Audi's R8 GT Spyder is its first model to top $200,000.
Start saving your change but don’t wait too long. Audi says it plans to import only 50 copies of the hand-built R8 GT Spyder convertibles later this month.
The most exclusive version of what is already Audi’s top-line model, the topless supercar will carry a sticker price of $210,000, making it the German maker’s most expensive offering to date. And that’s before you add on $1,200 for the destination charges and as much as $3,000 more for gas-guzzler taxes.
By comparison, that’s a $38,000 premium over the current Audi R8 Spyder.
For the money, the 5.2-liter R8 V-10 gets bumped up to 560 horsepower, enough to launch the GT Spyder from 0 to 60 in just 3.8 seconds – also making it the quickest Audi ever – with a top speed of 197 mph.
The Audi R8 GT Spyder can hit 60 in 3.8 seconds and tops out at 197 mph.
The Lamborghini-derived engine pumps power out to all four wheels.
To maximize performance, Audi take a number of steps to slash 187 pounds of weight compared to the standard R8 Spyder – including the use of a light magnesium engine cradle, while a number of panels, including the rear spoiler, are made of carbon fiber.
Meanwhile, to improve aerodynamics and balance, the R8 GT Spyder is lowered by 10 millimeters, while the suspension is also stiffened.
To remind you what you’re driving, if neck-snapping launches aren’t enough, each of the 333 units Audi plans to build will have a custom production number etched into the gearshift.
Distinguishing features include an oversized front diffuser, front splitter and fixed rear spoiler. The Audi R8 GT Spyder features a distinctive black interior and a track-ready, flat-bottom steering wheel.
Other standard features include 19-inch wheels, carbon fiber exterior mirrors and interior trim, special aluminum door sills, R8 GT badging and Alcantra-trimmed sports seats, as well as LED headlamps and a navigation system.