Reviewed: Audi R8 Spyder

Audi came roaring into the supercar market recently, brandishing their R8 Spyder to challenge all those who stood against them. Have they prevailed in the market, or is the R8 Spyder doomed for a dusty showroom? Alternative Route investigates the workings of the R8 in this review.

Sporty

This beast comes loaded with two engines guzzling petrol. The first is a 4.2 V8 or, if you fancy more power, a 5.2 V10. If you’re going with the V8, you’re still going to get some extreme speed, boasting a 0-60 in less than five seconds. The V10 is what makes this a monster though, the pull as you press the pedal is incredible, no matter what rev you’re on. 

With all that boom from the engines, you’d think that Spyder has some handling issues – wrong. The chassis matches with the power impeccably, the four-wheel drive Quattro ensures this and the suspension has clearly been meticulously thought through – corners are not a concern for the R8…oh, it’s incredibly comfortable too.

The engines sound like a battle-cry from the Gods. Treat them rough and you’ll get the most out of its voice, melting into the background at speed and, somehow, practically no vibration from the mechanical inner-workings. The Spyder, in our opinion, has no rivals even coming in close to its expertly crafted refinement.

Behind the Wheel

Quality does not suffer any negative views either. The fit and finish of the interior are typical of Audis careful, well-planned nature. No cheap materials, no rattling or dodgy fixings – the R8 is top notch in all honesty, a king of comfort, utter-luxury and comfort. The dials and controls are fairly similar to anyone who has sat in any Audi before, the thrones are low-slung for optimal driving position whilst being able to reach everything at an arms reach. Sporty details have been added, Carbonfibre door pulls, aluminium detailing, flat-bottom steering wheel…it’s got it all.

At a glance...

You’d expect some tech in this, and you’re going to get it. As standard you’ll receive air conditioning, full leather interior, alloy-wheels, a very cool retractable rear-spoiler, sat nav, electric seats…the list goes on.

What’s the dent in your wallet? That’s the big questions. Baring in mind this is a rare, bespoke car – so you’re going to be shelling out. If you opt for lesser Spyder, you’re looking at £96,000, for the big daddy you’re going in at a pocket-burning £117,000 – still fancy it? This is a monster, and monsters are not often kind to the earth, producing a staggering 337 g/km of CO2 – don’t drive this at a Greenpeace rally.

I’m amazed at how Audi have come into the big-boy market so strong, getting practically everything right. Reviews have been almost wholly positive, a rare-treat for any manufacturers. 

Fantastical driven, expertly crafted and built for those who really do love their driving. 

Written by the team at Alternative Route Finance

Reviewed: Maserati GranTurismo Sport

Maserati – one of the prestigious vehicle makers who, regretfully, never really seem to be able to hit the benchmark set by the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin and so on. Much like Alfa Romeo, Maserati have a gleaming past now drabbed in cobwebs – but have the Italian manufacturer bridged the gap of that glorious past which we are all so often frequently reminded of?


The Maserati GranTurismo Sport rolls in to replace both the GranTurismo S and S Automatic – so now there is just sport model sitting firmly in the middle of the base model and the GranTurismo MC. This one arrives in North American show rooms first, so America gets to marvel at its beauty before us Europeans, who will enjoy salivating at the body-work at some point in September.

Stunning Design

The GranTurismo Sport has been made with power and speed in mind, actually beating its more expensive MC Brethren on a lot of test, which leaves us scratching our heads as to why it’s quite a bit cheaper to buy. The MC produces 444 raging horses, whilst the Sport comes kitted with 453bhp.

So what’s the damage to your wallet? This Maserati comes in at a resounding $130,000 – which means it’s easily within my price range…honest.

On the outside the GTS adopts the same presence the MC, sleek, powerful and quick. The biggest changes come with the front-headlights and front airflow vents, with full-LED daytime running lights (becoming ever popular ever since the DS3) and adaptive light control to bath curves with light up to 15 degrees of steering angle to the wheel. A new front splitter has been fitted to increase aerodynamics and effectively drive more air into the compound metal break disc for cooling purposes. Other less noticeable, but still attractive features, are the more pronounced side-skirts and the darker-tinted tail lamps.

The GTS also receives it’s very own, unique colour – in what the Italians are calling ‘Blu Sofisticato’ – you can order the break callipers in the same colour…if you can pronounce it. You’re probably trying now! The ever-popular Maserati Trident gets a gorgeous red-highlight around it on the front grille, portraying a sense of prestige and a tradition within the company for marking only its most powerful models.

The Thrones

Heading inside now, you’ll find yourself sitting on new front power seats with integrated headrests and side bolsters to keep you firmly in place should The Stig within us all wish to make a sudden appearance. These are a welcome upgrade, as the previous seats never really seemed quite up to the mark. The entire drivers side of the GTS is ideal for the car, rear knee room is increased too thanks to the concave front seats.

Now for the engine, and my oh my – what have we got here? Roaring in with a massive 4.7LV8, producing 384 pound-feet of torque which peaks at a very cool 4,750 RPM utilising a shared multi-injection system. Phwoar…let’s all calm down for a second.

That Engine.

A new cornering dynamics system has also been set in place thanks to a two-millimetre, thicker rear stabiliser bar which joins up effortless with a next-gen ‘Sports Skyhook’ suspension with double wish-bone structures at all corners of the car. The standard 20inch Pirelli tyres give it an extra bit of finesse too, lifting, dropping and turning masterfully.

This really is a turning point for Maserati. We hope that, with this new monster of a supercar, that the Trident will gleam once again and today’s luxury buyer will see the excitement and expertise that Maserati has put into building the GT Sport.

Written by Alternative Route Finance