It’s been a yr since Audi constructed the ultimate R8. Though Lamborghini is changing the Huracan with the brand new Temerario, a twin from Ingolstadt hasn’t been formally introduced but. Nevertheless, a brand new report signifies that the 4 Rings wish to promote one other supercar. In contrast to the absolutely electrical PB18 E-Tron idea pictured under, the subsequent R8 will allegedly stick to a combustion engine.

In line with a contemporary report from Autocar, the R8 is anticipated to return by late 2027. The brand new flagship apperently has the stamp of approval from the corporate’s CEO Gernot Döllner. We’ve contacted Audi for a remark, and we’ll replace the story as soon as we hear again. Within the meantime, the rumor mill states that the next-generation mannequin might be a plug-in hybrid based mostly round a V-8 engine shared with the Temerario. No shock there.

Whereas the earlier R8s had been developed concomitantly with the Gallardo and Huracan, a brand new mannequin would arrive years after the Temerario. The newborn Lambo was an in-house effort, made attainable by the rising success of the raging bull, securing the funds to develop the brand new supercar by itself. In 2024, for the primary time ever, Lamborghini outsold Bentley, delivering 10,700 models, or 100 greater than the corporate headquartered in Crewe.

As soon as once more, the R8 might be simpler to dwell with than its Lamborghini twin, which can stay the extra hardcore variant. Nevertheless, Audi is seemingly utilizing an unreleased, hotter Temerario as the inspiration for the rebirth of its supercar, so it may launch an R8 Efficiency from day one. The usual Temerario already has 907 hp from its twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 and three electrical motors, so a four-digit horsepower isn’t out of the query.

The design is a lacking puzzle piece, contemplating the PB 18 E-Tron is already 5 years outdated. The idea was penned whereas Marc Lichte was nonetheless Head of Audi Design, however Massimo Frascella changed him in early 2024. The showcar was conceived strictly with an electrical drivetrain, so an intricate V-8 plug-in hybrid with a tri-motor setup would undoubtedly influence the automobile’s measurement and form.

Final August, Audi primarily backtracked from its plan to go purely electrical by 2033. CEO Gernot Döllner stated the corporate should stay “versatile” as a result of the adoption of EVs goes slower than estimated. A number of weeks in the past, the German enterprise newspaper Handelsblatt reported that Audi and Volkswagen had been desirous about investing more cash in combustion engines. A brand new R8 could possibly be among the many final new Audi fashions with ICE energy, together with the long-rumored Q9 three-row SUV.

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Bringing again the R8 does make sense – and that’s not simply the fanatic in us speaking. Lamborghini has already finished a lot of the heavy lifting whereas creating the Temerario. Given the electrified powertrain, stricter emissions rules wouldn’t be a trigger for concern. Economies of scale would enhance for the VW Group after investing all that cash into the all-new V-8 with its flat-plane crankshaft and 10,000 rpm redline.

If the R8 is certainly making a comeback, one query arises: Why didn’t Audi do that proper from the beginning? We are able to solely assume they’d greater fish to fry. Certain, the R8 wasn’t a large vendor, with simply 44,418 models delivered between 2007 and 2024. Nevertheless, its function was by no means to match the recognition of the A4 – it was meant to be a flagship, drawing folks into showrooms to purchase that A4.

Audi goals to maneuver upmarket, charging extra for fancier automobiles with nicer interiors whereas accepting the chance of promoting fewer automobiles. Reviving the R8 would align completely with this newly introduced technique.