The third generation of the Audi R8 will likely be fully electric.
SUMMARY:
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The Audi R8 will use the next Audi e-Tron GT platform.
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It should arrive in 2026.
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We are talking about a possible power of more than 800 horsepower.
Audi multiplies the unveilings of concepts that illustrate its electric future. However, one model seems to go under the radar, and yet it is the brand’s emblematic model, the Audi R8. While many believe in its imminent death, Audi plans instead to offer it a new generation that, unsurprisingly, will be entirely electric.
For many, there is a strong feeling of deja vu regarding this news. We remember that Audi also unveiled an electric version when the current generation of the R8 was launched. The R8 e-Tron, however, did not have a very long career. After only a few dozen copies, Audi ceased production of the model. It then replied to the Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive, a flash in the pan. In the mid-2010s, high-performance car enthusiasts weren’t ready for an electric Exotic.
Here we’re a few years later, and the word electric is on everyone’s lips and defines the immediate future of the automobile. Sales of the R8 have been flat for some time now, but Audi is not resigning itself to withdrawing it. We instead look to the future by thinking about the third generation expected for the middle of the current decade.
Reflection does not yet mean confirmation. At least, that’s what Sebastian Grams, the head of the Audi Sport division, claims. According to his statements, collected by the British publication Autocar, the project is still on the table. He wants a sequel, the direction, but the terms are not yet defined. He argues: “We look for different concepts, but the direction is electrified. If my wishes come true, it will be an electric Audi R8. And if we make a super sports car, it will necessarily be a two-door concept. »
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As always, the Audi R8 will be at the top of the Audi range when it comes to price, style, and above all, performance. Rumour has it this Audi R8 e-Tron will opt for the new SSP Sports platform, which will also be under future electric sports cars from Porsche, Audi, and potentially Bentley. However, significant technical challenges will have to highlight the modularity of the platform used. The center of gravity is critical in a car like the R8. Therefore, the engineers may opt for a configuration similar to that announced for the Porsche 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster, where the batteries would be found in a vertical position behind the two seats. Here again, there is an issue at the level of the center of gravity and the balance of the masses.
Audi e-Tron GT Specifications
Audi e-Tron GT was presented in concept form at the end of 2018 at the Los Angeles Motor Show and revealed in its final form in February 2021, the Audi e-Tron GT coupé takes up the technical bases of the Porsche Taycan. Marketed in 2021, it will be assembled at the German Böllinger Höfe plant.
| Years of Production | 2020 – … |
|---|---|
| Country of Manufacture | Germany (Audi) |
| Accel. 0-100 km/h | 4.1 s |
| Range | 487 km |
| Battery | 93.4 kWh |
| Price | New from: $ 99,900 |
The old 2016 Audi R8 e-Tron
When it comes to power, the R8 will have to raise the bar. The old 2016 Audi R8 e-Tron offered 455 horsepower and 678 pound-feet of torque. Today, the Audi RS e-Tron GT sedan pushes 637 horsepower. The engineers, therefore, should exceed this power for the simple principle of prestige associated with the R8. It would, therefore, So it is not surprising to see a cavalry of more than 800 horses.