It looks like the 3rd generation Audi R8 is officially breaking family ties with its Lamborghini cousin. Right now, the R8 and Huracan share a delicious naturally aspirated V10 engine, but in the next generation, the Lamborghini will use a hybrid drivetrain and the R8 will commit to being all-electric.
Expected in 2022, the next Audi R8 will completely forgo combustion in favor of an all-electric power plant. Not only that, but according to reports it will be aiming for a totally higher performance point, with around 1000hp on tap.
2016 R8 etron. Credit: Audi
Such a power figure would see the R8 ascend into the hypercar realm. Given the instantaneous way electric motors deliver their power, a 0-60 mph time of under 2 seconds is expected, putting it in the crosshairs of cars like the Tesla Roadster and Rimac C_Two.
When it does arrive, it won’t be Audi’s first entry into the world of all-electric performance, thanks to 2016’s limited-run R8 e-tron. That supercar, however, was just an addition to the range rather than an outright replacement. using a fundamentally different source of energy. In just 4 short years, the R8 will be available in electric only, and the legendary V10 that has enchanted the souls of car enthusiasts for years will be dead.
2016 R8 etron. Credit: Audi
When it arrives, it will enter a world of hybrids who want a smoother transition to the quiet electric future. Audi’s reliance on its all-electric R8 could very well be its make or its downfall. Only time will tell, but by then internal combustion driveways will be much quieter.
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Written by: Angelo Ucello
Twitter: @AngeloUccello
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