IF you are the sort of person who is in the market for the new McLaren 570S Spider, then chances are you could also be persuaded to buy Audi's latest open air supercar instead.
Billed as the "fastest ever series-production Audi convertible", the R8 Spyder Plus - Audi prefers its spyder-with-a-y - comes with a wonderful naturally aspirated V10 engine, giving it cylinder-count bragging rights over the turbocharged V8 McLaren.
The Audi's 602bhp beats the McLaren's 562bhp power output, though its 413lb.ft trails the 570S's 443lb.ft.
It is almost identically fast - 0-62mph dispatched in 3.3 seconds, top speed 203mph - though its fabric roof takes 20 seconds to open or close, compared to the 15 seconds of the McLaren's folding hard-top.
The 'Plus' in the R8 V10 Plus Spyder's name denotes that it has a 69bhp power boost over the 'standard' R8 V10, making it the most powerful engine Audi has ever fitted to one of its road cars.
A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with quattro four-wheel-drive is your only transmission choice.
Other specification highlights include bucket seats, liberally applied carbon fibre-reinforced polymer components inside and out, ceramic brakes, an R8-specific Audi Virtual Cockpit digital dashboard and the option of an exclusive micrommata green paint finish - well, these aren't cars for shrinking violets, are they?
Prices start at £147,470.
