For the brand, the Audi R8 is a pivotal vehicle in its history. It altered how people thought of Audi. It also demonstrated that they were capable of being cool, quick, and goal-oriented. The V10 R8 is now officially being announced as the last of its kind.
We announced a few weeks ago that the R8’s next version would be an all-electric vehicle. Contrary to many other theories, Audi made such statement today. By 2023, production should be finished.
Audi RS’s head of communications, Sebastian Grams, confirmed it to Top Gear “Audi RS adheres to the main Audi company’s all-electric driving philosophy. With our S and RS versions, this is the plan. If we were to create a brand-new category of super sports automobile, it would be electric. It adheres to our plan and our goal for a world powered entirely by electricity.
That not only makes it very evident that there won’t be another V10 R8, but it also raises the possibility of another possibility. Remember that he said, “If we construct.” Therefore, there appears to be a likelihood that Audi won’t replace the R8 in any way.
Of fact, the RS e-tron GT is already capable of keeping up given how quickly electric vehicles are developing. Later in the decade, Audi might decide to bring back the badge. That would allow the company time to devise a distinctive strategy for standing out.
We do know that Lamborghini won’t play a significant role in it, though. Despite the fact that they have always used similar components to create both the R8 and the Huracan, they are now obviously diverging.
According to their CEO, Lamborghini does intend to produce an all-electric vehicle by 2027 or 2028, but it won’t be a great sports car. Additionally, Grams made it clear that Audi will not be developing a hypercar in the vein of a Rimac any time soon.
“If you construct a lightweight vehicle, you won’t require 2,000 horsepower to enjoy yourself on the road. Even on the track, physics will always place a cap on your ability to perform. For instance, it makes no difference if you have 2,500 horsepower or 2,000 horsepower.
That’s a really good point that emphasizes how drastically the automotive landscape is shifting due to electrification. We eagerly anticipate learning the final shape of the new R8.
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What caused the Audi R8 to be retired?
Audi may release an electric R8 with a slew of fresh and contemporary features.
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Due to the German luxury automaker’s push toward electrification, Audi, a division of the Volkswagen Group, is thinking of dropping the Audi R8 and TT vehicles from its lineup. Hildegard Wortmann, worldwide head of sales at Audi, said as much in a Top Gear interview.
Will Audi produce the 2023 R8?
The magnificent naturally aspirated 10-cylinder supercar’s illustrious run ends with the 2023 Audi R8, and its farewell is probably marked with a special-edition model.
Audi plans to produce the R8 in 2022.
However, the R8’s engine doesn’t receive any fancy turbocharging or supercharging. It does, however, have the robust, visceral engine noises that Audi promises. The mid-engine, naturally aspirated V10, which the C8 Corvettes receive instead of the mid-engine, 6.2-liter V8, naturally aspirated LT2, is part of what we like to call the R8’s “American-inspired essence.”
The 5.2-liter FSI engine in the 2022 Audi R8 V10 performance RWD cranks out 562 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. It has a top speed of 204 mph and speeds from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds. A 7-speed DSG automatic transmission that has been somewhat modified for use with RWD is mated to the 5.2-liter V10.
Along with the Lamborghini Huracan, it is a visceral V10 engine that works hard. The V10 was revved to its maximum redline of 8700 rpm while the sound testing was being conducted in a motorway tunnel on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. This engine is one of the unique features of the R8 performance RWD, since Audi is considering replacing the V10 FSI engine used in the R8 and its Huracan Italian sibling with a hybrid. The R8 Performance RWD emits a very different sonic quality from the continuously shrill Lamborghini Huracn at lower revs, remaining muffled like in prior R8s.
What will take the R8’s place?
“Audi RS adopts the primary Audi company’s fully electric plan. With our S and RS versions, this is the plan. If we were to create a brand-new category of super sports automobile, it would be electric. It adheres to our plan and our goal for a world powered entirely by electricity.
You now have it. If Audi produces a successor to the R8and all indications point to the company’s firm intention to do sothat wonderful 5.2-liter V10 will have to bid e-motors farewell and welcome. The R8 is completely going “e-tron.”
Sebastian Grams, the CEO of Audi RS, has announced that information. It’s the first time he’s publicly stated the upcoming R8 won’t have a hybrid or smaller engine. People, it’s certainly batteries. It’s anticipated to arrive in the middle of this decade.
Is this a sign that the new “R8” will change from one of the more reasonably priced, lower-powered supercars to a $1 million+, 2,000bhp hypercar like the Lotus Evjia and Rimac Nevera? Fortunately, it doesn’t.
