Despite plenty of rumors the next-generation Audi R8 will go
electric, there may be a group inside the German brand that's fighting for
another V-10.
That group includes Audi Sport boss Oliver Hoffman. The man
in charge of Audi Sport told Autocar in
a report published Friday there's a desire to see the V-10 return for a
third-generation R8. "We are fighting for the V-10," he said
explicitly.
Audi board member for technical development, Hans-Joachim
Rothenpieler, is another champion of the V-10. Rothenpieler previously
said it was his mission
to convince his colleagues the R8 (and TT) must go on, but said
electrification is the best shot at keeping both sports cars around. Since
then, we know Audi
will have a successor to the TT, but it will be electric. The R8's future,
however, isn't yet determined.
Another report from British magazine Car said
internal development on an R8 successor, supposedly called the e-Tron
GTR, will be all-electric and make 650 horsepower. According to the
magazine's information, the electric sports car will sit on Porsche's J1
platform, which underpins the upcoming Taycan. Reportedly, the e-Tron GTR will
take over the R8's halo-car duties in 2022.
Yet, with Audi Sport internally arguing for another V-10,
this is all subject to change. Hoffman said the V-10 has a good shot since
fellow VW Group division, Lamborghini, plans
to keep the V-10 around for the Huracán successor. However, the
powerplant likely will be electrified—a long-standing diktat from VW Group
higher-ups. Hoffman added Audi is closely working with Lamborghini, which could
see the next V-10 ported to a third-generation R8.
by Sean Szymkowski
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