A dream car in a dream setting
First ride with the new Audi R8 Spyder
The tour of your dreams becomes reality: in late-September, a small team of the Audi driving experience sets off toward South Tyrol, exploring a fabulous route through one of Europe’s most beautiful regions in the new Audi R8 Spyder.
The aim is that customers will be able to enjoy the breathtaking dynamics of the new sports car for a whole three days against the unique backdrop of the Dolomites, which were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009. The journey starts in Munich; Rottach-Egern is the first station on the route. In the Seehotel Überfahrt, with 15 Gault Millau points to its name, Christian Jürgens conjures up an Italian menu for the participants. Duly refreshed, the journey from Austria continues towards South Tyrol over the Jaufen Pass – a route which the Audi R8 Spyder takes in its stride. In the heart of South Tyrol between the Ötztal Alps and the Sarntal Alps the mountain pass at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres is the perfect place to enjoy the sound and power of the V10 engine. The Hotel Arosea Life Balance provides visitors with overnight accommodation once they arrive at St. Walburg, their final destination for the day. The Stauder family welcomes guests in their designer and nature hotel, which offers everyone the opportunity to recharge their batteries in an ambience that is as environmentally friendly as it is luxurious.
On day 2, the Audi customers enjoy an extravagant Alpine panorama on a loop past Bolzano over the Sella Pass, the Grödner Pass and the Pordoi Pass. Cruising with the 540-hp mid-engine sports car becomes a pleasure on the narrow mountain roads. The Audi R8 Spyder impressively conveys its intensive roadster feeling on some 120 kilometres to the midday stop-off point: The suspension ensures perfect roadholding while passengers can enjoy an open-air experience with the hood down. Landscape, topography and nature inundate the two-seater cockpit of the high-performance model with first-hand impressions. All of which leaves you wanting more after the next culinary stop. In Wolkenstein in the Val Gardena the Mussner family welcomes the Audi tour team to a typical southern Tyrolean lunch. The Mountain Lodge Hotel Chalet Gerard offers Ladin comfort in four-star quality. Mother Helga has prepared typical southern Tyrolean specialities. The route via Eppan along the South Tyrolean Wine Road back to the Val d’Ultimo to the Hotel Arosea conjures up automotive emotions, which round off the evening with sporty lightness.
The return trip on the third and last day once again combines undiluted Alpine pleasure with robust sports car driving pleasure: past Meran, the tour heads toward the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road. Covering 30 kilometres along the route the teams tackle an altitude difference of almost 1,800 metres, including the last 800 metres with winding roads on the steep mountain slope. The Audi R8 Spyder is entirely in its element. Soon the drivers leave the Italian border behind them and make for the Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Seefeld. Head chef Mario Döring serves the guests Austrian delicacies for lunch. On the remaining 170 kilometres to Munich, it is time to bid farewell to the performance athlete with the Four Rings.
On day 2, the Audi customers enjoy an extravagant Alpine panorama on a loop past Bolzano over the Sella Pass, the Grödner Pass and the Pordoi Pass. Cruising with the 540-hp mid-engine sports car becomes a pleasure on the narrow mountain roads. The Audi R8 Spyder impressively conveys its intensive roadster feeling on some 120 kilometres to the midday stop-off point: The suspension ensures perfect roadholding while passengers can enjoy an open-air experience with the hood down. Landscape, topography and nature inundate the two-seater cockpit of the high-performance model with first-hand impressions. All of which leaves you wanting more after the next culinary stop. In Wolkenstein in the Val Gardena the Mussner family welcomes the Audi tour team to a typical southern Tyrolean lunch. The Mountain Lodge Hotel Chalet Gerard offers Ladin comfort in four-star quality. Mother Helga has prepared typical southern Tyrolean specialities. The route via Eppan along the South Tyrolean Wine Road back to the Val d’Ultimo to the Hotel Arosea conjures up automotive emotions, which round off the evening with sporty lightness.
The return trip on the third and last day once again combines undiluted Alpine pleasure with robust sports car driving pleasure: past Meran, the tour heads toward the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road. Covering 30 kilometres along the route the teams tackle an altitude difference of almost 1,800 metres, including the last 800 metres with winding roads on the steep mountain slope. The Audi R8 Spyder is entirely in its element. Soon the drivers leave the Italian border behind them and make for the Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Seefeld. Head chef Mario Döring serves the guests Austrian delicacies for lunch. On the remaining 170 kilometres to Munich, it is time to bid farewell to the performance athlete with the Four Rings.
Fuel consumption/emissions figures:
- Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro: Fuel consumption in l/100 km: urban 17,0; extra-urban 8,7; combined 11,7; CO₂-emissions in g/km: combined 277; efficiency rating: G/EU6
