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The top is suitable without reConvertible top and body

The top of the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro is made of cloth - an Audi classic and an uncompromising solution for a high-performance sports car. The soft top's approximate weight is a mere 42 kilograms (92.59 lb); it thus keeps the vehicle's total weight and center of gravity low. When closed it melds perfectly into the design line - it ends in two elegant, narrow fins that extend toward the rear and have a contour similar to that of the Coupé hard top. The fins make it possible to pull the material back tightly.

The top comprises an outer skin of a leakproof textile fabric. A headliner covers the frame, large portions of which are made of die-cast magnesium and aluminum. The soft top is entirely suitable for high-speed driving and acoustically very comfortable. When driving at 130 km/h (80.78 mph) with the top up, the wind noise level in the Audi R8 Spyder are barely higher than in the Coupé, and at high speeds it is lower than in any of the competitor's cars.

The soft top has a straight electrohydraulic motor that is quieter and lighter than the electrohydraulics typically used. The pump mounted on the underbody of the Audi R8 Spyder operates with a pressure of 120 bar.

A system of actuating cylinders, hinges and hooks opens and closes the top in 19 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The procedure is initiated either by the key in the door lock or by the switch on the center tunnel. For reasons of safety, the button must be held when the vehicle is at rest, but a brief push of the button is all it takes to open the top at speeds of 6 km/h (3.73 mph) or above.

When opening the top, the windows first slide down, then the fins of the soft top turn upward. The large cover of the storage compartment, secured to two seven-link hinges, moves upward and in a curve to the rear. The soft top folds together in the shape of a Z and comes to rest as a three-layer, flat package in its compartment above the V10 engine. Finally, the cover closes again, first up front and then in the back.

The heated glass rear window, which is separate from the cloth top, is lowered into the bulkhead behind the seats. It can be raised and lowered via a separate switch, independent of the position of the top. When the soft top is open, it only rises 15 centimeters (5.91 in) - ideal for damping turbulence. It can also be nice to lower the window when the top is closed. When the sun is hot, lowering the window improves interior ventilation without causing unpleasant drafts.

A bag in the luggage compartment of the Audi R8 Spyder contains a wind deflector with a solid frame. It can be snapped into its mountings on the bulkhead in just two steps. The wind deflector keeps the interior nearly free of drafts at speeds of up to around 200 km/h (124.27 mph).

Total safety: rollover protection

In addition to a large portion of the drive system for the top, two strong, spring-loaded aluminum sections that serve as rollover protection are also integrated into the bulkhead. The instant a belt tensioner or airbag deploys, magnetic switches release the interlocks and the sections shoot upward independently of one another within 0.20 seconds and catching rails lock them in place.

Head/thorax side bags in the backrests protect the passengers in the event of a side impact. Full-size airbags stand at the ready in the event of a head-on collision. In a rear-end collision, the integral Audi head restraint system reduces the risk of whiplash injuries.

The top with its drive system, the storage compartment, the cover and the rollover protection system forms a premounted assembly. It is installed in the vehicle during its craft-scale manufacture at Audi's Neckarsulm site, where the Audi R8 Spyder is built. The module gives the ASF body additional rigidity, thus contributing to the dynamic handling, the greater passive safety and the supreme vibrational comfort on board.

Ultra lightweight: the ASF body

The aluminum body of the Audi R8 Spyder is top in its segment when it comes to lightweight quality - the relationship between weight, size and torsional rigidity. The body in white is comprised of three wrought components: Extruded aluminum sections comprise 75 percent; vacuum-cast nodes 8 percent; and the aluminum panels that are integrated into this skeleton with friction connections make up 17 percent. The panels are made of alloys that cure under heat - they attain their final hardness during the painting process, which includes drying in the oven.

Audi drew on its comprehensive expertise for the construction of the body. The ASF structure integrates a semi-supporting engine frame made of ultra lightweight magnesium. The floor tunnel is reinforced with custom, particularly lightweight tailored blanks.

The thickness of the individual panels varies as needed. They are joined by means of friction stir welding - a new method characterized by outstanding tightness, high dimensional accuracy and minimal distortion.

The body of the Spyder shares roughly 70 percent of its parts with the body of the Coupé. Critical areas - such as the center tunnel and the bulkhead - have been specially reinforced to be more rigid. The A and B-pillars and the sills have thicker sections; a crossbeam and aluminum plates that act as thrust plates are integrated into the central region of the floor. An aluminum panel is also attached to its underside, which further improves lateral rigidity. Additional sections in the doors serve as load paths in the event of a frontal collision.

Despite all of these reinforcements, the body tips the scales at a mere 216 kilograms (476.20 lb), just six kilograms (13.23 lb) more than the Coupé. Equipped with a manual transmission, the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro weighs only 1,720 kilograms (3,791.95 lb) and just five kilograms (11.02 lb) more in the R tronic version.

