Test Drive Audi R8 Spyder Since 2010 Convertible

Audi R8 Spyder. Three colors: white

Audi R8 Spyder. Price: Not specified on sale: with III square. 2010.

Three colors of racing cars as three colors of the French flag in the love trilogy of Kshyshtof Keslevsky. For more than a hundred years, the national ways of developing sports engineering in the old world have been determined. Air and French expressive blue, barustic and southern adventurous Italian red and pragmatic, slightly cool German white

Test pilot
Vladimir Makkaveev, 32 years old, car journalist, driving experience 13 years, personal car - Volvo C30

Actually, these colors were assigned to national car clubs at the dawn of the XX century in the era of the first car racing. But it so happened that not only a racing, but also a large troika serial automotive industry developed in strict colorful compliance with national colors. Therefore, at the parking lot of Nice Airport tricolor Tabun Audi R8 Spyder (instead of French blue, however, there was a brown metallic), I, without hesitating, stepped by the side of the white convertible.

Not inferior in speed and charisma coupe, the Spider R8 significantly exceeds the elder brother in the emotional sense. This is how to transfer from the stuffy lem manov prototype into the open cockpit of the racing formula. It seems and turns R8 Spyder prescribes exactly at the same rate as the coupe, but multiplied by the feeling of freedom and unity with space, the feeling of speed causes completely different much more vivid emotions. And not only at the driver and passenger, but also from others. Even in Monte Carlo well, how not to draw on such a car on the highway of the legendary Grand Prix where it would seem to have been used to the luxurious car, R8 was drowned in enthusiastic views. And such a number of thumbs raised upwards, I saw here except during the real Grand Prix, when Schumacher, Alonso or Hamilton made circles of honor, returning after the hint of the checkered flag to the princely tribune to raise a big prize over his head! However, while the route for the May Grand Prix is \u200b\u200bonly built, in Monaco, you can only paint on R8 Spyder: enjoy the attention of the public. And in order to experience his high-speed opportunities, let's go to the Alpine Fourthies of the French Riviera.

Reproving body coupe in a convertible, Audi engineers tried not to simply avoid reducing the rigidity of the chassis on a twist, but also to achieve this with low blood with minimal weight gain. The task is not from simple rigid to the restructuring under the new regulation of the Formula 1 car. Spyder inherited from Coupe 70% of body parts. As for the remaining 30%, in order not to lose in the absence of the roof of the stiffness of the structure, it was necessary to strengthen the central tunnel and the rear partition, to expand the cross-section of the thresholds, the front and central racks, to be built into the floor an additional transverse beam and carrier aluminum panels to increase the transverse stiffness. At the case of the frontal collision, the doors have strengthened additional sections. All these modernization, of course, turned into an increase in weight, but not so solid, as it was possible to expect. Almost all overweight managed to compensate for the replacement of the aluminum roof of the coupe on the light of only 42 kg cloth top. As a result, the weight gain was only 6 kg: 216 against 210 at the coupe. Mizere, especially considering the concomitant reduction in the center of gravity.

As a result, neither in controllability, nor in the dynamics of a convertible on the iota is not inferior to the coupe. All R8 responses are so verified and accurate, and the four-wheel drive with such ease and calcality distributes 525 horses, which is not necessarily a rider in order to be controlled with a crazy 530 Nm of torque. Up to 100 km / h R8 Spyder accelerates only 0.2 with a slower coupe: in 4.1 seconds.

As for the KP, again, by analogy with the coupe, R8 Spyder is equipped with either the base 6-speed mechanics or a sequential R-Tronic with stealing petals and the Launch Control system. The same two variations and in the choice of suspension on dual A-shaped aluminum levers: standard Audi Magnetic Ride adaptive technology, configuring shock absorbers depending on road conditions and driving style and optional sports with traditional passive shock absorbers with two compression modes. In the mountains, the combination of mechanical checkpoint and sports suspension, of course, gives the driver much more emotions. But this toy is good for a week-other. From the point of view of the positioning of the R8 model range as a sports car for each day optimal, it is still the choice of version with R-Tronic and an adaptive suspension. Especially since, as the tests on the azure coast have shown, the Germans managed to significantly mitigate the gearbox, compared to what was at the premiere test drive of the coupe R8 V10 a year ago. Structurally R-Tronic remained the same, but the new software allowed to practically get rid of hard blows in the back at each switching.

In general, while saving a common style with a coupe, Spyder is by no means an exact copy of the older brother. Unlike the coupe, the convertible instead of the side slots acquired the classic air intakes in front of the rear wheels and longitudinal carbon fiberglass with transverse ribs on the sides of the engine compartment. Between the gills above the hood, a wide transverse ventilation nozzle is made, closing when driving, in order not to create an excess turbulence. Improving aerodynamics and increasing the clamping force When designing R8 Spyder, special attention was paid, since in relation to converts, the laminarness of the air flow that flows around the car, and the acoustic comfort is in a large extent. Everything is performed and calculated with true German pragmaticity. This is all the philosophy of R8 Spyder. Despite the red Italian genes, it is already far from Lambo. His color is white!


Chinese casket
Unlike most classmates, Audi R8 Spyder devoid of the usual safety arc that protects the head of the driver and the passenger when tipping over. However, this does not mean that in Audi donated security for the sake of improving aerodynamic characteristics. In the design of the R8 Spyder, an innovative self-acting security system is applied. In the septum separating the cockpit from the engine compartment, in addition to the folding top drive, two rigid spring-loaded aluminum sections for protection during turning are built. When the seat belt pretensioners or airbags are triggered, the magnetic switches automatically remove the lock. Regardless of each other, the section for 0.2 seconds are shot up and fixed in raised position rail locks, providing as reliable protection of the driver and passenger when tipping the car, like traditional external safety arcs.


Love not love
The corporate asymmetric steering wheel once again underlines the sporty character of Audi R8 Spyder. Sports

Microphones in safety belts allow you to talk on the phone and when moving with lowered top. Original


Driving
R8 Spyder delivers great driving pleasure.

Salon
When the roof is open from a stuffy womb, the Salon R8 Spyder turns into an air lock on wheels!

Comfort
The windshield perfectly shields the counter stream.

Security
At speeds available R8, absolute security is simply impossible.

Price
Russia has not yet been defined yet. In Germany, the price of R8 Spyder starts from 156,400, which is significantly cheaper than competitors.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Excellent aerodynamics, soft settings of robotic transmission, excellent dynamics.
- The resource of some nodes, in particular transmission, as in the coupe R8, is doubted.


Specifications
Brand and Model - Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro
Dimensions - 4434x1904x1244 mm
Engine - gasoline, 5204 cm3, 525 liters. s. / 8000 min-1
Transmission - Robotic, R-Tronic, 6-speed
Dynamics - MAX 313 km / h; 4.1 s to 100 km / h
Competitors - Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari California


Our opinion
A sports convertible for Russia for Russia, of course, a summer exotic, but in general, a very winning option. In aggression and manageability, it is not inferior to the coupe, but in terms of space and effectity even exceeds. Well, before the lack of roof in the winter in Russia on R8, you can hardly ride, even in the body coupe. Compared to competitors in its class, a fairly budget option.


Posted by: Vladimir Makkaveev



 

A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [May 2010]