Audi R8 SpyderThe R8 Spyder is the new soft-top in the range. The mid-engine car sports car follows the same design theme as the R8 Coupe with some styling modifications to accommodate the folding fabric roof. For instance, the car's trademark side blades have been dispatched in favour of a duo of scoops ahead of the rear wheels, and a little height has been added to the rear deck in order to house the folded roof. And the engine is no longer exposed beneath a glass cover, as in the coupe.%A%A‘The soft-top evokes a certain romanticism of driving,’ notes head of Audi design Stefan Sielaff. Audi hasn't yet ventured into the world of the retractable hardtop, unlike Mercedes and BMW, preferring the space and weight-saving qualities of folding fabric. Additionally, with textile you can play with the roof colour without making too much of a statement.
The R8 Spyder is offered only with the Lamborghini-derived 5.2-liter V10, putting out 525 hp and 390 lb ft of torque.
On sale: early 2010, Price: circa £112,000
www.audi.com