The current Audi R8 , launched in 2015, still has many years of life ahead of it — a restyling is expected that should bring as a novelty a V6 Turbo as an access engine, to complement the pair of existing V10s. However, after this, there should be no more Audi R8.
This is what we can infer from the statements made by Peter Mertens, the brand's research and development director, in statements to Car and Driver, during the Geneva Motor Show.
Mertens says the Audi R8 "has a long life (ahead) and is behaving well." But he himself says that there are no plans to replace him, adding, however, that “never say never; performance cars are very good for Audi.”
It's understandable. The money needed to invest in a new generation of models has never meant as much dispersion as it does now. Not only do they have to continue to invest in conventional automobiles equipped with an internal combustion engine, but a new generation of plug-in hybrid and electric models requires huge funds.
New V6 will have little effect on your destiny
The Audi R8, despite being unanimously considered an excellent machine at all levels, has always had an image problem when paired with its more established rivals. This despite sharing a lot of components with the “brother” Lamborghini Huracán — platform floor, rear bulkhead, V10 and transmission — which could improve the perception that potential customers have of the model.The arrival of the V6 will guarantee a lower access price, which will be unparalleled by the Lamborghini, but will do little to change the fate of the R8. And, moreover, Audi itself has in the TT RS a model with performances similar to those of the R8 V6, thanks to the five-cylinder in-line turbo and 400 hp.
High performance is to remain in the brand
For performance buffs and even without the R8, Mertens guarantees that we will continue to see high-performance versions of all the brand's models, regardless of the type of engine.
The three concepts have a future. There will be high-performance vehicles with the very traditional combustion engine, pure electric (with batteries) and our sister brand Porsche has already demonstrated with its plug-in hybrids that the combination of the two (combustion and electric) is also an answer fantastic.