Audi Could Bring Back R8 With a PHEV Drivetrain

Designskizze Audi R8

The German supercar would reuse Lamborghini’s PHEV drivetrain.
In a potential R8 Performance trim, the supercar could surpass 1,000 hp.

Over the years, the relevance of the sports car segment has waned at an alarming rate. There are several reasons for the decline of the industry’s most racy category, but let’s just say that inferior practicality to that of an SUV is one of them. And with lower sales figures, automaker strategists are finding it increasingly difficult to justify the presence of these cars in their respective showrooms.

But the sports car is not gone yet. In fact, in the four-ringed corner, the Audi R8 is about to make a comeback in the form of a plug-in hybrid, according to an article published on the website of the British publication Autocar. The parallels between this future Audi R8 and Lamborghini’s most recent supercar are easy to draw: the R8 shared its mechanical components with the Gallardo at first, then with the Huracan when the latter came onto the market.

Models from left to right (dynamic photo):
Audi R8 Coupé V10 GT RWD, colour: Tango Red, Audi R8 Coupé, 1st generation

With the Lamborghini Temerario presented earlier in 2024 (as a 2025 model), the stage is set for the German manufacturer to repeat the recipe that has worked so well for two generations.

The new Temerario says goodbye to its venerable V10 engine in favor of a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, which alone delivers 789 hp and 538 ft-lb of torque. But by grafting three electric motors (two on the front axle and a third between the V8 and the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox) to the equation, power could climb to 907 hp. Of course, an on-board battery would allow short city runs in purely electric mode.

The British publication goes even further in its predictions, indicating that the new R8 could be revealed at the same time as Lamborghini’s more powerful plug-in hybrid variants. Indeed, if early reports and the R8’s position in the Volkswagen giant’s organization chart are anything to go by, an R8 Performance could, in principle at least, surpass the 1,000 hp mark.

The reveal is scheduled for next year, with a market launch sometime in 2027. It remains to be seen whether Audi will go ahead with such a project.