√Audi R8 electric successor in doubt

Audi’s flagship supercar might not be going electric, contrary to previous reports, with new information suggesting plans for a battery-powered R8 have been parked for the time being.

The electric successor to the Audi R8 appears to have hit the brakes.

The German car-maker has revealed it is not developing a battery-powered supercar, according to overseas reports.

Between 2015 and 2016, Audi produced an electric R8 – known as the R8 E-Tron – in limited numbers.

However, the model was axed in October 2016, owing to its €1 million ($AU1.55 million today) price tag. Reports at the time claimed less than 100 examples were built.

In December 2021, Audi Sport’s head of product marketing, Linda Kurz, told CNET’s Roadshow the German car-maker would make its ‘R’ badged high-performance cars electric over the coming decade.

While reports at the time suggested this would include a low-slung electric supercar to replace the petrol-powered R8, respected US publication Car and Driver now claims the model may be off the cards entirely.

At a launch event for the Audi R8 GT, Car and Driver was told by an Audi spokesperson the company is not developing an electric successor to its flagship supercar.

“Rumors suggest that an electric supercar called the RNext is in the works, but these plans are uncertain and an Audi spokesperson denied these rumors to Car and Driver,” the report said, adding: “Even if it did materialize, such a vehicle likely wouldn’t arrive until 2029 at the earliest.”

The Audi R8 E-Tron was sold in Europe between 2015 and 2016

In June 2021, Audi announced its plans to end production of petrol and diesel engines in most countries by 2033, with all new models launched from 2026 onwards set to be exclusively electric.

With this deadline in mind, Audi would need to launch a third-generation R8 within the next three years if the supercar was to remain with petrol power – an unlikely prospect given production of the current car’s 5.2-litre V10 is scheduled to end within the next 18 months.

According to Audi’s annual financial reports, more than 42,500 examples of the R8 have been produced since its 2006 debut.

The first-generation Audi R8 was launched in 2006, initially exclusively powered by a 4.2-litre V8 engine, and followed in 2009 by the introduction of the 5.2-litre V10 – shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo of the time.

A second-generation Audi R8 entered production in 2015, with all examples powered by the 5.2-litre V10.

The Audi R8 GT is the supercar’s final new variant

The Audi R8 GT was revealed in October 2022 as a send-off to the supercar, although the final limited-edition variant will not come to Australia.

In September 2021, Audi announced the version of the V10 engine offered in Australia and certain overseas markets – which differ from those sold in Europe and elsewhere with tighter emissions and noise rules – would no longer be in production at the Hungary factory.

While engine tunes for other markets were available, the Audi R8’s niche local sales are likely a contributor to the company’s decision not to keep it in the Australian line-up.