Audi R8 Spider news - R8 Spider vs Iron Man - 2009

This is the Audi R8 Spider, spied on location for the Iron Man sequel. The grainy pictures were taken during filming, leaked onto the interweb, then posted in a classified ad on pistonheads.com by an official Audi dealership fishing for deposits on the car.

Looks like the Spider gets a folding soft top, as expected, rather than a removable targa panel or anything fancy like that. The pics are a bit fuzzy so we can't make out what the sideblade looks like in drop-top guise, but at least we do know the 4.2-litre V8 will remain and performance should be about the same as the coupe's.
 
There's no official word from Audi HQ on timings or prices. But if you're interested, give Stafford Audi a call. They're asking £105,000 for it. At least, that's what the ad said before it was removed...

Oh, and while we're on the subject of Audi drop tops, prices have been released for the new S5 cabrio. It will be available in October in full-fat 328bhp, supercharged V6 form (unlike the S5 coupe that still has a V8) for £42,245.

For that you get a dual-clutch S-tronic box as standard, as well as the latest Quattro 4WD system, which now has an optional, active diff between the rear wheels - sending more torque to the outside wheel when cornering, helping sling you through the bend.

If all that's got you in the mood for some fast Audis, why not watch Jeremy and an R8 take on Richard in a 911?