The Audi R8 Poised for a 2027 Comeback—Armed with Lamborghini Hybrid Power
During Volkswagen Group’s 2024 financial report, executives conceded that Audi had veered off course in recent years. Once synonymous with high-performance engineering, the brand found itself adrift—its product lineup skewed heavily toward SUVs, while its pioneering push into EVs left gaps in its traditional performance segment.
Perhaps the most glaring omission was the demise of the R8 supercar, which exited production without a direct successor, be it electric or gasoline-powered. That appears set to change, as industry murmurs suggest Audi is reviving the R8, this time as a hybrid, once again borrowing its mechanical pedigree from Lamborghini.
According to reports from Autocar, Audi’s top brass have greenlit the development of a next-generation R8, with design and engineering moving past the proposal stage into full-scale production planning. The heart of this resurrection? A powertrain sourced from Lamborghini’s latest hybrid supercar, the Temerario, reaffirming the synergy between the two brands. Just as the first-generation R8 shared DNA with the Huracán—particularly in its glorious naturally aspirated V-10—the upcoming iteration is expected to derive much of its firepower from Lamborghini’s cutting-edge hybrid system.
Unlike its predecessors, which relied solely on internal combustion engines—a choice between a high-revving V-10 or a V-8—the forthcoming R8 is slated to feature a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, supplemented by a trio of electric motors. In Lamborghini guise, this configuration delivers an astonishing 900 horsepower, a figure the new Audi is likely to approach, though with a more refined, everyday-friendly calibration compared to its wilder Italian counterpart.
Performance benchmarks are suitably extreme. While the Lamborghini Temerario is reportedly capable of reaching 210 mph, Audi is targeting a blistering sub-3.0-second sprint to 60 mph for the R8. Expect both coupe and convertible variants, each featuring an all-wheel-drive setup, ensuring the car remains as composed on city streets as it is on the track. Production is tentatively set for 2027, and speculation suggests that subsequent high-performance versions could surpass the 1,000-horsepower threshold, making the new R8 the most potent road-going Audi in history.
One lingering question remains: what name will Audi bestow upon this machine? The retired “e-Tron” badge seems an unnecessary carryover if the vehicle isn’t fully electric, leaving the simple, revered “R8” moniker as the most logical choice. Regardless of branding, the new supercar is also anticipated to make a triumphant return to endurance racing, an exciting prospect for both motorsport enthusiasts and future owners alike.