| Week at the Wheel | Audi R8 V10 Spyder |

Having rocked the supercar establishment with the R8 coupé, Audi is following up with a drop-top version that pushes the brand even further into the upper echelons of supercar-dom. Ferrari, Porsche et al will be looking over their shoulders nervously.

Inside & Out:

There's no doubt that Audi had an eye on the convertible's appearance and competence when the coupé was penned but even so, in isolation the drop top R8's looks are spectacular and it manages to pull this off with the roof up or down. With the hood in place the R8 enjoys a more conventional profile. The cabin shares much with the coupé and is as good as you'd expect Audi to deliver in what is the most expensive car it has sold to date. It's spacious enough to be comfortable on a long haul but is snug and the excellent hood is well insulated against the elements and noise. It's a lovely place to spend time whether stuck in traffic or enjoying the performance on offer. An ingenious touch is the ability to drop the rear window to allow unobstructed aural delights from the V10 engine mounted behind.

Touch the button to fold the roof away (which can be done whilst on the move at low speed) and following the myriad of whirrs, hums and machinations it stows seamlessly into the rear deck. The resulting effect on the appearance of the R8 is dramatic and the design comes into its own. It's quite a big car and with no roof in place it looks lower, and wider, than ever. For visual impact there are few rivals on the road today. The pupil shrinking bright red hue of our test car no doubt added to the effect. Nothing, but nothing, has turned heads like the R8 Spyder in our experience.

Engine & Transmission:

When Audi bought in to Lamborghini few people would have expected it to produce its own supercar. Perhaps fewer still would have expected it to take what is essentially a mildly tweaked Gallardo engine and drop it into the Audi. The result is as sensational as one would expect and the 5.2-litre V10 is the focal point of the R8 Spyder. It's a masterpiece offering all the noise, power and excitement one could hope for. On turning the key the engine cranks for a little longer than expected before bursting into life and settling into an angry, spitting, burbling idle.

Engaging first and moving off is as simple as it would be in an Audi A3. There is no excessive weight or effort in the controls and it's a doddle to drive - once the car's dimensions, and the open gate manual 'shift, have become familiar. On the move the engine doles out its power in an almost linear sweep from 2,000rpm upwards and there is nothing scary in the way the 518bhp is deployed, the quattro driveline ensuring that none of those horses go to waste or become unruly in normal circumstances. This leaves the driver to enjoy the glorious range of noises being emitted and the driving pleasure on offer.

Performance is mighty with, 62mph despatched in around four seconds and 100mph being reeled off five seconds or so later. Beyond that point the V10 really begins to deliver and the R8 hunkers down and homes in on the horizon with relentless, effortless urge in a way that only cars with more than 500bhp can. On the flip side, the flexibility and manners of the engine mean that it dawdles in a fuss-free manner and cruises with aplomb.

Ride & Handling:

There are few chassis that can harness 518bhp as capably as the R8's. The traction afforded by the quattro driveline allows all of the power to be delivered with little fuss, even in wet conditions. Obviously, one has to give the throttle pedal some thought and respect but the car never threatens to bite, encouraging the driver to push on and explore the talents of the chassis. The balance is nicely neutral though Audi has set the chassis up to offer a rear drive feel and you can move the car around on the throttle. The brakes are as powerful as they look and the pedal inspires confidence, as well as being sited well for heel-and-toe shifts for gratuitous blips of the throttle on downshifts.

Overall, the convertible gives little away to the R8 coupé in rigidity and only when asked to grip hard, turn and absorb a rough surface simultaneously does the tiniest hint of flex reach the driver. It's hard to think of another supercar that is easier to drive than the R8. It brings to mind the confidence inspiring and friendly nature of a Honda NSX, but with much more performance. The only vaguely weak leak is the steering, which is direct but mute in terms of feedback to the driver and lacks the ultimate precision that allows a driver to form the intimate understanding and trust in the car that some enthusiasts demand.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Value for money is a loose term when talking about cars that cost £110k. Most buyers will own a stable of cars to which the R8 Spyder would make a wonderful addition. It looks incredible, exudes quality, is brilliantly engineered, and, thanks to the awesome engine, sounds wonderful and offers massive performance. In short, you can see where the money has gone and it makes rivals like the Porsche 911 look staid. For what it's worth, average economy is around the 18mpg mark with 25mpg available at a cruise.

Overall:

To come from nowhere in terms of heritage and experience to producing cars like the R8 Spyder is a stunning achievement. Yes, there are elements of the car that are perhaps too cold and clinical but the same could be said of some rivals and though it may lack a little in terms of emotion the R8 delivers what supercars should: noise, appearance, performance and thrills in spades and it does them all with the vital ingredient that is drama.