Audi’s A1 Pocket-Rocket

All-New 2017 Audi R8 Spyder

No need to wait for an official release on Audi’s next generation R8 Spyder as seen totally undisguised out on the streets of Germany.

 

Just like the previous R8 Spyder, the new model employs a good old-fashioned canvas roof that neatly tucks away behind the passenger compartment and under a retractable panel above the engine, which itself, has a very similar design to the outgoing model with twin vented buttresses on either side.

Audi also transferred the engine vent from the top of the trunk lid on the coupe to in-between the tail lights on the Spyder, but the rest of the car, including the interior, remains unchanged.

 

The new R8 coupe lost 66kg (145 pounds) over the older car, so we expect similar savings on the Spyder.

 

The gloss black exterior trimmings, including the side blades and exhausts, along with the additional buttons on the steering wheel inside, confirm that this model is the ‘Plus’, which is powered by a 610PS (602hp) and 560Nm (413lb.ft) version of the 5.2-liter V10 mill.

 

There will also be a base R8 Spyder V10 fitted with the same engine de-tuned to 540PS (533hp) and 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) of torque, with both V10s to be combined exclusively to a 7-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission driving all-four wheels.

 

Many reports have also emerged on the development of an entry-level version for the R8 series fitted with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine instead of a larger V8, mainly to satisfy demand for smaller displacement engines in China, and which should be offered in the Spyder as well.

 

We could see the new model making its world premiere as early as this month at the New York Auto Show.

Audi’s TT Factory in Hungary

The new Audi TT and TTS coupes are manufactured at Audi Hungaria Motor, the subsidiary of the German automaker that also assembles the very popular Audi A3 Sedan.

The Audi TT is the smallest and lightest car so far built on the MQB modular platform and three different versions are available at the moment, a 2-litre diesel with 184 PS, a 2-litre base petrol with 230 PS and available with quattro all-wheel drive or a 310 PS flagship TTS model.

Over half a million units of the previous two TT generations have been built and sold. The German company believes that the technology and performance on offer could make the third generation an even more successful car.

The first TT was assembled in 1998, its replacement arriving in 2006. We firmly believe that at least one more engine and a convertible version of the Mk3 two-door will be available within a year.

“The new generation of the Audi TT is the third model that Audi is completely producing in the new car plant at our site in Hungary,” stated Gerd Walker, Automobile Production Director at Audi Hungaria. “The successful model integration on the new production line is an important activity for the GyQr production site: This means that the plant is now operating at full capacity.”

Audi’s introduced the original TT with a comprehensive launch programme putting fashion forward with a stylish coupe that neatly summed up the design direction the company was headed in.

TT has evolved considerably since then.

The third-generation TT, replacing the original twice over with ever-more performance-focused features.

In November 2014, the plant in Hungary celebrated its 500,000th TT.

In October 2015, the Audi factory in Gyor receive 104 million euros of investment,

Of that figure, 19 million euros will come directly from the Hungarian government while Audi itself will be responsible for providing the rest of the funding.

As part of the investment, the plant will be expanded and 380 new jobs are expected to be created. As it stands, the facility produces the Audi A3 sedan, A3 cabriolet, TT coupe and TT roadster as well as a number of Volkswagen Group engines.

 

It remains to be seen if any additional Audi models will be produced at the factory as part of the expansion but there’s certainly a possibility it will soon begin producing the third Audi TT variant, expected to be a crossover or four-door sport-back model.