Audi r8 spyder 2020. 2020 Audi R8 Spyder first drive review: A familiar thrill 2019-11-27

2020 Audi R8 Spyder first drive review: A familiar thrill

No other engine sounds as sweet as a naturally aspirated V10 at full wail, and I cannot applaud Audi enough for keeping this drama alive in the R8 -- especially since I find some of the company's other sporty engines a little too buttoned-up for their own good looking at you,. I'll also never forgive Audi for discontinuing the manual transmission with the gated shifter, even if the S-Tronic is a quicker cog-swapper than I'll ever be. Freshly facelifted for 2020, the drop-top Spyder version looks sexier than ever. Internal storage is similarly scant - a small tray for your phone and wallet in the center stack, and two mid-sized cupholders between the front seats. It might not be as slidey as the finest rear-wheel-drive exotics, or as communicative as them either, but for sheer experience, the R8 is something special. Every version of the 2020 R8 can reach speeds above 200 mph, and in its quickest spec, Audi's supercar accelerates to 60 mph in just 3. Shave 1 mph from each in the convertible versions.

2020 Audi R8 Spyder Review, Trims, Specs and Price

But lest we forget, supercars have seldom played host to the most advanced safety features, which is why you won't find advanced collision avoidance systems and semi-autonomous functionality here. But in truth, it's a different beast entirely, one that points towards the future when the R8's V10 engine arguably points to the past. Around back, massive exhaust tips replace the more discreet design of last year's car, while the honeycomb air outlets now span the full width of the rump. Through and through, the 2020 R8 is a top performer overall, even though similarly priced cars have more power, more hybrid tech, or lower acceleration times. But it took Audi's acquisition of Lamborghini for the world to see a new supercar that could be used on a daily basis, and in 2006, the Audi R8 was born. That's where the R8 Spyder cashes in wholesale, with an auditory soundtrack alone good enough to make you sign the cheque. Safety tech and features will be detailed by Audi when the car goes on sale, sometime later this year.

2020 Audi R8 Spyder first drive review: A familiar thrill

Performance updates are similarly sparse. The is as exciting as it's ever been. See your dealer for details. In the hotter V10 Performance model -- formerly called V10 Plus -- that engine produces the same 602 hp and 413 lb-ft as before. The performance also bags an assortment of carbon fiber exterior trim, optional on the base model.

2020 Audi R8 Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos

Based on Audi's latest teaser, we won't have to wait long for that. Thankfully, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters allow you to choose your own adventure, with some of the quickest upshifts available in any car anywhere. Sure, there was the - more sports car than a supercar, but functional nonetheless - and even Ferrari started making its new cars approachable after the turn of the millennium. The perks of the virtual cockpit system include the fact that there aren't any traditional infotainment screens interfering with the delicate lines of the R8 Spyder's dash. Provided you can find a runway long enough, even the base R8 will hit 201 mph and the R8 V10 Performance tops out at 205 mph. Virtual Cockpit tech still manages the infotainment system, and beautifully at that. But truthfully, there was nothing wrong with the old model, so aside from a sharp new suit available in two new hues of Kemora Gray and on performance models, Ascari Blue Metallic, there's not much that differs.

2020 Audi R8 Spyder first drive review: A familiar thrill

This year, the R8 is updated and offers a special-edition model to celebrate its V-10 heritage before the engine is likely wiped from the planet forever. That's what it was built to do, with a twin-turbo V6 developing 565 hp three more than the base Audi and 467 lb-ft, and a trick all-wheel-drive system that seems to defy the laws of physics - and indeed, it'll run from 0-60 mph some 0. It's still early days for the facelifted R8 Spyder, but at the time of writing, no recalls have been issued for it. See your dealer for details. The pre-facelift models weren't without fault, however, with a number of recalls issued from problems including frontal airbags rupturing and leaks from the transmission fluid vent hoses.

2020 Audi R8 Spyder Review, Trims, Specs and Price

As Audi's halo car, one expects certain levels of tech and features in something like the R8 Spyder. It boasts world-class infotainment with full smartphone connectivity, and at the end of the day, it's got enough storage for basic shopping runs. See your dealer for details. With uncertainty surrounding the V10 at its heart, there's no better time than now to savor what could be the last ever V10 supercar. If you want a razor-sharp race, buy a 488 Pista, but if you understand that in the real world, you don't slide around every corner with the ass hanging out at 40 degrees, then the all-wheel precision and modicum of understeer in the R8 Spyder will appeal to your sensible side. The R8 makes a better everyday companion, and for sheer noise, it can't be beaten.

2020 Audi R8 Reviews

Big performance brakes, advanced stability control systems, and a sum total of six airbags dual front, front side, and front knee airbags keep occupants safe, but a park assist system and a rearview camera are all the driver aids you've got at your disposal. But considering this generation of R8's been around since 2015, it's probably time for a more significant update. All R8s will be equipped with leather seats, 20-inch wheels, a 12. More than this, the visibility is great, the R8 shrinks around the driver, and it feels approachable, making any old rich kid feel like Iron Man. And that's perfectly fine with me. Power gets sent to all four corners via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and Audi's signature quattro permanent all-wheel-drive, sending the open-top bruiser from 0-60 mph in 3. Inside, the R8 is mostly identical to the 2018 version the last year the R8 was available in the U.

2020 Audi R8 Spyder Review, Trims, Specs and Price

Audi says base coupes and convertibles sprint to 60 mph in 3. I'm trying to watch my carbon emissions. The 7-speed automatic doles out shifts in fractions of a second, the gated manual shifter of yesteryear is sadly gone. Let's hope the R8's past the early teething issues. The i8 Roadster is substantially less potent than the R8, with only 369 hp generated between its electric motors and 1. Some folks might miss the adjustability of adaptive suspension geometry, but if the car is set up nicely from the get-go, why complicate matters? Sure, the extra numbers look great on paper, but the moment you selected the soft-top over the coupe you immediately confirmed you cared more about style than outright pace. See your dealer for details.

2020 Audi R8 Spyder first drive review: A familiar thrill

Plus, with no central multimedia screen, the dashboard is blissfully uncluttered. The look is positively menacing, enhanced only in Decennium coupes that are only sold in metallic black shades. All-wheel drive means you're never stranded in rainy weather, and the impeccable visibility and adaptive magnetic suspension mean the R8 Spyder is usable on a daily basis with minimal compromise. More than an , , , or even a , the R8 really feels like the sort of car you could run errands in on a Monday after driving the doors off it on a Sunday. But taken as a whole, the 2020 styling tweaks actually make the car look worse than before, though make no mistake, it's still an R8, and therefore a total knockout looker.

2020 Audi R8 Spyder Review, Trims, Specs and Price

In fact, I'm not so sure many of the changes -- specifically, the visual ones -- actually improve matters. After a one-year hiatus for 2019, the fresh-faced R8 Spyder is back and looking better than ever. The simplicity of a convertible mid-engined supercar is that no one buys one for mundane things like practicality and gas mileage - it's all about the experience. Up front, the reworked fascia has a few more angles and air intakes than before, though the little fangs that flank the sides are nonfunctional, so they're really just styling for styling's sake. Simply, it made the supercar approachable. That big V10 is nestled right behind your ears, and the louder it gets, the harder you'll push the throttle.