2022 Audi R8 Spyder

The 2022 R8 Spyder model will be available in two trims namely the V-10 Spyder and the V-10 Spyder Performance Quattro. Both the trims come with the same engine but the engine is calibrated separately for the Performance Quattro trim to produce much more power. Even the base trim now gets an additional 30-hp, making the deal even sweeter than before. The base trim comes in RWD configuration while the Performance Quattro trim comes with AWD configuration as standard. 

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It’s a no-brainer for us and must be for you as well. The base V-10 Spyder definitely makes more sense, as it provides most of the features of the top variant and also offers more power than its predecessor. It can save you $50,000 and you can buy some other car for your spouse for that amount of money. Even the base trim will get you many features like 20-inch alloy wheels, an adaptive suspension system, and an RWD configuration. The higher trim gets you higher performance, AWD configuration, ceramic brakes, and some carbon exterior bits for an excessively high price. You can also opt for a Sports Exhaust package or a Dynamic package to get close to the top trim. 

2022 Audi R8 Spyder Release Date 

Audi has not made any official announcement regarding the release date of the 2022 R8 Spyder. However, we expect the 2022 model to reach the showrooms by the fall of 2021. 

All sports cars are meant for fun and a thrilling drive experience. So fuel efficiency is never a matter of concern when considering them. But it surely doesn’t hurt comparing them on the basis of fuel efficiency. The 2022 Audi R8 Spyder is expected to deliver 13 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highways, and 17 mpg in combined driving conditions. With a fuel tank capacity of 21.1 gallons, you can expect about 295 miles in the city, 485 miles on the highways, and 358 miles in mixed driving conditions. 

* Expected

The Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder is the most powerful of the lot and is the least fuel-efficient as well. Surprisingly, the remaining three cars deliver the same fuel efficiency figures. However, the range will vary as they are equipped with different capacity fuel tanks. The Huracan Evo and Audi R8 Spyder share many things in common and both come with 21.1-gallon fuel tanks. However, the Audi R8 Spyder offers the maximum range and Huracan Evo delivers a much lesser range. The 911 Turbo is equipped with the smallest fuel tank and thus offers the least range in comparison.

The interior of the 2022 Audi R9 Spyder will boast many class-leading features. Just like the 2021 model, the 2022 model’s cabin will be a combination of modern features and high-quality materials. Audi claims that the Monoposto cockpit layout is like a single-seat layout and is designed by keeping the driver as the center of attention. The dashboard is laid out in an ergonomic manner with all the controls within easy reach of the driver. The shape of the a/c vents in the center is quite unusual but they don’t look out of place. Surprisingly, Audi has ditched the main infotainment screen and rather provided a Virtual Cockpit which is a combination of instrument console display and multimedia display into a single display. 

It provides many customization options for audio and navigation as well. The seats are comfortable and are trimmed in leather upholstery with diamond quilting. With the higher trim, you get Nappa leather upholstery as well. The seats are heated, power-adjustable, and provide decent legroom. The headroom is also good with the roof on and even taller passengers won’t face much problem. The cargo capacity of just 4.0 cu-ft might feel less but that’s a compromise you need to make in convertible cars. More or less most cars in the segment provide minuscule cargo capacity only. 

Except for the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, all the cars come in a two-seater configuration. Considering the cargo capacity, the Huracan Evo Spyder is the least practical car of the lot and the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is the most practical. It gets a combined frunk and trunk capacity of 13.8 cu-ft despite having a 2+2 seater configuration. The AMG GT C Roadster offers 5.8 cu-ft of cargo space which is just about okay in this segment. Some of the standout interior features are:

• Carbon sigma high-gloss inlays (V10 Performance Quattro)
• Monoposto cockpit layout 
• Audi Virtual cockpit 
• Leather upholstery with diamond quilting 
• Nappa leather upholstery (V10 Performance Quattro)
• Heated seats 
• Automatic climate control system 

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2022 R8 Spyder will be equipped with an intuitive MMI infotainment system. For the R8 series, Audi has skipped the main infotainment screen that we usually find on the center of the dashboard and instead provided a single 12.3-inch display in the instrument console itself which doubles itself as a multimedia screen as well. Obviously, it’s not the most favorable design but surely helps the driver to focus on one screen instead of two. 

