Base Audi R8 Will Get A Surprising Engine Choice

Audi’s R8 supercar will get an engine from a high-performance sedan.

The Audi R8 has always been a supercar that has been admired for its usability, drivability, and versatility. Not every supercar can boast the ability to be driven everyday and the original R8 set the standard for an everyday supercar. With the introduction of the new R8, Audi clearly declared that the V8 would not be coming back. And we now know what type of engine will replace the beloved 4.2-liter V8 engine.

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According to a report from Car and Driver, reliable sources from within the company have revealed at the base R8 will be powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 engine. If that makes you a little upset, the supercar’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine is expected to make around 450 hp when it is launched in 2018.

While the move to a twin-turbo V6 will be met with some opposition, the unit is a version of the 354-hp V6 from the 2017 Audi S4, so Audi will have plenty of available units to play with at its disposal. The engine will be paired to the same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that is found in the more expensive R8 V10.

As with all R8 models, power will be put down through all four wheels with bias going to the rear wheels for enhanced maneuverability. Thanks to an ungoverned top speed, the V6-powered R8 is expected to max out at around 190 mph. Fans of the V8 engine will surely miss the glorious rumble that the engine produced, but will be able to enjoy more performance out of the new V6 unit.

The V6-powered R8 is expected to be the third powertrain option for the supercar as Audi is planning to launch a limited run of an all-electric R8 e-tron, as well. There are also plans for an even more powerful version of the R8 V10 down the road.

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The R8 V6 will be revealed in 2018 and will most likely be sold as a 2019 model in the middle of the year. The supercar will be available as a coupe and a roadster. Audi’s V8 may be dead, but the twin-turbo V6 sounds promising.