Audi V10 For Sale

This page contains content which may update dynamically, depending on links or controls you operate. The dynamically updated content will be within the main content area, and you may use the following link to skip to this main content. Skip to main content A1 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 Q5 Q7 TT R8 RS Audi site navigation Explore models Used cars Owners area Fleet sales Audi innovation About Audi Locate a dealer R8 V10 Starting from £108,040 (OTR) Specifications, Pricing and CO2 Download Brochure See the site in all its glory To make the most of the Audi website, you need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Handling and control R8 with quattro High performance style 5.2 FSI quattro Creating an icon Audio & communication Safety features Comfort & convenience The finishing touch Interior style features Exterior style features Specifications Audi Driving Experience Quick links Arrange a test drive Request a brochure R8 pilots Configure the R8 Footer navigation Login Sitemap Find a Centre Merchandise shop Audi Accessories Configurator Audi offers Specialist sales Audi channel Audi Heritage Miscellany Careers Motability Environment Terms & conditions Privacy Battery Recycling © Audi 2010 All rights reserved || This page contains content which may update dynamically, depending on links or controls you operate. The dynamically updated content will be within the main content area, and you may use the following link to skip to this main content. Skip to main content A1 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 Q5 Q7 TT R8 RS Audi site navigation Explore models Used cars Owners area Fleet sales Audi innovation About Audi Locate a dealer r8 spyder v10 header Starting from £116,660 (OTR) Specifications, Pricing and CO2 Download Brochure See the site in all its glory To make the most of the Audi website, you need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. R8 with quattro Handling & control Creating an icon 5.2 FSI engine High performance style Top down motoring Watch the Advert Audio & communication Safety features Comfort & convenience The finishing touch Interior style features Exterior style features Specifications Audi Driving Experience Quick links Arrange a test drive Request a brochure R8 pilots Configure the R8 Spyder Footer navigation Login Sitemap Find a Centre Merchandise shop Audi Accessories Configurator Audi offers Specialist sales Audi channel Audi Heritage Miscellany Careers Motability Environment Terms & conditions Privacy Battery Recycling © Audi 2010 All rights reserved || Skip Links Skip to navigation Skip to primary content Skip to secondary content Skip to tertiary content Skip to footer The Independent Christmas Appeal: Learning to live without mother Motoring 5 ° London Hi 7°C / Lo 6°C Query: Go Popular Topics Headlines NEW from i Treat yourself! i launches its iPad app | Navigation News UK Home News UK Politics Crime This Britain World Europe Americas Middle East Asia Africa Australasia World Politics Business News Comment Analysis & Features Sharewatch SME Business directory Headhunter Network Business Energy Business Wall People News Profiles Diary Science Media Opinion TV & Radio Press Online Advertising Education News Schools School Tables Further Higher Training & Courses Obituaries Video Appeals Indy Appeal IoS appeal Corrections News Wall myIndependent Opinion Leading Articles Commentators Yasmin Alibhai-Brown Terence Blacker Simon Carr Rupert Cornwell Mary Dejevsky Robert Fisk Andrew Grice Adrian Hamilton Johann Hari Philip Hensher Howard Jacobson Dominic Lawson John Lichfield Hamish McRae Matthew Norman Christina Patterson John Rentoul Steve Richards Sarah Sands Mary Ann Sieghart Joan Smith Mark Steel Janet Street-Porter Andreas Whittam Smith Columnists Julie Burchill Richard Ingrams Alex James Dom Joly Dylan Jones David Lister Thomas Sutcliffe Brian Viner John Walsh Janet Street-Porter Letters myIndependent Environment Climate Change Green Living Nature UK butterflies myIndependent Sport Video Athletics Cricket Football International News & Comment Premier League Football League European Scottish FA & League Cups Transfers Golf Motor Racing Olympics Racing Rugby League Rugby Union News & Comment International Club Rugby Sailing Tennis Others Life & Style Fashion News Features Food & Drink News Reviews Features Recipes Health & Families Health News Features Healthy Living Health A-Z Health Advice House & Home Interiors Gardening Property Pets Property Search Tradesmen Search History Gadgets & Tech News Gaming Features Motoring Motoring News Features Road Tests Comment Used Car Search New Car Search Christmas 2010 Dating Puzzles & Games Most Popular Games Crosswords Quizzes Action Games Sports Games Shooting Games Puzzles Arts & Ents Video Art News Features Reviews Great Works Architecture Music News Features Reviews Music Magazine Classical News Features Reviews Films News Features Reviews TV & Radio News Features Reviews Theatre & Dance News Features Reviews Comedy News Features Reviews Books News Features Reviews Puzzles & Games Most Popular Games Crosswords Quizzes Action Games Sports Games Shooting Games Puzzles Travel News 48 Hours In Africa Americas Asia Australasia & Pacific Europe Middle East UK Hotels Skiing Sound & Vision Travel Shop Money Spend & Save Loans & Credit Mortgages Pensions Insurance Tax Pensions & Investment Centre Independent Compare myIndependent IndyBest Fashion & Beauty Gadgets & Tech House & Garden Food & Drink Outdoor & Activity Arts & Books Travel Green myIndependent Blogs Student News Career Planning Apprenticeships Vocational Study Getting a