Audi R8 Spyder V8 4.2 FSI quattro 2dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
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List Price: £96,625
Tax Band: M
Insurance Group: 50
MPG: 19.6
CO2: 337
0-62 Mph: 4.8 secs
BHP: 424 BHP
Range: 345 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4.5/5
A striking and boldly designed supercar, the Audi R8 Spyder V8 FSI Quattro is an extravagant vehicle designed for those with deep pockets. A large purchase price is combined with expensive running costs but for this cost owners get plenty of power and one of the most stunning looking supercars on the market.

PROS:  A fast and easy to drive supercar, this model sounds and looks great on the road.

CONS:  Unsurprisingly expensive. Thirsty.

Behind the Wheel

The top speed is an impressive 186 mph and while this is something you're not likely to achieve if you value your licence, it is a strong indicator of the car's performance credentials. Acceleration is also impressive with the R8 reaching 62mph in just 4.8 seconds.

Response from the steering is high and this means that the 424 bhp produced by the V8 engine is controlled and accessible. The four wheel drive provides firm grip on the road and this allows steering to be easy and fluid, with the car reacting quickly. The R8 is not a difficult car to drive despite its performance figures.

Looks & Equipment

Let's not beat around the bush - the R8 looks fantastic. The low slung body and wide, supercar haunches means that the R8 is certain to turn heads.

The Audi R8 Spyder V8 FSI Quattro offers a number of great standard features but upgrading to something more luxurious means owners will need to fork out additional cash. For example, those wanting cruise control, a built-in sat nav and rear parking sensors will need to pay £220, £1,840 and £640 respectively.

Standard equipment remains fairly impressive however and includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, a metallic paint finish, leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity and an advanced stereo system with CD player and MP3 connectivity.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The interior cabin is well arranged and this means that controlling different functions is easy.

Practicality was clearly not a prority for Audi's designers and the boot space is severely limited. With a capacity of just 100 litres there is enough space to store a few choice pieces of luggage but not much more.

Safety kit includes driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard and there is also an alarm and immobiliser fitted to protect it from theft. A three year warranty is also provided for 60,000 miles and a service is recommended every 9,000-19,000 miles.

Value for Money

At £96,595, you're going to have to be pretty well-heeled to afford this car. Running costs are also high with the car falling into the highest insurance bracket (50) and the highest road tax band (M) as excessive carbon emissions of 337g/km and poor fuel efficiency make it expensive to keep on the road.

However, if you've got 96 grand to spend on a supercar, a piffling tax bill is not going to colour your decision and if you choose to buy the R8, you'll end up with a superb car.

Audi R8 Spyder V8 4.2 FSI quattro 2dr Car Review - by 
All Audi R8 Reviews
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Audi R8 Spyder V8 4.2 FSI quattro 2dr - March 2012
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