Audi R8 Revival Not Entirely Ruled Out, But Only After More Affordable Fun

Last month, rumors were swirling that the big boss at Audi was gunning for a return of the Audi R8 sports coupe and Spyder models, but executive interviews at this week’s New York Auto Show seem to have shut down those dreams. However, careful language still leaves the door open for an R8 successor of sorts, and the Volkswagen Group will still offer other sporty cars and SUVs.

Last month’s rumors from Autocar claimed Audi boss Gernot Döllne was pushing plans forward to introduce a new R8 coupe with a V8 and architecture borrowed from the Lamborghini Temerario. That seemed like it was possible, if not likely, considering the previous Audi R8 also shared bits with the Lamborghini Huracán.

New Audi R8 Is Not “On The Roadmap”

Kjell Gruner, Volkswagen Group of America’s new CEO, at the New York Auto Show. Gruner told a group of journalists in a roundtable interview, “[a] mid-engine, internal combustion engine vehicle, I don’t see that on the roadmap.” Autocar reported a new R8 would be here as soon as 2027; that doesn’t seem so likely now. Is it possible Audi is working in secret under VW’s nose? Well, considering budgets need approval, likely not. And going back to the rumor from March, there was never a quote from Audi’s CEO about the sports car, just rumors.

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The R8 managed to exist for two generations, starting in 2007 and then updating in 2015. It sported both V8 and V10 powertrains, and could be available with rear- or all-wheel drive, and even a manual transmission for the first gen. Now, Audi doesn’t sell anything like it, but VW Group still offers a similar setup in the previously mentioned Lamborghini Temerario, so it’s not missing out on the segment entirely, just not with Audi.

Other Fun Rides Are Still Coming From VW

Audi’s sales have slipped since the R8 went out of production, and the brand has somewhat lost some of its sporting, all-wheel drive performance edge that it once heavily marketed, so it seemed like there could be room to grow.

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VW’s Gruner made sure to mention that the Volkswagen brand will continue to offer more affordable performance options in the Golf GTI and Golf R, even if hatchbacks are less popular than SUVs. The exec argued there’s still a strong business case for selling hot hatches in America, partially for the halo effect of marketing them and elevating the brand to a more sporty position. But that still leaves out Audi, which will need more exciting products to turn its slipping sales around. Perhaps the rumored return of the Audi TT will fix that to some degree.

Source: Motor1