The Audi R8 is one of the most desirable sports cars of the decade. Audi came up with the idea of making a hardcore version of the popular sports car and thus the R8 GT was born. The Audi R8 GT Spyder will be a limited edition offering with only 333 examples on the roads. So, you would think, owning one would mean shelling out a considerable amount of cash and you would be right as this car costs €207,800 (Approx Indian Rs. 1,35,63,837/-) in Germany.
In short, the Audi R8 GT is a lightweight supercar with a V10 heart that wants to go round the Nurburgring every time you strap yourselves in the ultra lightweight racing seats. Now, with the Audi R8 GT Spyder, you can even enjoy the glorious V10 howl as you tackle the Nordschleife. The V10 unit has been upgraded with a modified ECU from the one on the standard R8 Spyder, and now produces 560bhp and 540Nm of torque, up from 525bhp and 530Nm on the standard car. An R-tronic sequential manual transmission and Audi’s Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with a rear-wheel bias completes the setup.
The Audi R8 GT Spyder with it’s jumped up V10 and feather weight construction, takes it from standstill to 100 kph in 3.8 seconds. The lightweight supercar will reach speeds upto 317 kph if offered with a straight but of tarmac that is. Of course, Audi has had to put the R8 Spyder on a strict diet to achieve these figures. Audi engineers have managed to shave 85 kg off the R8 Spyder. This might not sound much but it has definitely turned the R8 Spyder into hardcore race car, almost.
Carbon fibre has been used to keep the weight in check. Secondly, aerodynamic upgrades including the signature R8 GT spoiler has been added for rear downforce. Up front, a dual lip spoiler helps with front end grip. The car now has to do with less sound isolation which is a good thing and thinner glass again to keep the weight of the car to the minimum. Apart from the usual standard bits and pieces, a very racer car-ish built-in lap timer has been added.
In classic Audi fashion, the R8 GT Spyder features a lightweight fabric soft top that is said to be extremely quiet even when motorway cruising at high speeds. Its electro-hydraulic drive raises or lowers it in 19 seconds at speeds of upto 50kmph.
The R8 GT Spyder’s suspension has been tuned with aluminium double wishbones, and also comes with a new set of 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/35 tyres up front and 295/30 tyres at the rear. The car also features large, lightweight carbon-fibre ceramic brake discs and an Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) that can be deactivated entirely.
Visual modifications accentuate the styling of the R8 GT Spyder. These include additional contrasting titanium grey trim elements, a front splitter with a dual lip, flicks at the sides of the front bumper, red GT badges, round exhaust tailpipes, an enlarged diffuser and dark LED tail lights in a clear-glass design. An optional windscreen frame in matte CFRP is also available.
Also see – Audi R8 V10 Spyder Launched in India
More pictures of 2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder –
