Audi Supercars Cars

The current generation of the Audi R8 is living on borrowed time. Its V10 engine is one of the last of its breed, and as the world continues to enforce ever-stricter emissions regulations, the future of the V10-powered R8 has officially been confirmed today. If you want an Audi supercar with a V10 engine, you better head to your nearest dealer and buy one now.

Ken Block recently made the transition, from Ford to Audi. His relationship with the German premium brand took him to Audi Tradition, in Ingolstadt, Germany. The facility, which comprises of some unassuming, at first glance, buildings, houses the most legendary cars from Audi’s rich motorsport history. The cool part is that all of them get driven every now and then and Ken Block had a go in the rarest and ultimate Audi rally car – the Sport Quattro RS 002.

High-horsepower drag races are always a thrill to watch. Even more so to participate in, but instead, I am sitting here writing about it. In any case, it’s always interesting to see which drivetrain layout is best at a certain power level, and once again, Carwow happily obliges. In this case, we have three cars with over 1,000 horsepower that differ in the way they deliver power to the ground – a Nissan GT-R, Audi R8, and a McLaren 720S.

While Audi did make an all-electric R8 which it showed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the project was so short lived that come 2016, Audi decided to scrap it altogether. It didn’t even get the chance to have its own configurator and back then, Audi was asking around €1 million ($1,1 million) for one unit.

Audi’s bringing back the rear-wheel-drive R8 as a regular production model and because — for the most part — we’ve been good boys and girls this year, Audi’s also giving the U.S. market the added treat of a limited edition model called the R8 Panther Edition. The special edition R8 is exclusive to the Land of the Free, and, among other exclusive goodies, the R8 Panther wears a special paint color that Audi rarely uses. No doubt the Panther Black crystal effect paint solidifies the R8 Panther’s special edition status, just as it did on the RS5 Panther Edition that debuted at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. Only 30 units of the R8 RWD Panther are headed to the U.S. where they’ll be sold through select dealerships beginning this month. Each unit of the R8 RWD Panther will carry a starting price of $186,495, including the $1,495 destination charge on top of a $1,700 gas guzzler tax.

Audi USA is churning out a special batch of R8 V10s - 30 units, for that matter - to mark the retirement of the 2020 Audi R8 V10 Quattro from the carmaker’s lineup in the U.S. Fret not, R8 fans, as Audi will keep selling the range-topping R8 V10 Performance for the 2021 model year.

Renderings often serve as a fun expression of what we expect from new cars or the evolution of current cars. Sometimes, people create fun, unique renderings that look back on iconic cars from the past with a modern twist of what they would look like today. Every now and then, however, something truly amazing comes to digital life, and that’s the case with the rendering we’re about to discuss here. In short, someone took styling cues from a handful of cars that are iconic in their own right and created an all new car that has never existed and never will exist. Is this what it would look like if some of the greatest car companies in the world came together to build a truly unique supercar?

2019 was a splendid year for gearheads and high-end car companies alike. The Chevrolet Corvette went the mid-engine way, Bugatti blew past the 300 mph barrier with the Chiron, McLaren launched both the amazing Speedtail and the GT, while Lamborghini and Ferrari sold more supercars than they had planned.

So, we must ask. What’s Audi been doing? Sales of the Audi R8 haven’t been piercing holes through the roof, since you asked, and there’s intense talk about a new generation coming in 2022. So far Audi has been tight lipped on the topic, so the rumor mill did most of the talking. Here’s everything we know about the new Audi R8.

How would you describe the first-generation Audi R8? While you’re finding your words, know that Jacky Ickx called it “the best handling road car today [i.e. back when it was introduced in 200]” yet we believe the old R8’s character is better highlighted not in front of its rivals and certainly not by itself, but in the presence of the current Audi R8.

Enter Carfection and their latest video, a petrolhead-centric masterpiece that looks at the first and second iterations of one of the most recognizable and desirable supercars to ever be born. Let’s get to it, then.

Hold on to whatever it is you’re holding to, folks, because an Audi executive has reportedly confirmed the German automaker’s plan to produce the all-electric PB18 e-tron supercar that we first laid our eyes on at the 2018 Monterey Car Week last August. The mind-blowing electric supercar concept took Monterey by storm, and if reports are true, Audi will build 50 units of the 671-horsepower model. No timetable was mentioned on when we’ll see the production model, but that’s a concern for another time. The important thing is that there’s some momentum within Audi calling for the PB18 e-tron Concept to spawn a production model. That’s more than enough for us to start salivating over what we can expect out of the supercar when that day actually comes.

The Audi R8, aka the poor man’s Lamborghini, is only a few years old, but Audi decided to give it a thorough update for the 2019 model year. Unfortunately, what we thought was going to be a GT model was actually nothing more than the facelifted model that you see here. The good news, however, is that the standard model is now more aggressive than ever. Adding icing to that so delicious cake is that fact that it comes with some extra oomph to justify that extra aggression. How much? Only 30 horsepower, but that’s enough. Now, every trim can blast past the 200-mph threshold, and it can hit 62 mph in as fast as 3.1 seconds. Today, however, that performance doesn’t matter, because we’re here to honor the R8’s beautiful appearance. To do that, we’ve decided to pick out our favorite wallpaper and share it with you. If you don’t like it, there are a few more in the gallery below. Remember, if you want to know more, you can check out our in-depth review of the 2019 Audi R8 as well!

After years of rumors regarding an entry-level R8 model fitted with a smaller turbocharged engine, we now know for a fact that Audi’s fledging supercar will only be available with the naturally-aspirated V-10 that we’re all familiar with.

Ever since a leaked image supposedly showcasing Audi’s release schedule over the next couple of years hit the internet, people have been talking about the possibility of a more affordable model to complete the range. Since the arrival of the second-generation R8, back in 2015, Audi dropped the V-8 engine option the R8 originally had at its core.

Now, with most manufacturers choosing forced induction to minimize the size of their engines and the number of cylinders, the R8 would have been a likely suspect of receiving this treatment in the near future.

The landscape of the hypercar segment today is as fertile as it’s ever been, and it’s fixing to grow even more now that Audi Sport GmbH has given indication that it might want to join in on the fun at some point in the future. Just don’t expect that “future” to arrive quickly because at this point, the main concern of Audi’s performance division is to roll out new models to fortify its status as a true performance sub-brand.

There is a glimmer of hope that we’ll eventually see a Audi hypercar. According to Automotive News no less than Audi Sport CEO Stephan Winkelmann is warm to the idea, explaining that a hypercar is something that the brand not only “deserves,” but just as important is that there’s a “demand outside, and the customers are looking into it.” Winkelman’s claims are backed up by the fact that despite carrying price tags exceeding $1 million, hypercars like the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 Spyder, and McLaren P1 have all sold out, some even in record time. It’s this kind of demand that has spurred Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG to make their own hypercars, which everyone expects will also sell out at a snap of a finer. The fertility of the hypercar market is something that Audi Sport wants to sow its seeds on, but not at the cost of ignoring its other performance models. That, above all else, is the brand’s priority at this point, starting with filling out its roster of performance crossovers and electric cars. Only after it’s done that will Audi Sport really take the thought of a hypercar seriously. Here’s to hoping that it finishes its "priorities" quickly then, right?

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Just when you thought the hypercar arms race isn’t already interesting enough on its own, a new player could be joining in on the madness with a limited-run halo car of its own. Sure, it’s still something that isn’t an absolute certainty, but Audi Sport boss Stephan Winkelmann let it be known that it “might be a good idea” for Audi to produce a “very limited car with a high price.”

Winkelmann stopped short of actually confirming such a car in his conversation with CarAdvice, but he did let the cat out of the bag, for whatever that’s worth. So the possibility is now there for an Audi hypercar to come to life. What’s going to be interesting moving forward is how Audi plans to develops such a car in the event that it comes to that point.

One scenario that Winkelmann immediately shot down is the potential for the project to be shared with sister company Lamborghini in an attempt to save to costs. The Audi Sport chief also indicated that if an Audi hypercar does come to fruition, it will need to be a car that will be able to tie in Audi’s long and proud history in motorsports racing. Given that indication, we can at least be sure that an Audi hypercar will be built with premium importance placed on it. It might even turn into an all-hands-on-deck scenario, which would be fitting for a car of its status.

For now though, the whole idea remains, as Winkelmann confirmed, “pie-in-the-sky thinking.” That’s not to say that Audi’s leaning one way over the other, but the mere mention that it’s already being talked about by the company’s execs is a suggestion that an Audi hypercar may not be that much of a reac anymore.

