The 2012 A3 Sedan and Hatchback weren’t the only future Audi models to be teased today, as another set of drawings previewing the R8 GT supercar in drop-top guise also hit the internet. Scheduled for a reveal in early 2012, the R8 GT Spyder will be the roadster version of the lightweight R8 GT Coupe.
The Spyder model will use the same 5.2-liter V10 engine found in the R8 GT that produces 552HP and 398 lb-ft of torque (540 Nm). Expect the Spyder to be slightly slower than the R8 GT coupe, which can go from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 320 km/h or 199mph.
The sketches reveal that the Spyder will also use a fixed rear wing, a massive air diffuser, a front splitter and winglets as well as other design features from the R8 GT coupe. It is likely that Audi will produce the car in limited numbers, like they did with the coupe, whose production is restricted to 333 units.
The drop-top R8 GT will be previewed in June at Le Mans, the Mecca of endurance racing, a place chosen to stress the important link between the Spyder and the R8 LMS race car with which it shares some components. The public launch will take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in late September.
Like the coupe model, the Spyder will feature a quattro all-wheel drive system and a six-speed R-tronic robotized manual gearbox. The AWD system setup favors sportiness, with 85 percent of torque being directed to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions.
The R8 GT Spyder is expected to be heavier than the coupe but lighter than the standard R8 V10 Spyder, as the car will benefit from the same weight-saving measures from the track-focused coupe. The R8 GT coupe is 95 kilograms lighter than the standard V10-powered R8, thanks to the use of carbon fiber components and a thinner glass windscreen.
By Dan Mihalascu
Source: Automobilemag
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