Test drive Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI V10 540 CV Quattro S-Tronic

First thing in the morning, cold weather. We go down to the garage and, as the door opens, we see something yellow that stands out among the other cars parked there. We approach and its slanted gaze greets us as the upper LED headlights switch on. The moment we get in and press a striking red button on the steering wheel, the fun begins. A deep, sporty roar fills the entire garage, which stays raised for several minutes until the engine warms up. The sound rumbles like drums before an epic event. And no wonder: today we are not testing just any car, today is not just any Monday morning, you could say Mondays look different from the seat of a Audi R8 Spyder.

The Highmotor test team has taken the wheel of the Audi R8 Spyder with its powerful 5.2 FSI V10 naturally aspirated engine producing 540 CV, horsepower that is nonetheless kept under control thanks to Quattro all-wheel drive.

Exterior design: sporty and timeless

The Audi R8, in both coupé and spyder versions, is not new to the market. It is true it was recently updated, but it was launched more than 10 years ago. Even so, it seems the years have not touched the Audi R8. With well-judged changes and updates, this sports car remains a real eye-catcher in terms of design. Its avant-garde lines, extremely aggressive and sporty, generate anticipation wherever it goes.

It is hardly surprising when we look at its front. The R8 Spyder is a very wide car with low height and a very aggressive nose. The headlights (which have been updated and on this unit feature LED Laser technology) also contribute to the sporty image, as do the huge grille and the large black air intakes below the headlights. Beneath the enormous bonnet lies the boot, which is of small capacity.

From the side, the two huge carbon-fibre air intakes and the distinctive straight-edged doors stand out. The 20-inch wheels on our unit are optional, measuring 245/30 R20 at the front and 305/30 R20 at the rear. The huge (and extremely effective) ceramic brakes do not go unnoticed either.

I would not know whether the R8 stands out more for its front or its rear, because seen from any angle it attracts attention, whether due to the enormous rear diffuser, the black air intakes just below the headlights or even the black fabric soft top, a true sign of elegance for this high-performance sports car.

Interior design: minimalist and driver-focused

Getting into the two seats of this sports car is quite simple, although both are set in a very low position – just a few cm from the floor. Access is relatively comfortable compared with other sports cars, and lets us sit down or get out without much fuss (though this detail will not matter at all when we have the chance to own an R8 Spyder for our garage).

Once seated behind the wheel, the first thing we notice is the comfort of the driving position. Everything is within reach, everything is oriented toward the driver, and a sporty steering wheel concentrates most of the buttons (as is typical in a high-performance sports car) in a very upright, extremely comfortable position. The seats have electric adjustment that even lets us regulate the lateral support of both the backrest and the seat cushion, so we can feel more relaxed or more snug during spirited driving, for example.

There is no screen. The dashboard design is minimalist, with all multimedia functions concentrated in the fully digital instrument cluster, which can also be controlled from the controls on the centre console, as in the rest of the four-ring models. At first it feels strange to operate the navigation or music through the Virtual Cockpit, but after the first few kilometres and days we get used to it and it even proves practical.

Quality is evident in every finish, from the carbon fibre present in some areas, such as the air vents, to the leather covering every part of the dashboard. The raised centre console adds to the sense of depth around the seats, without becoming uncomfortable.

There is not much space inside, but at least it has a generous glovebox and several places to leave our belongings, notably the recess in the centre console where we can leave a phone, with wireless charging, or other items. There is also a glovebox between the two seats that hides the CD player and two small compartments for small objects.

And the boot? Well, it is at the front, another unusual feature of this R8 Spyder. Whenever we want to store something in the boot, we have to open the huge bonnet (from the key or from a button on the door). That said, anything not too large will do: a cabin-size suitcase and a couple of jackets fit, so it is all a matter of being organised when loading the shopping in order to make the most of its 112 litres of capacity.

Engine and performance: 540 horses as radical as they are refined

I may be a nostalgic, but every time I have the chance to get behind the wheel of a large-displacement, naturally aspirated petrol engine, it is a real moment of worship. And this Audi R8 Spyder hides in its rear a powerful 5.2-litre, 10-cylinder engine that produces 540 CV, replacing the 4.2 FSI available in the previous generation.

As soon as we start it cold, the sound is deafening, the redline drops to 6,000 rpm, and as we pull out of the garage it becomes the centre of attention, with surprised faces as people see this R8 Spyder and hear the deep roar of the engine. After a few minutes it warms up and the sound returns to normal, and after only a few kilometres the tachometer’s redline also returns to its normal position near 8,500 rpm.

When driving calmly, the V10 is a marvel of smoothness, climbing up through the revs slowly and staying as low as its seven-speed S-Tronic automatic gearbox allows; sometimes, even at 50 km/h, it turns at 1,200 rpm.

And if we want to demand more performance, we only need to press the accelerator and enjoy the engine climbing almost endlessly. Around 4,000–5,000 rpm a more forceful push starts to be felt, and it literally takes off once it passes 7,000 rpm all the way to the cut-off, all accompanied by the brutal, deafening sound that comes from the rear of the car.

So the R8 Spyder can be a smooth, relaxed car, or press us literally into the seat depending on how hard we push the accelerator. In either case, none of those 540 CV is ever lost, thanks to the Quattro full-time all-wheel-drive system, which sends power to all four wheels with no loss at all. In fact, it is surprising that when using Launch Control (a launch control that allows maximum power from a standstill), not a single wheel shows any sign of spinning.

