This is the convertible version of Audi's mid-engine R8 supercar, spotted testing by Carparazzi's spy photographer team in a brazenly shameless display somewhere on a race circuit in Germany.

The images show that the convertible R8 is as audaciously sleek as the coupe, but introduces a few of its own individual styling elements.

These include further set-back side air intakes without the "blade" signature seen in the coupe, and some intriguing foldaway C-pillar action flanking what look like extractor vents at the base of the (in these pics opaque) rear window.

The R8 convertible grille in the car photographed employs a coarser mesh pattern than the coupe, and the outboard vents feature twin, rather than triple horizontal blades.¬¬

The boot lid, like the coupe, conceals a pop-up rear spoiler although the engine vents below each set of taillights feature two, rather than four horizontal blades on either side. And there are single, oval exhausts rather than dual round pipes as in the coupe. Carparazzi says uncontrollably drooling onlookers standing trackside claim the R8 convertible sounded more like a V10 than a V8.

That leads us to speculate that the five-litre twin turbo 426kW/650Nm RS6 V10 engine may already be testing in a toughened-up roofless R8 to create an RS variant -- which is what you are likely looking at here.

However the R8 convertible's base engine is expected to be the 4.2-litre 309kW/430Nm V8 used in the coupe, with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed auto transmission.

-- with Carparazzi

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