The 2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder finally has a price tag affixed to its convertible hotness, with the German automaker pricing it at $210,000 excluding taxes and a $1,200 destination charge.

The R8 GT Spyder will be available starting next month and features a 5.2L V10 engine with 522-hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. The exterior design is aggressive and benefits from a front splitter, rear diffuser and carbon fiber rear spoiler. The Spyder model also utilizes carbon fiber reinforced polymer body panels, a magnesium engine frame, a sport-tuned suspension and high-performance brakes.

Only 50 Audi R8 GT Spyders will be sold in America this year, so if you’ve been on the fence about getting it, now’s the time to act since you know the pricing.

GALLERY: Audi R8 GT Spyder

While a number of exotic and luxury car manufacturers are adopting smaller displacement motors and utilizing turbochargers to maintain or increase power levels while boosting fuel efficiency, Lamborghini has said it has no plans to adopt such a strategy at least for now.

Company Supremo Stephan Winkelmann declared that “for this decade I don’t see it happening in the super sport car business,” though he also said “I would caution against saying it could never happen.”

That said, with a revamped Gallardo due in a few years (a car the automaker expects to account for the bulk of orders), plus Audi already in the process of developing a second generation mid-engined R8 sister, which will likely feature smaller displacement turbocharged engines, there is still a possibility a turbocharged Lambo might eventually materialize. Though as  Winklemann was quick to point out “ any development along those lines must be consistent with the DNA of Lamborghini.”

[Source: Autocar]

It appears that people will be willing to turn any vehicle into a stretched limo these days. We already thought the Fiat 500 Limo was a little bit silly, but these stretched exotics really raise some eyebrows.

Carbonyte UK will be collaborating with Limo Broker out in the UK to create the world’s first, super-stretched Audi R8 V10. Limo Broker is already known for their stretched Ferrari 360 Modena limousine, that has produced its fair share of controversy on the Internet. We can’t even imagine what enthusiasts will think of the R8 V10 creation.

Limo Broker stated that work on the Audi R8 conversion has already started and they estimate that it’ll be completed by the summer of 2012. The limo will seat up to eight people in clearly race-inspired bucket seats and will still be powered by the stock 5.2L V10 engine with 528-hp.

Check out the videos from Limo Broker on their two stretched, exotic limos below.

GALLERY: LimoBroker Audi R8

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BMW has wavered back and forth since debuting its M1 Hommage Concept on whether or not a successor to the original M1 would ever come to fruition. And even after BMW announced that the M1 revival project had been tossed out the window, rumors continued to fly that BMW’s M-division would still build a supercar to rival Audi‘s R8, Mercedes-Benz‘s SLS and Lexus‘s LFA.

Now those rumors can officially come to rest after an interview by egmCarTech with Matt Russell, product manager for the North America’s M-division. “We’ve discussed these possibilities”, said Russell, “but ultimately, we didn’t feel the need to make a very exclusive high-end supercar and we still don’t. I already firmly believe that we produce supercars, except that they’re two in one: an executive car with supercar performance. They are the essence of BMW M-Cars.”

Russell even went further, stating that BMW’s current-generation M3 is  ”spot on with the Audi R8 V8 in terms of performance numbers like lateral G’s, braking and acceleration.”

We guess that’s true, but BMW still lacks a super car that can’t be seen everyday on the street. Truth be told, owning an M3 doesn’t exactly make you as unique as owning an R8. Nonetheless, BMW will focus on producing its electric i8 sports car, set to make its debut in 2014.

[Source: Left Lane News]

It’s hard to believe Audi was able to improve their highly successful R8 LMS GT3 race car, but they’ve just announced that the R8 LMS ultra will be launched in 2012, with deliveries starting in March. Current R8 LMS customers have won a combined 115 races and 12 national and international titles in just three years.

So where and how did Audi improve the R8 LMS for their ultra model? They started with new doors made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic and high-energy absorbing crash foams. There is also a new PS1 safety seat developed by Audi offering plenty of extra protection. The transmission was updated to provide additional longevity during endurance races.

To enhance an already impressive powerplant, Audi maximized the 5.2L V10 to 570-hp thanks to a new exhaust system with race-spec catalytic converters. The engine is still based on the production motor produced at Audi’s plant and customers have reported easily hitting over 12,000-miles on their motors with no issues.

For cooling enhancements, Audi gave the car a larger engine oil cooler, transmission fluid cooler, and an oil cooler for the steering hydraulics was relocated to the vehicle’s mid-section from the front of the previous car.

Front wheel widths have been upsized to 12-inch sizes instead of 11-inches (for a wider track) and as of next season Michelin will be offering wider tires to allow for more consistent lap times. Furthermore, aerodynamic improvements were made throughout the LMS ultra including a wider front hood, and a new front plate with optimized diffusion is under the front end.

The Audi R8 LMS ultra comes in at a hefty $446,890 plus VAT based on today’s conversion rates.