Only time will tell if an Audi hypercar does end up happening, but for what it’s worth, I don’t think anybody will be complaining if Audi ends up making that proverbial leap.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

When the R8 arrived on the market in 2007, it gave buyers who couldn’t quite swing that Lambo or Ferrari an option, particularly when equipped with the V-10 engine. But as the years wore on, the R8 became stagnant and by the time the 2015 model came out everyone was begging for an update. Well, for the 2017 model year, we are all getting our wish, as the second-generation R8 is here. It’ll make its official debut at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show, but ahead of this debut, Audi revealed all of the juicy details of its redesigned supercar.

The term “redesign” takes a different meaning here, as most redesigns include a whole new look. For the R8, however, the exterior changes are quite light. There are a number of modifications under the skin and in the cabin of the new R8, but the big issue at hand here is whether or not these changes are enough to overcome Audi mailing in a revised exterior.

Updated 06/08/2016: Audi dropped a new promo video for the new R8 sports car in which it wants to highlight the sports car’s technology. Hit "play" to watch it!

Continue reading my full review of the 2017 Audi R8 to find out if I think the German automaker succeeded or failed with this redesign.

What looks like a first-generation R8 hot lapping the Nürburgring is actually a clandestine test mule for the upcoming 2016 Audi R8 e-tron. The biggest giveaway is the obvious lack of internal combustion noise, but the front grilles have also been blocked-off for better aero and there’s a distinct lack of exhaust outlets in the rear. The glass engine cover has also been replaced with an opaque vented panel.

We should be getting used to by now, but it still screws with your head to see a car this fast not making any noise aside from its squealing tires.

Audi showed a production version of the R8 e-tron at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year and claimed a Nürburgring lap time of 8:09.099, making it the fastest all-electric production car to ever lap the ‘Ring. Visually, it’s nearly identical to the new second-generation R8, with the addition of a few chrome accents on the front grille, side intakes and rear fascia to differentiate itself from the V-10-powered R8.

Under it all is a 49-kWh battery pack powering two electric motors at the rear wheels. The entire system produces 455 horsepower and 679 pound-feet of torque — roughly enough to tow an aircraft carrier. An electromechanical braking system recuperates energy during deceleration, and torque vectoring improves handling by managing the amount of twist sent to each rear wheel.

The sprint to 62 mph comes in 3.9 seconds, while top speed has been electronically limited to 155 mph. All that with a range of 280 miles after a full two-hour charge. Order books open later this year, at which point we’ll have more information on pricing.

Earlier this year, Audi released the revamped 2016 R8 R8 e-tron, and at the 2015 CES Asia show, it released a self-driving version of the electric supercar dubbed the R8 e-tron Piloted Driving Concept.

One of the biggest concerns among gearheads when it comes to self-driving cars is that the fun of driving will be taken away. Well, when it comes to this insane concept supercar, there is plenty of fun to go around, thanks to its sub-four-second 0-to-60 time and agility. What’s more, its range rivals the likes of the Tesla Model S, and it looks cooler.

Unfortunately, this is just a concept car for now, but at the rate Audi is putting out these piloted concept models (read our reviews of the RS7 piloted driving concept here and the Prologue piloted driving concept here), it seems like this tech is on the verge of making it to showrooms.

Continue reading to learn more about this high-tech concept that debuted at the 2016 CES Asia show.

Looks like someone is in a serious world of "loose-lips" hurt, as an image of what appears to be the 2016 Audi R8 has made its way onto Instagram. The image was first shared by Instagram user “dreboog,” but it’s since been ripped down, likely due to threats from Audi. Fortunately, the Internet never forgets, and plenty of other folks have grabbed the picture.

There is a good bit to soak in from this leak, but the best news is that not too much is changing. Sure, many of the design cues are different, but on a whole, the next-gen Audi supercar will be very similar to the 2015 R8. Some of the changes include a new front grille to put it in line with other current Audi products, smaller front air intakes, harder angles on the base of the front apron, and what appear to be more-streamlined air inlets just behind the doors.

I cannot confirm the validity of this leak, but to my eyes this sure does look like it’s the real deal. If this image is real, then the rumors of a Geneva debut for the R8 seem to fit perfectly, as the car in this picture looks to be a finished product.

The Geneva show kicks off for us press folk on March 3, 2015, so we don’t have to wait too long to find out.