Audi R8 is one of the most acclaimed sports cars of the 21st century. First launched in 2007, the R8 got a generation upgrade in 2015. The German marque had previously announced that the next generation R8 will come in some form of electrification to give it a longer shelf life with stricter emission norms on cards in the coming years.
The last unit of the second-gen Audi R8 rolled off the production line in December 2024. Between 2007 and 2024, Audi sold 45,949 units of the R8 over two generations. It has now been revealed that the third-gen R8 will come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain which is set to make its international debut in 2027.
2027 Audi R8: Expected powertrain
According to an Autocar UK report, the upcoming third-gen R8 will borrow a 4.0-litre V8 PHEV powertrain from Lamborghini Temerario. The V8 makes 789 bhp on its own, and it’s paired to three axial-flux motors which combine to produce a mind-boggling 908 horses. The electric motors derive their energy from a 3.8kWh rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The hybrid arm of this powertrain assists with higher performance resulting in a 0-100 kmph acceleration in just 2.7 seconds. Top speed is claimed to be close to 338 kmph whereas the all-electric range is limited to 9.65 km. In the Temerario, two electric motors are positioned on the front axle, providing all-wheel drive (AWD).
A third electric motor is located between the V8 engine and the dual-clutch transmission, functioning as a starter generator while also recovering energy during braking. The same setup is expected to be carried over to the upcoming third-gen R8 PHEV. The next iteration of the sports car will most likely be built at Audi’s Bollinger Hofe facility in Germany, where previous R8 models were manufactured.
2027 Audi R8: New chassis
Not only the powertrain but Audi R8 will utilise the same chassis as the Lamborghini Temerario. The Temerario’s aluminum spaceframe architecture offers 25% greater torsional stiffness than previous Lamborghini models while utilizing only half the structural components. The new R8 will come in both Coupe and Spider body styles.
Source: Autocar UK