GALLERY: Audi R8 LMS Ultra

There’s something for everyone at Disney World – even exotic car enthusiasts. While your kids are having a blast on Space Mountain, you can tear up the Walt Disney World Speedway in a luxury supercar.

Launching this January (just in time for your winter vacation), the all-new Exotics Course at Walt Disney World Speedway lets you take out your ultimate dream supercar for a spin. The track is a hybrid design that takes a one-mile tri-oval backstretch and turn two that features a series of fast right and left hand turns inside of street-course style barriers. Drivers can test their driving skills in cars such as a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, a Porsche 911 and an Audi R8. An instructor also goes along for the ride with you.

Prices range from $99 to $389 for these six-lap Disney “Thrill Rides.” You can book your ride on the Exotics Course website. Would the Exotics Course at Disney World make you more likely to take the family there for a trip? Let us know in the comments section below.

Due out in 2014, the next generation Audi R8, will feature an aluminum and carbon fiber architecture in an effort to save weight and help the automaker meet increasingly stringent fuel economy targets.

According to Michael Dick, who heads up Audi’s development arm, the reason for going with a hybrid structure is not only to save weight but also reduce cost. Lamborghini, also part of the VW empire, currently uses a  complete carbon fiber monocoque for its new flagship super car, the Aventador, yet despite the advantages of strength and light weight, the cost of utilizing carbon fiber on a large scale, remains fairly prohibitive, especially on car designed to compete in a lower price segment, like the R8.

Combining both carbon fiber and aluminum seems like a good compromise, plus using both materials in the car’s construction will likely reduce the weight of the R8′s skeleton by some 45 lbs. Weight savings are also planned for the car’s suspension, driveline and bodywork, as Audi seeks to make the next R8 the lightest sports car in the segment.

Given that the rival Porsche 911 is currently some 350 lbs lighter, the folks at Ingolstadt still have a bit of work to do, though if the rumors of a R8 NF lightweight model are to be believed, it’s likely Audi should be able to meet the challenge.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Happening right now out in Cologne, Germany is Gamescom, the world’s largest trade fair and event for video games and entertainment. And with all the passionate automotive enthusiasts in Germany, it’s no surprise that Sony wanted to make a statement in their booth by teaming up with Audi to show off a whole new way to play Gran Turismo 5. Custom built by quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm, the PlayStation Racing Simulator that’s currently setup at the booth is a full-on carbon-black Audi R8 LMS imitation race car.

The cockpit features the same bucket seat that one would find in the GT3 car, while they’ve added an additional one for a passenger to spectate. The roll cage has been simplified to make it easier to get in and out of the simulator, but players get to hold onto an authentic race steering wheel that’s been hooked up to the PlayStation 3 and enjoys full Dolby Surround Sound as they power their way through twists and turns.

What puts it altogether though are the pneumatic cylinders located where the race car’s suspension would be. This allows the virtual racer to really feel the physics of driving while in the cockpit of the simulator. That means they feel every bit of the centrifugal forces while cornering, braking and accelerating. According to reports, it took Audi and Sony six weeks to assemble the entire unit, far longer than it takes to build a real car.

With Bugatti allowing its supercar Veyron to be ordered with virtually an infinite number of color combinations, it’s no surprise that other exotic car manufacturers are getting into the business of letting customers personalize their vehicles as well. Audi Exclusive is the newest addition to the bandwagon, allowing customers to choose their exterior color, side-blade color, and a bunch of unique interior trims and color combinations.

Most R8 owners will probably love the idea of being able to personalize the color combinations of the interior, from a variety of leather finishes and contrasting stitching shades. Take a look through the gallery below, of vehicles already built using the new Audi Exclusive program.

GALLERY: Audi Exclusive R8 Configurations

Audi beat out BMW and Mercedes-Benz at the 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium, running the legendary Spa-Francorchamps course in an R8 LMS.

The V10-engined R8 beat out 57 teams in the GT3 category, leading 22 out of the 24 hours. Audi Sport Team WRT took the lead as well as 4th place in cars #33 and #32, respectively. Its drivers consisted of two DTM champions Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider, as well as endurance racing veteran Greg Franchi.

By midnight, the top three cars were all Audis. But an hour later, the #99 R8 fielded by Marc Basseng, Christopher Haase and Frank Stippler slid off from a wet patch and retired. Its #98 teammate lost second gear in an accident and spent an hour getting a new transmission, but managed to claw its way back up from 36th to 14th—and with Mike Rockenfeller behind the wheel, it even managed the fastest race lap at 2m 20.286s.

The #32 car driven by Stéphane Ortelli made a spectacular comeback: after qualifying down in 41st, she drove to 2nd place within the first 90 minutes. After a penalty and a suspension swap sent it back to 42nd place, but skilled driving allowed it to finish fourth.

“This is without doubt the most important victory for the Audi R8 LMS and our still relatively young customer racing program,” said Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, the man in charge of Audi’s motorsport program. “After just a few hours we only had one iron still in the fire – but we won with this car. This shows our strong nerves and team spirit because everybody helped to take the win with the only remaining car.”