Audi R8 GT Spyder (2011) first official pictures

Get 3 issues of CAR magazine for £1 - click here Guten Tag to this week's new Audi, the R8 GT Spyder. Audi continues its niche-filling ways, now offering natural air conditioning and enhanced UV exposure to drivers of its high-performance R8 GT coupe.

The original R8 GT launched in 2010 as a special edition lightweight R8 V10, and only 333 were produced. The R8 GT Spyder picks up the GT's stripped-out theme, offering an 85kg weight saving over the standard R8 V10 Spyder.  Carbonfibre engine cover, bumpers and spoilers account for 5.5kgs of weight saved over the standard Spyder, but a hefty 31.5kg of the weight saving came from switching the standard chairs for lightweight racing buckets. The remainder of the weight-loss came from lighter components in the powertrain and interior.

The 5.2-litre V10 produces 552bhp in the R8 GT Spyder, up from 518bhp in the standard V10 soft-top. Acceleration drops accordingly, with a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds (down from 4.1sec). You will have to suffer the single-clutch S-Tronic gearbox though, which comes standard on the R8 GT.

Inside, you get an interior swathed in black alcantara, but if dead cow is your interior trim of choice then nappa leather is on the options list. It wouldn't be a lightweight special without carbonfibre interior trim, which circles the driver's area. Carbon fibre bucket seats and matte carbon trim are on the options list.

Call your audi dealer quickly, but be warned: The R8 GT Spyder is once again limited to 333 units, and there are only 66 right-hand drive UK editions available. UK prices have yet to be announced but the base price in Germany comes out to at a steep £184,300. But that's OK - Georg Kacher rates the manual V10 coupe as the pick of the R8 range, and those are a comparative bargain at £109,900.

By Mark Hamilton