Its performance figures are breathtaking, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and a maximum torque of 540 Nm at 6,500 rpm, delivering its 540 CV at 7,800 rpm. Although even its 540 CV do not escape having a start-stop system, which surprised me in a high-performance sports car, but in the end, everything is done to meet consumption and emissions targets.

Handling: sportiness and precision

Unlike other German supercars, the Audi R8 Spyder comes with Quattro full-time all-wheel drive as standard across all versions, which is noticeable in its handling. This supercar has several driving modes: Auto, Comfort, Dynamic and Individual. In the last mode we can configure to our liking the various throttle response parameters, suspension stiffness, gearbox mode, steering weight or exhaust sound.

Additionally, the steering wheel has a control that lets us select “RACE” mode with three variants: Snow, Dry and Wet. This mode is only recommended on track, as it is the most radical and sporty setting. It partially disables stability control (to allow certain sporting liberties, though without leaving us completely exposed), puts the gearbox into sequential sport mode, and adjusts the car for a more aggressive and radical response to throttle and steering inputs.

On winding roads, aside from its dimensions, it has surgical precision in the line through corners, allowing us to take some bends at speeds that are impossible in other vehicles or that would compromise stability. The overriding sensation at the wheel is that of a go-kart: flat, rigid, stable and extremely precise (partly thanks to how direct its steering is and to the support of the all-wheel drive).

The braking system -ceramic on our unit- contributes to total and precise control of the car. The ability to brake late defies even the grip of the poor tyres, reaching speed quickly and slowing down almost just as fast. That said, when cold you need to get used to its feel.

However, our roads (at least in Galicia) are not prepared for a car like the R8, since its width and the poor condition of the asphalt on many of them will make you suffer. On the other hand, on an autobahn the Audi R8 Spyder is surely where it enjoys itself most, being especially stable at the high speeds typical of Germany or a track.

As for driving on both country roads and motorways, the fabric roof does not help the insulation to be fully comfortable. The same goes for the road surface: if it is well paved, comfort is high; otherwise, we quickly feel the road’s imperfections inside in the form of vibrations or noise, though this cannot be blamed on the Audi R8 Spyder.

And in the city? If you are willing to be the centre of attention, the Audi R8 Spyder can also behave like a refined gentleman, being very smooth when driving calmly around town. That said, the trend of placing speed bumps on every single road or town crossing makes such driving difficult, because it is a very low car. The same problem can arise on the slope into some car parks.

To close this section, I will talk about fuel consumption, although in a car of this type it is not a criterion to consider, nor something its buyers focus on. On the motorway the best figure I achieved was 10.5 litres per 100 km, while on country roads, depending on driving style, normal consumption ranged between 14 and 16 litres per 100 km. In a much more dynamic mode, so as not to lose focus or break the pleasure of driving, I preferred not to look at the consumption figure.

Equipment

Among the features of this R8 Spyder that caught our attention, the sound system designed by Bang & Olufsen stands out. It was designed specifically for this car, with a whopping 13 speakers and a total power of 550 W. It is true that the best way to enjoy it is the sound of the engine itself (for which there is a glass panel that can be opened just behind the seats, allowing more sound into the cabin), but I must admit that in all the years I have been testing sound systems, including from this same brand and other models Audi, none has come so close to perfection as the one fitted to the R8 Spyder, and it comes as standard.

As an option it had LED Laser headlights. Each headlight has four powerful, high-intensity laser diodes that produce white light with a long reach. Their range, power and beam quality are extraordinary. But once again we run into reality: on much of the roads where we tested them, the asphalt is not straight; there are changes in gradient and camber, so with lights this directional, some areas are not properly illuminated.

In terms of multimedia, the Audi R8 Spyder has no central screen, as is common in other vehicles. Everything is centred on the digital instrumentation, from which we can use navigation and the multimedia functions. A quirk in the first few days of use is that the reversing camera is also shown on the instrument display.

At first it is somewhat complicated to get used to using it, but after a few days it becomes easy and even intuitive, giving access to all kinds of information: oil temperature, gearbox oil temperature, coolant temperature, G-forces, a full on-board computer, lap timer, among many other functions.

Assessment and personal opinion

The Audi R8 Spyder is a special supercar. It is not just another car, nor is that its philosophy. It is designed to be enjoyed behind the wheel, so that we do not feel we are driving just another car, but something different. The go-kart feel at the wheel, its enormous traction and acceleration, the almost perfect driving position, or the fact that it does without superfluous elements (such as a central screen) means that from the moment we sit down until we get out of the R8 Spyder, we enjoy every minute.

On the other hand, after several days with it, I have also noticed that some details are more suited to German roads than ours. Is it usable day to day? Absolutely. In fact, that is another of its virtues: the ability to be an ordinary car, to behave smoothly and even enjoy short trips to fetch the newspaper or bread. Of course, if we want to truly enjoy it, we need a nearby autobahn or a track where we can see the full radicalness of this German. As for price, the Audi R8 Spyder costs over 200,000 euros, rising to 256,000 euros for the unit we tested.

Photos | Highmotor test team