Photo: Audi | Instagram
Audi is bidding farewell to the R8 supercar with "something special planned." "It’s the R8’s Last Lap," they say, posting teaser photos on Instagram. That last lap comes after the model spent 17 years on the market.
The Audi R8 debuted as a concept car in 2003 and entered production in 2006 as a mid-engine two-seater sports car with quattro all-wheel drive and aluminum monocoque. It shared many of its underpinnings with the Lamborghini Gallardo. It was light, it was aerodynamic, it was powerful. It was first powered by Audi's 4.2-liter V8 before the company rolled out the example with the 5.2-liter V10. The coupe was followed two years later by the Spyder version, with the GT arriving in 2011.
The second generation dropped in 2015 and brought with it the R8 e-tron. It did enter production, but Audi limited production to a 100-unit run that would only be sold in Europe. Two electric motors generated 456 horsepower (462 PS) and 678 lb-ft (919 Nm) of torque. Energy was stored in a 92-kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack that would provide it with 280 miles (450 kilometers) of range. The car did 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in 3.9 seconds and could hit a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph).
The R8 e-tron was probably Audi's way of testing the market. Now, with the future of the supercar uncertain, the German carmaker is most likely working on a special final edition of the R8, which will make its debut next week. But we can't tell if it is a final edition before the name tag is completely dropped from the lineup or the final R8 with an internal combustion engine.
The five photos that Audi posted show an R8 wrapped in camouflage with a pattern displaying rectangles in black, silver, and red. An Audi Sport-branded rear wing shows up. And the car is surely is going to be powered by the mighty V10 engine before Audi might switch to a fully electric powertrain. Otherwise, keeping a V10-powered supercar on the market while pushing for an entirely electric lineup would complicate things for the brand. A downsized engine with some kind of electrification might also be a way out for the R8.
Audi will drop the R8 for the 2024 model year in the United States. Back in October 2022, the carmaker rolled out the R8 GT special version in just 150 units, with a price tag of $251,395. But that was not the actual goodbye, because the Germans had something else up their sleeve.
A possible electric version should share the underpinnings with the 718 Boxter's upcoming EV substitute. But before that happens, we are to see Audi R8's Last Lap special edition, which will debut on September 12.
The second generation dropped in 2015 and brought with it the R8 e-tron. It did enter production, but Audi limited production to a 100-unit run that would only be sold in Europe. Two electric motors generated 456 horsepower (462 PS) and 678 lb-ft (919 Nm) of torque. Energy was stored in a 92-kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack that would provide it with 280 miles (450 kilometers) of range. The car did 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in 3.9 seconds and could hit a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph).
The R8 e-tron was probably Audi's way of testing the market. Now, with the future of the supercar uncertain, the German carmaker is most likely working on a special final edition of the R8, which will make its debut next week. But we can't tell if it is a final edition before the name tag is completely dropped from the lineup or the final R8 with an internal combustion engine.
The five photos that Audi posted show an R8 wrapped in camouflage with a pattern displaying rectangles in black, silver, and red. An Audi Sport-branded rear wing shows up. And the car is surely is going to be powered by the mighty V10 engine before Audi might switch to a fully electric powertrain. Otherwise, keeping a V10-powered supercar on the market while pushing for an entirely electric lineup would complicate things for the brand. A downsized engine with some kind of electrification might also be a way out for the R8.
Audi will drop the R8 for the 2024 model year in the United States. Back in October 2022, the carmaker rolled out the R8 GT special version in just 150 units, with a price tag of $251,395. But that was not the actual goodbye, because the Germans had something else up their sleeve.
A possible electric version should share the underpinnings with the 718 Boxter's upcoming EV substitute. But before that happens, we are to see Audi R8's Last Lap special edition, which will debut on September 12.
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