The Audi R8 was once the crown jewel of Audi’s supercar lineup, a true legend on the road. But over time, we lost this treasure… until now. Audi is bringing back the R8, and it’s coming back stronger than ever – as a plug-in hybrid powerhouse.
This revival comes as part of Audi’s grand plan to transition towards an all-electric future. With the Volkswagen Group’s blessing, Audi is extending the lifecycle of select internal combustion engine (ICE) models while ramping up its plug-in hybrid game. And what better way to do that than reviving one of its most iconic cars?
Supercar Alliance: Audi x Lamborghini
The new R8 will share its DNA with the Lamborghini Temerario, rekindling Audi’s long-standing partnership with its Italian Volkswagen Group sibling. This same collaboration is what first allowed Audi to enter the supercar league, and now it’s being used to bring the R8 back to life.
Under the bonnet, expect a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 – the same one found in the Temerario. This flat-plane-crank engine alone cranks out 789 horsepower and 729 Nm of torque, but when combined with three axial-flux electric motors, it gets a jaw-dropping boost to 907 horsepower.
A 3.8kWh lithium-ion battery powers the electric side of things, offering up to six miles of EV-only driving—not bad for a hardcore performance machine.
Blazing Fast & Built for Performance
In the Temerario, two electric motors are mounted on the front axle, creating a four-wheel-drive setup, while the third motor sits between the V8 and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox to recover energy under braking. The return of the R8 in 2027 will likely coincide with even more powerful Temerario models, meaning an R8 Performance successor could be pushing a staggering 1,000 horsepower.
With that kind of power, expect 0-100 km/h times well below 3.0 seconds and a top speed close to 210 mph—potentially making it Audi’s fastest road car ever. The current king, the 912-horsepower E-Tron GT RS, does 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds, but the new R8 aims to crush that.
Next-Gen Engineering & Classic Thrill
This isn’t just a powertrain overhaul—it’s a full-blown revolution. The R8 will sit on the same aluminium spaceframe structure as the Temerario, a completely new development that’s 50% more efficient, has 80% fewer welds, and offers a 25% increase in stiffness compared to the previous R8.
Despite shifting away from the naturally aspirated V8 and V10 engines of its predecessors, the new Lamborghini-sourced V8 is high-revving, screaming all the way to a 10,000 rpm redline—keeping the R8’s thrilling essence alive.
A Statement of Audi’s Future
As always, the R8 is more than just a supercar—it’s a design and technology statement for Audi’s future. The 2019 PB18 E-Tron concept hinted at an all-electric successor, but with Audi’s design leadership now in the hands of Massimo Frascella, fresh ideas are brewing.
What will the R8 look like in 2027? We can’t wait to find out.
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