If you want to experience open air driving in your sports car or supercar but hate the air turbulence and noise, the targa is the only way to go – but only a few companies make them.
Porsche is one of them, having invented the niche in 1966, and the latest 911 looks great as a Targa. Sister company Audi has its own supercar, the R8, which like the 911 is supposed to be not too much of a hassle to drive daily. Unlike Porsche, though, it offers it only as a Coupe or a Spyder.
If this rendering by JBCars is any indication, the execs at Ingolstadt have made a superb choice because, to our eyes at least, it just doesn’t look good.
Simply put, that huge rear window doesn’t do justice to the R8’s stylish design. Just look at the Spyder that served as the basis for the rendering, right below, and we think you’ll understand what we’re talking about.
Also Read: Driven: Ares Design Porsche 911 GT3 Targa Is A Masterstroke
Anyhow, apart from having a folding soft top, the R8 Spyder is practically the same as the Coupe. The second-gen R8 is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 that delivers 570 PS (562 hp / 419 kW) and 550 Nm (405 lb-ft) of torque in the base variant, or 620 PS (611 hp / 456 kW) and 580 Nm (427 lb-ft) of torque in the Performance model.
In its current iteration, Audi’s supercar has been with us since 2015, so the automaker is already working on a facelifted version. It is expected to launch in Europe early next year, with some exterior and interior styling changes and the latest tech features that should keep it relevant for another three/four years or so.
