7 hours ago
5
The most powerful car ever produced by the German car maker could again be twinned with a Lamborghini hypercar planned for 2027.
Reports out of the UK claim the Audi R8 sports car will make a stunning return to showrooms in 2027 as the most powerful road-going Audi ever, packing as much as 1000hp (746kW) from a V8-hybrid powertrain once again derived from sister brand, Lamborghini.
Last sold in Australia in 2023, Autocar says a new two-seat R8 coupe and roadster is on the way – competing with the Porsche 911 and Mercedes-AMG GT – using underpinnings and key components from the Lamborghini Temerario.
While not officially confirmed, it means the third generation R8 will follow the same recipe as its predecessors, which used the platform and powertrains from the Lamborghini Gallardo (first generation) and Lamborghini Huracan (second generation).
The Huracan went off sale here in 2024 – bowing out in Lamborghini’s best Australian sales year in history – with the Temerario due in the second half of 2026.
The report from Autocar suggested the R8 will follow in 2027 using the Temerario’s hybrid powertrain, which sees a 595kW/729Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 and three axial-flux motors for a combined 907bhp (676kW).
That compares to a peak of 470kW in the previous Audi R8 LMS GT2 – a track-only version produced for the brand’s customer racing business, which it closed at the end of 2023 in favour of entering F1.
The R8’s return is reportedly borne of the desire for Audi to again compete in long distance racing at events including the Nurburgring 24 Hours – which it has won four times – and the Bathurst 12 Hour, which it has won on three occasions.
The most powerful road-going version to date is the 2022 R8 V10 Performance, with its 5.2-litre V10 producing 449kW/650Nm through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive.
The Temerario – and if correct, therefore third-generation R8 – offers all-wheel drive with the mid-mounted V8 driving the rear axle and two electric motors on the front axle.
The third electric motor sits between the V8 and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic as a generator, recouping energy under braking.
Autocar suggests the R8 will arrive when more potent models of the Temerario hit showrooms, leading the report to surmise Performance models of the new R8 could hit 1000hp (746kW).
This would topple the most powerful Audi yet, the 912bhp (680kW) RS E-tron GT – and out-perform its 3.3-second 0-100km/h sprint and approach the Lamborghini’s 210mph (338km/h) top speed.
The move to hybrid-electric sports cars is consistent with moves from other brands in the Volkswagen Group, including Porsche, which introduced the first hybrid version of the iconic Porsche 911 due here in the first three months of 2025.
Similarly, the Mercedes-AMG GT line-up is built around a hybrid version of its twin-turbo V8, while the McLaren W1 hybrid will go head-to-head with the upcoming 2025 Ferrari F80 883kW V6 hybrid, which is due in Australia in the fourth quarter (October-December) 2025.
