2022 Audi R8 turning away from 2019 was a beautiful year for gearheads and high-end car companies.
The Chevrolet Corvette went the mid-engine way, Bugatti blew past the 300 mph barrier with Chiron, McLaren launched both the amazing Speedtail and GT, while Lamborghini and Ferrari sold more supercars than they had planned.
So, we have to ask. What did Audi do? Sales of the Audi R8 haven’t penetrated the roof hole, since you asked, and there was intense talk about a new generation coming in 2022.
So far Audi has been silent on the topic, so the rumor factory did most of the conversation. This is all we know about the new Audi R8.
2022 Audi R8 Electric
From the information, we got that the electric R8 will draw inspiration from the PB18 concept car that was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California last month.
Electric powertrain, with batteries stacked behind the cockpit, allows more interior space on the PB18. That makes it a very fast grand-tourer than a track-oriented sports car.
Audi cites a top speed of 186 mph and acceleration from 0-62 mph around 2 seconds.
Under pressure from its role in the diesel emission scandal of Volkswagen’s parent company, Audi is moving to build various e-Tron electric models.
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The first is a mid-size SUV crossover which is scheduled to debut on September 17, which will go on sale later this year. Furthermore, a coupe-like SUV e-Tron version is expected to arrive, then a sleek sedan designed to rival the Tesla Model S.
Audi is also developing a solid-state battery, which the market plans to have in 2025, to strengthen its new line of electric cars.
It seems that the 3rd generation Audi R8 will officially cut off family ties with its Lamborghini cousin.
Until now, both the R8 and Huracan share a normally aspirated V10 engine that is usually delicious – but coming in the next generation, Lamborghini will use a hybrid drivetrain, and the R8 will commit to being fully electric.
Because in 2022, the next Audi R8 will completely release combustion together for the sake of an all-electric power plant.
Not only that, but according to the report, it will aim at itself at the point of higher performance completely, with around 1000bhp on tap.
A figure like that will see the R8 rise to the hypercar realm. Given the way electric motors transmit their power for a moment, a time of 0-60mph in under 2 seconds is expected – placing it in the firing line of cars like the Tesla Roadster and Rimac C_Two.
When it arrives, it will not be Audi’s first entry into the world of all-electric performance thanks to the limited R8 e-Tron which was run in 2016. But the supercar is only an addition to the product range and not a direct replacement using fundamentally different resources.
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In just 4 short years, the R8 will only be available with electric power, and the legendary V10 that has bewitched the souls of car enthusiasts for years will die.
The Audi R8 E-Tron is supposed to blow the winds of change for Ingolstadt supercars. This removes the naturally aspirated V-10 and supports a 92-kWh battery pack and two electric motors capable of producing up to 340 kW (456 horsepower) and 920 Newton-meter (679 pound-foot) torque.
It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km / h) in 3.9 seconds and the revised iteration offers a maximum range of more than 280 miles (450 km).
Sales, however, were very slow, and Audi finally produced an R-e Tron of $ 1.1 million after building less than 100 units. It was 2016, and from now on, a series of rumors struggled to give a glimpse of the future of the R8.
2022 Audi R8 News
At the time of writing, you can get a new Audi R8 2020 that squeaks for at least $ 169,900 ($ 182,100 for Spyder).
Whatever it is, you will receive an average engine powered by a 5.2-liter V-10, which is naturally aspirated for 562 horsepower and 406 pound-foot torque in the base model and 602 horsepower and 413 pound-foot rotation in The guise of performance.
The problem is, rumors recently claimed the R8 will be stopped in 2020 according to a 2017 report by Automobile Magazine which also states that “also dead is the proposed zero-emission R8 e-Tron.”
Fast forward to 2018, and Autocar writes that the new Audi R8 will be a “hypercar-chasing EV” which will be marketed in 2020 with 1,000 horsepower on tap, a top speed of 186 mph, and a short speed of 0-60 sprints of more than two seconds.
The V-10 will die and disappear, naturally, while the supercar design will depend heavily on the same cues exhibited by the PB18 e-Tron concept shown at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Nearly a year passed and the R8 rumor books added another chapter. This time wrapped in a report published by Car Magazine, the latest info about the new R8 involves an all-electric powertrain developed by Rimac – which Audi allegedly approached and asked for help.
Assembly will take place inside the Audi Bollinger Höfe factory outside Heilbronn (that’s where A6, 7, and 8 are made) and will imply the R8 with an electric motor quartet for AWD capability and fast-charging batteries.
Power will sit at around 700 kW (950 horsepower), 0-60 will come in 2.5 seconds, all for a price tag of around $ 200,000.
What’s more, the alleged new R8 will also offer wireless charging capability, a 95-kWh solid-state battery that can cover 300 miles with full charging, all-wheel-drive, of course, and an aluminum monocoque chassis that unites everything.
Which brings us to the latest developments in the new Audi R8 saga. TopGear spoke with managing director Oliver Hoffman, who revealed that “there has not been a decision regarding the next-generation R8 technology and platform” but “it will be a car with an electrification section.”
Surprised? You shouldn’t because European emissions regulations are changing from stricter to stricter and Audi’s intention to make R8 that complies with emissions worldwide.
So, by maintaining its proper proportions, Audi found itself in a situation very similar to Ford, which commissioned its engineers to produce low-emission power trains for the upcoming Focus RS.
Looking at the bigger picture, Audi tells us that there will be a third-generation R8. What’s more, there’s a high chance that it will pack a hybrid powertrain instead of being full of electricity.
That means the V-10 can be maintained, even if it is equipped with one (or more) electric motors. Still, Audi is half of the mountain to be climbed even though it sorts out the drivetrain equation.
Extra weight must cause significant headaches, as well as noise if the next R8 will use hybrid technology.
There are still many mysteries wrapped around the new Audi R8. The good news is that it will happen, judging by the latest rumors.
The main problem for Audi is figuring out what type of power train to use, solving the problem of extra weight, and, more importantly, how to market the new R8 so that it sells better than the current generation. We will make sure to continue to pay attention to this topic in the future.
