For those captivated by the allure of open-top vehicles, this is turning out to be one heck of a week.
First Mercedes-Benz unleashed its SLS Roadster and then VW showed its Golf R Cabriolet Concept. Now it seems that the VW Group was just whetting our appetite for what you see here…
Feast your eyes on Audi's answer to the SLS we've just mentioned. The R8 GT Spyder now brings the performance and weight saving perks of the GT into an open top format for the first time.
Like its tin-top sibling, the GT Spyder is powered by a 5.2-litre V10 FSI monster mill that pushes 412kW (up from the standard V10's 386kW) and 540Nm of twist at 6500rpm.
A glut of weight-saving measures (extending as far as the transmission, wheels, brakes and sports bucket seats) ensure that this one weighs 85kg less than the normal V10 Spyder, although it's still 115kg heavier than the tin-top GT.
Still, with just 1640kg to haul, the V10 is able to blast the GT Spyder from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds, according to Audi, and on to a top end of 317km/h.
Power is sent to all four wheels via Audi's six-speed R tronic dual-clutch gearbox, said to be capable of swapping cogs in just one tenth of a second at high revs.
Sitting atop the supercar's chassis is a mostly-hand-assembled 'Audi Space Frame' body that's made up of cast nodes, extruded sections and aluminium panels.
Weather protection is via a lightweight fabric soft top, which can open or close in 19 seconds at the push of a button and at speeds of up to 50km/h.
This one's going to be exclusive too. As with the R8 GT launched last year, Audi will only make 333 examples of the GT Spyder, each car tagged with an individual number on the gear lever knob.
Other cabin highlights include a black colour scheme, a choice of crimson or titanium gray stitching and Alcantara upholstery that also extends to the steering wheel and windshield frame.