Audi News: Rumorpile: Audi R8 To Be Killed Off

[William Maley]

According to a new report from Automobile, the Audi R8 supercar will not have a third-generation model. The report says the R8 is a slow seller and Audi has decided it wouldn't be worth the money to develop a new one. The model will depart in 2020 when the replacement for the Lamborghini Huracán arrives - the R8 shares the same platform and engine.

Audi has pulled the plug on a successor to the R8 e-tron and a supercar project known as Scorpion. The latter project would have used a V8 that would be made up of four 1.2L Ducati motorcycle engines.

At least other performance projects seem to be on track. The upcoming RS4 and RS5 will use a new 2.9L twin-turbo V6 producing 450 horsepower. This engine is almost nearing its power ceiling as Automobile says the maximum power it can achieve is 470. There is the possibility of a plug-in hybrid powertrain using this engine along with an 85 kW electric motor to produce even more power - although, there are no scheduled plans to add this to either model.

The next-generation RS6 and RS7 will retain the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 found in the current models.

On top of Audi's RS offerings will be the RS Q8 due in 2020. Basically a coupe-styled version of the Q7, the RS version will use the same 4.0L twin-turbo V8 found in the upcoming Lamborghini Urus that produces 641 horsepower.

Source: Automobile

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[balthazar]

Half of Audi's lineup are "slow sellers"- wonder if other models are also under consideration for getting chopped?

[Drew Dowdell]

1 hour ago, balthazar said:

Half of Audi's lineup are "slow sellers"- wonder if other models are also under consideration for getting chopped?

That may be true in the US, but we're fast becoming a secondary market to China.  Just because a particular car sells poorly here doesn't mean it does in China. Buick sells more Regals in China than they sell of all Buicks in the US.

[balthazar]

I'm realize that but - the cost of importing, certifying, marketing, stocking parts & servicing a unique model that sells 250 units/month has got to be a net loss. My comment was not so much meant globally, but on a per market basis.

Edited December 23, 2017 by balthazar

[David]

I think an R8 will come back but as an EV model in the distant future.

[Drew Dowdell]

On 12/22/2017 at 9:14 PM, dfelt said:

I think an R8 will come back but as an EV model in the distant future.

Probably not

[balthazar]

"The air's electric, sparking power,
loaded, loaded."

~ Dave's favorite song, he sings it all day long.

[ocnblu]

9 hours ago, balthazar said:

"The air's electric, sparking power,
loaded, loaded."

~ Dave's favorite song, he sings it all day long.

Needle's stuck. 

[Drew Dowdell]

2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Needle's stuck. 

[oldshurst442]

I dint know how to feel about this. I liked the 1st gen a lot. The 2nd gen not so much but I still thought highly of it. Its a shame for it to go away. 

At least the RS6 with V8 motorvation is a thing. 

[Robert Hall]

They will probably bring the name back on a high performance CUV...(a version of the upcoming Q8, maybe?)