The side panels and the large cover of the top storage compartment also contribute to this positive value. They are made of carbon fiber composite produced using a new method. In addition to being faster and more energy-efficient than conventional production in an autoclave, resin transfer molding (RTM) also yields superior surface quality. Fiber-reinforced plastic is used for the engine compartment cover and the rear spoiler; thermoplastics are used for the bumpers.

Much of the body is lovingly built by hand at the Neckarsulm plant. The front end, the central floor and the rear end are assembled separately from one another. After they are joined to form the substructure, the pillars and the large metal panels - primarily the roof, the side walls, the doors and the cover panels - are added. Highly qualified employees make the weld seams, which total 107 meters (351.05 ft) in length. 814 self-piercing rivets and 188 automatically placed, self-tapping screws join the structural panels with the ASF skeleton.

The work is characterized by the utmost precision. A fully-automatic measuring system checks the dimensional accustriction for high-speed driving and is quiet. With the standard electrohydraulic motor, the top opens and closes within 19 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The heated glass window is integrated separately into the bulkhead and can be raised and lowered via a switch with the soft top up or down. Audi also provides a wind deflector that can be installed in just two steps.

The bulkhead includes integrated rollover protection in the form of two pretensioned plates. The aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) body of the Audi R8 Spyder is reinforced at important locations, yet it tips the scales at a mere 216 kilograms (476.20 lb) - just six kilograms (13.23 lb) more than the Coupé. Equipped with a manual transmission, the high-performance sports car weighs only 1,720 kilograms (3,791.95 lb).

Prodigious power: the drivetrain

The new top-of-the-range Audi offers incredible performance. The free-breathing V10 with the aluminum crankcase features direct gasoline injection. The 12.5:1 compression ratio that the FSI concept enables contributes to the high performance and good efficiency. Dry sump lubrication, another motorsport technology, ensures the reliable supply of oil even at the maximum lateral and longitudinal acceleration.

The 5.2-liter engine produces 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm and 368 kW (525 hp) at 8,000 rpm. Its specific power output is 100.9 hp per liter of displacement; each hp only needs to move 3.3 kilograms (7.28 lb) of weight. The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h (194.49 mph). The engine offers amazing thrust and hangs tenaciously on the throttle in every situation accompanied by that unmistakable ten-cylinder Audi sound.

Audi offers the R tronic sequential six-speed transmission as an option. This has a fully automatic and a manual mode, in which the driver can change gears in an instant using paddles on the steering wheel. Launch Control manages engagement of the clutch for maximum acceleration. The rear-biased quattro permanent all-wheel drive system transfers power to the road with supreme ease. Together with the locking differential on the rear axle, it provides significantly greater traction, stability, cornering speed and precision.

Motorsport technology can also be found in the chassis of the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. There are double triangular wishbones made of aluminum at all four wheels, and the hydraulic rack-and-pinion power steering conveys highly-precise road feel. The standard suspension includes the high-end Audi magnetic ride technology, in which the shock absorbers adjust their response to the road conditions and the driver's style within milliseconds. A sports suspension with conventional shock absorbers is available as an option.

The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro rolls on 19-inch wheels shod up front with 235/35 tires and 295/30 tires in the rear. The four brake discs are internally ventilated and perforated, and are gripped by a total of 24 calipers. Optionally available from Audi are large carbon fiber-ceramic discs that are lightweight, robust and long-lived. The ESP stabilization system has a Sport mode and can also be completely deactivated.

Comfortable: interior, equipment and trim

The open-top two-seater features a generously spacious interior. The ring of the leather-wrapped, multifunction sports steering wheel is flattened at the bottom, and the power seats guide and support the body perfectly. Quality of fit and finish is extraordinary; the controls are clear and logical; and the driver information system includes a lap timer. The rear bulkhead includes a storage compartment with three bins, and the luggage compartment at the front of the car can hold 100 liters (3.53 cubic ft) of luggage.

Equipment highlights include an excellent sound system from Bang & Olufsen, deluxe automatic air conditioning and heated seats. The leather seat coverings are specially pigmented to reduce heating as a result of the sun's rays. The standard navigation plus system with MMI control logic features impressively high resolution and fast route calculation.

Also included standard in the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro are the LED headlights - light-emitting diodes are used for the low beams, the high beams, the daytime running lights and the turn signals. The LED headlights not only look like technological works of art, they also offer substantial practical advantages with their excellent light distribution, long service life and extremely low energy consumption.

Among the exclusive optional equipment available for the new Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro is the innovative seatbelt microphone for the hands-free unit, which makes it possible to make telephone calls even with the top down on the highway. Integrated into each of the two belts are three small microphones; a fourth is mounted on the windshield frame. Audi will begin selling the open two-seater in Germany in the next few days at a base price of 156,400 euros