Job Graduate Jobs Getting Into University A-Z Degrees A-Z Unis & Colleges Applying Clearing Overseas Student Life Health Accommodation Finances Music & Film Fashion Technology & Gaming Postgraduate Postgraduate Study MBAs Guide A-Z Business Schools Business school search Competitions Ezines myIndependent Shopping from The Independent & The Independent on Sunday Home > Life & Style > Motoring > Road Tests Audi R8 V10 Spyder The Audi R8 V10 Spyder is in a class of its own Reviewed by John Simister Sunday, 11 April 2010 Share Close Digg del.icio.us Facebook Reddit Google Stumble Upon Fark Newsvine YahooBuzz Bebo Twitter Independent Minds Print Email PRESS PICTURE Audi Spyder: Listen to the 10-cylinder harmonic howl enlarge What is it about open cars? Depending on your point of view, they either let you see, hear and feel the world outside with a clarity and exhilaration denied to those riding under a roof, or they let the outside world see you and, unless you're more attractive than me (which is likely), mock your exhibitionism. Either way, we assume the purity of the car is somehow compromised unless a) the car type exists only in open form, or b) it existed as an open car before a closed one joined it. Or so I thought, until I drove the Audi R8 V10 Spyder. An open Porsche 911 is all wrong, and Spyder versions of a Ferrari F430 or a Lamborghini Gallardo seem similarly to shoot their pedigree in the foot. But the Audi somehow gets away with it. How? A closed R8 has striking, contrasting "blades" on its flanks aft of the doors and forming the rear cabin pillars, which clearly wouldn't work on a Spyder. Instead, the Spyder has extended side-scoops flowing into where the blade would be, which completely alters the R8 look. Thus the R8 Spyder looks like its own car and not a chopped-down version of another one. It helps, too, that the result has strong overtones of real sports-racing cars, such as – conveniently – the eponymous R8 (or later R10) that raced at Le Mans. Of course the R8 Spyder is laden with goodies (B&O stereo, parking sensors, LED headlights, sat nav and a microphone in the driver's seatbelt), but they are discreet and don't spoil the impression of functional starkness. It's a pure sort of car, built for a purpose higher than showing off. That said, an audience will surely gather when the roof performs its kinetic art. As the powered roof opens, its fabric folds into a Z-shape, the flying buttresses at the rear fold on to themselves, and the whole lot disappears under a painted carbonfibre cover, all in 19 seconds. There's a small rear window that can retract electrically into the rear deck, and a clip-on wind deflector to fit in front of it, if needed. With the roof closed, the driving experience is as pure and as thrilling as it is in the coupé. There's hardly any audible difference, thanks to the roof's perfect fit and sealing ability against wind rush. But with it open, the experience intensifies. This 5,204cc, 525bhp, direct-injection V10 has always sounded gutturally fabulous, like two 1980s Audi Quattro rally cars accelerating at full bore side by side, except that here you have 8,500rpm to play with. With no roof, you can now hear the harmonic battle as 10 cylinders with uneven firing intervals bellow their intent. It's marvellous. It starts as a deep granular hum, goes through a vibratory growl around 3,000rpm, then morphs into that 10-cylinder harmonic howl. But this is not a peaky engine; maximum pulling power (390lb ft) doesn't arrive till 6,500rpm but the Spyder pulls lustily from under 2,000rpm, whatever gear. Using "launch control" for an optimum getaway, the Spyder will reach 62mph in 4.1 seconds, as all four wheels share the traction. Both manual and paddleshift R-tronic versions have this electronic aid, which automatically manages throttle and traction control (and clutch engagement on the R-tronic). It works perfectly. With the magnetically variable suspension dampers set to Sport, the R8 scythes through twists and turns, provided the road is ultra-smooth. The surprise is that Normal mode gives a more compliant ride than most other Audis, sporting or not. Yet it remains crisp and responsive, making this a supercar as civilised as it is engaging. But it's not perfect. The R-tronic still surges annoyingly in automatic mode. (I'd still prefer a proper manual.) Nor is there much room for luggage. Some say the R8 V10 Spyder is too dear: starting at £112,500, no Audi costs more. But it's a supercar that just happens to wear four rings. A credible open-top supercar? No, it's the best. The Rivals Aston Martin DBS Volante: £179,500. The 5.9-litre, 510bhp V12 can't quite match R8 V10's pace, but some may prefer traditional front-engine design. Big, bulky and a beautiful finish. Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder: £160,556. Engine, transmission and aluminium structure are related to Audi's; power delivery is fiercer, price is higher, visuals are less pure. Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet: £113,927. Rapid and capable, defies physics with its 500bhp flat-six over-hanging the tail. Looks awkward: long overhangs, dumpy silhouette. Compare over 65 car insurers and get £25 Cash back through Independent Compare Print Article Email Article Also in this section Volkswagen Touareg Altitude 4.2-litre V8 TDI Seat Alhambra TSI Mini Cooper D All4 Countryman Bentley Continental GT EDITOR'S CHOICE Giant stork that ate babies Facebook: $65m not enough Jessica Simpson: Brand Realism: Face mask disguise The ten best netbooks Tour the property market Ivanov: Fabergé nest egg Love i ? 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