A 5-speaker audio system is standard on both the trims and it can be upgraded to an optional 13-speaker Bang and Olufsen system with 550-watts of powerful and clear output. Most of the basic infotainment features like Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition are standard on it. It will also have access to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for seamless smartphone connectivity. Some of the standout infotainment features include:

• 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit 
• Steering mounted controls 
• Android Auto 
• Apple CarPlay 
• SiriusXM services 
• Audi Connect 
• Optional Bang and Olufsen sound system 
• Navigation 

The 2022 Audi R8 Spyder will not be short on visual drama. The front fascia will imbibe sleek laser LED headlights with inverted LED DRLs. The front hexagonal grille in the dark theme and air intakes in the bumper look aggressive and are functional as well in improving the overall aerodynamic efficiency. The side profile is sassy as well with side skirts and side blade air intakes that feed the eager engine with a sufficient amount of air. 

The rear profile is sharp as well with two LED taillights and a black mesh grille in the bumper. The dual circular exhaust tips, protruding through the rear bumper blend well with the overall design language of the car. Overall, the design is much better and sharper than its curvy predecessor and we like it very much 

Surprisingly, the Huracan Evo which is seen and considered as a low-slung car offers the maximum ground clearance in the comparison, followed by Audi R8 Spyder, Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet and AMG GT C Roadster. The AMG GT C Roadster is longer and wider as well while the Audi R8 Spyder sits on a longer wheelbase. The Huracan Evo is the lightest car here and thus can accelerate faster than its rivals. Some of the standout exterior features of the Audi R8 Spyder are:

• 20-inch alloy wheels 
• Power mirrors 
• Honeycomb grille 
• Dual circular exhaust tips 
• Carbon fiber accents (V10 Performance)

The Audi R8 Spyder might not be the safest option out there due to the lack of an adequate number of safety features. The NHTSA and IIHS had not tested the outgoing model and we don't expect the new model to be tested. However, going by the build quality that we usually find on Audi vehicles, we believe that the flagship model from Audi would definitely be good with a safety quotient, if not the best. Audi claims that the chassis of the car is made from aircraft-grade aluminum which is lighter and equally resistant to deformation as steel. Some basic features like airbags, anti-lock brakes, and vehicle stability control are available as standard. Some of the standout safety features are:

• Carbon-ceramic brakes (V10 Performance)
• Rearview Camera
• Automatic high beams 
• Automatic emergency braking

2022 Audi R8 Spyder V/S 2022 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

The Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is a formidable name in its segment owing to its lovable handling and peppy performance. It is powered by a smaller engine and performs better than the R8 Spyder both in terms of acceleration and handling.

It also offers better cargo capacity than the R8 Spyder and is lighter as well. The Audi R8 Spyder offers a more modern and tech-loaded cabin than the 911 Turbo Cabriolet and offers a higher travel range too. The V-10 also sounds lovely on the R8 Spyder and with the Sports Exhaust package, it is a clear winner. The base R8 Spyder is also priced lesser than the 911 Turbo Cabriolet. 

2022 Audi R8 Spyder V/S 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder

Both the cars are very similar to each other in terms of available tech and shared components. However, the Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder is lighter and offers much better performance than the R8 Spyder.

It is also much more powerful than the R8 Spyder and offers much better ground clearance. It also handles better but lacks adequate cargo space. It is also a very thirsty beast for sure and is much more expensive than the Performance Quattro trim of the R8 Spyder.

2022 Audi R8 Spyder V/S 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C Roadster 

The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C Roadster is a worthy car in many respects. It is equipped with a smaller engine than the R8 Spyder and performs very well. It is more expensive than the R8 Spyder and equally premium as it.

It offers better cargo capacity than the R8 Spyder and offers a better and longer list of safety features as standard which the Audi R8 Spyder can’t beat. Also, looks might be subjective but we think the tri-star just looks more menacing than the R8 Spyder. The AMG GT C Roadster is also better in terms of infotainment due to the availability of two separate display screens unlike the single one found in the Audi R8 Spyder. 

The Audi R8 Spyder can definitely be your prized possession and is certainly not for the average joe. It looks good, performs well, and offers the adrenaline rush that you might expect from a convertible sports car. However, the handling could have been better. Also, the cargo capacity is slightly on the lower side than the competition. The base model is quite appreciable in terms of pricing but the higher trim is exorbitantly priced and we expected a lower price tag. The list of safety features is also shorter than some of its competition and the infotainment system should have been equipped with dual screens rather than one. Overall, it's not a bad car and we won’t mind recommending it but some other cars make a stronger case for themselves.