Will the R8 Ride Off Into the Sunset In 2020?

R8 No More?

Passenger cars in general, are facing increasingly tough times. Buyers are increasingly choosing SUVs and crossovers as their vehicles of choice, including the performance variants. But could this trend's reach extend all the way to the world of supercars? According to a recent report from Automobile Magazine, it most certainly could, at least when it comes to Audi's superb R8 supercar.

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Premature Demise

Specifically, Automobile claims "From what we know today, there will be no replacement for the slow-selling R8, which will be phased out in 2020 when the new Lamborghini Huracán arrives." And despite the recent emergence of EVs, that extends to Audi's electric-powered R8 as well. "Also dead: the proposed zero-emission R8 e-tron." The article cites no sources for this information, so we'll call it a rumor for now. The real question is, how much truth is behind it? 

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Too Many Supercars?

For starters, we have to admit that the presence of the R8 is a bit redundant for parent Volkswagen AG. Do they really need it in their lineup along with the (more expensive and profitable) Lamborghini Huracán? Perhaps the presence of the rear-wheel drive R8 is something of an early swan song for a car Audi intends to yank in the near future? It makes some sense, at least in theory.

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Change of Plans?

Another problem comes from the fact that Audi's new 2.9-liter biturbo V6 reportedly tops out at 470 hp. The engine, currently found in the RS5 Coupe and RS4 Avant, was also slated for use in an entry-level version of the R8. That would have appeared to be an attempt to jump-start sluggish R8 sales, but perhaps Audi has already seen the writing on the wall. They do an amazing job of building world-beating sedans and SUVs, so why not just stick with what's selling?

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A New Ranger Topper?

With performance SUVs and EVs in high demand these days, it makes sense for Audi to pool its resources around building more of them. And it appears that they intend to do just that. Automobile reports that they're planning a Lamborghini Urus-based RS Q8 packing the same 650 hp V8 as its Italian brother. Audi is also reportedly working on a Porsche Mission E fighter, dubbed project J1. Either of these future performance vehicles could easily replace the R8 as Audi's "halo" vehicle, and though we don't like to admit it, it might just sell better, too. 

>>Join the conversation about the R8 right here in the AudiWorld Forum!

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