Nuerburgring, Germany - Spy shots of a convertible version of Audi's R8 super sports car that is expected to be launched at next year's Frankfurt Motor Show have been revealed.

The shots published by Germany's auto-motor-sport magazine show a convertible with matt, black paintwork and vinyl roof during a test run on the Nuerburgring racetrack.

The car is expected to go on sale in the first half of 2010 but it remains unclear whether it will called Spyder or Targa, the magazine reported.

Nuerburgring, Germany - Fiat has revived the Abarth name for its tuning division and the car maker is mooting plans to release several new sports models under the label after the sales launch of the tuned Fiat 500 and Grande Punto Abarth.

Speaking at the launch of the two models at the Nuerburgring race track in Germany, a Fiat spokesman said cars such as the 1951 Coupe Abarth had plenty of charm but that new sports cars would have to be economically viable.

There have been several reports that Fiat is negotiating with Lotus to use the aluminium chassis of the Elise generation to build a small light convertible with a Fiat engine.