Will the R8 be updated?
“I can only say that we intend to take additional action. On this generation of the R8 platform, additional [cars] will undoubtedly be produced in the future. Additionally, as you can see from the R8 with rear-wheel drive, we’re attempting to move the concept of “fun-to-drive” forward “Top Gear heard from Grams.
“We are working to extend the [car’s] life cycle as much as possible. People are currently appreciating the R8, and sales are high. But I can assure you that we have sufficient plans for the future.”
Top Gear was informed by insiders at Audi that the R8 GT moniker may return for the updated model. The first-generation R8 GT was a high-performance V10 vehicle with a restricted production that had more horsepower, a fixed rear wing, and significant weight savings. It utilized Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system from the first generation. When questioned about whether the automobile would have AWD or the now-possible rear-wheel drive system, Grams reportedly grinned but declined to respond.
According to the rumor, Audi would introduce the new R8 sometime in the fall of 2022 and continue to produce it through the R8’s final year, 2023. Remain tuned.
Audi R8: A supercar or not?
A supercar from a fading breed, the Audi R8. The normally aspirated engine is dwindling in popularity as automakers equip their vehicles with turbochargers to fulfill ever-stricter pollution goals. The R8 is a beautiful farewell in some ways. The 5.2-liter V10 is the car’s main attraction, but the R8 is much more than just a large engine.
If you can live with the running costs, it’s as practical as an Audi TT for daily driving, and it’s easier to operate than other superminis. It boasts a lot of traction and grip because to the quattro four-wheel drive, but unlike many fast Audis, it’s also fun to drive on the racetrack. The V10 is quick and agile, and it has a powerful punch and an exhilarating soundscape.
The Audi R8 uses electricity.
Linda Kurz, the head of product at Audi Sport, recently told CNET Roadshow that the battery-powered electric drivetrain will replace the petrol engine in the R8 supercar’s replacement.
Kurz added that the challenge for Audi over the next ten years will be to “transform the R segment, and a large part of that transformation will entail moving the company’s performance arm into the pure-electric segment to compete with established automakers as well as new EV brands like Tesla and Rimac.
With the most recent introduction of the e-tron GT, Audi Sport has already started down this performance electric vehicle route. The 637bhp of the RS-badged variant makes it the most potent Audi to ever go into mass production. The performance limits of an all-electric R8 should be further pushed.
The corporation will speed up its electrification swiftly as well. The firm has previously stated that by 2024, 50% of its performance vehicles will be electrified in some way, and by 2026, that percentage might reach up to 80%.
Whether the R8 supercar will receive a new generation or if Audi will drop the brand in favor of something better suited to an EV engine is yet unknown.
However, it would make sense for the company to change its logo in order for Audi to maintain its branding “the e-tron insignia on its latest all-electric model. Since it would be challenging to modify the R8’s platform to accommodate a pure-electric motor, we anticipate the new supercar would also be a brand-new design, making the likelihood of a new nameplate even higher.
The 611bhp, V10-powered R8 will continue to hold the halo position in Audi’s lineup for the time being, but the company has already begun making preparations for its retirement. In just two years, it will be removed from showrooms to make room for the company’s electrification charge.
With an electrified R8, Audi previously tested the waters. The R8 e-tron, a battery-powered version of the second-generation R8, which produced 455 horsepower and 920 pound-feet of torque, was previewed by the firm in 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was discontinued after just one year and 100 sales, primarily as a result of its absurdly high beginning price but also because Audi didn’t do a great job of marketing the vehicle.
Is a Lamborghini quicker than an Audi R8?
But you can see how great the Aventador Roadster is by simply looking at the table directly above. The performance parameters of the V12 engine in the Lamborghini Aventador series are simply beyond the capabilities of the Audi R8 Spyder, despite its valiant efforts. Starting in the first row, where we can observe an incredible advantage of 198 horsepower, this is made quite evident. Even though the torque is only 109 pound-feet, it is still quite a bit.
Is buying a R8 worth it?
As you can see, each Audi R8 owner has a unique story, but they all have one thing in common: the Audi R8 is among the best entry-level exotic automobiles you can purchase right now and NOT lose money.
You need look no further than the first-generation Audi R8 if you don’t want the high ownership expenses of a Ferrari or the flashiness of a Lamborghini but still want a daily-driveable exotic car (with the performance to back it up).
Refer to our Audi R8 buyer’s guide if you want to know everything there is to know about the vehicle.
Check out more of our students to discover more of our students who have successfully hacked their first exotic car.
I hope the actual owners’ first-hand knowledge of the globe helps you in your search for your very own Audi R8.