Audi R8 V8 Spyder in Newport Beach

A white 2015 Audi R8 (Type 42) 4.2 FSI Quattro V8 Spyder driving on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Newport Beach.

I love the first-generation R8. It may not be as powerful or aggressive-looking as its successor, but it's definitely more original and more cohesive with the big spaceship-like slotted vents appearing in both front and back. Interestingly, for the convertible variant Audi ditched the coupe's signature side blades, probably the car's most distinguishable (and somewhat controversial) feature and one which had already become so widely accepted that similar designs began appearing on custom builds of other cars. The result is a much cleaner side profile, although some may consider it bland when parked next to a bladed R8 coupe. Either way, it's a sexy and reasonably practical mid-engined supercar that still looks as good today as it did when new.

Do you think Audi should have incorporated the R8 coupe's signature side blades into the Spyder? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!