, but the spyder will be slower compared to the standard model.

The car has the same architecture that underpins the Lamborghini Huracan and like its Italian counterpart derives power from the 5.2-litre V10. The engine will be available in two states of tune – the V10 delivering 540bhp and 540Nm, while the more powerful V10 ‘Plus’ delivering 610bhp and 560Nm of torque. The hardtop version with the above setups can get to 100kmph mark in 3.5 seconds and 3.2 second respectively, so the spyder will be marginally slower with the additional weight.

This the first time that the spyder has been caught testing and we will probably get more details in the coming months. The Audi R8 Spyder will come to India after the global launch in the second half of 2016 to compete with the likes of the Porsche Carrera cabriolet and Maserati GranCabrio.