For late 2010 or early 2011 Audi will make the R8 Spyder available with the 4.2-liter V-8, which has been updated to make an additional 10 hp, as a lower cost alternative to the 5.2-liter V-10. The R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI will be able to do zero-to-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 185 mph; 0.3 seconds and 2 mph slower, respectfully, than the base R8 Coupe. Like the rest of the R8 lineup, the Spyder 4.2 FSI comes with a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system and can be ordered with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automated single-clutch transmission Audi dubs “R tronic.”

The R8 first appeared to superlative reviews in 2008 with the 4.2-liter V-8. The one objection that most people had was with the slightly underpowered V-8 engine. Audi tried to resolve this issue via a Lamborghini-derived V-10 engine; optional for the coupe and standard for the spyder. Complaints then moved from its power to its rapidly increasing sticker price. It seems Audi is now trying to put this new criticism to rest by offering its base engine in its more-expensive spyder model.

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