Electric Audi R8 – perhaps

The Audi R8 has been a runaway success. Even in these difficult times it’s still selling better than ayone could have expected. And the launch of the Audi R8 V10 recently at the Detroit Motor Show has just upped interest in Audi’s ‘Halo’ car. But where do Audi go from here? Well, we know that the Audi R8 Spyder is due before too long – in both V8 and V10 versions, but what else has Audi got up its sleeve?

One thing it won’t be is a V12 diesel version of the Audi R8. That was in the news recently as being canned, even though it was old news. But if the rumours are to be believed (and they’re not always) then Audi is planning on springing a surprise at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September by bringing along an electric version of the Audi R8. Hmm.

It sounds great, but it doesn’t sound plausible. The technology available at the moment, in-house at Audi at least, is just not available. Unless of course Audi has managed to keep under wraps some sort of stunning EV platform under development. Of course it’s entirely plausible that they will bring along a ‘Possible’ R8 Electric Concept which will wait in the wings until a suitable platform is developed.

But much more likely is a Hybrid version of the R8. That could be put together by Audi much more easily than an all electric car, and make more sense. If it were to follow the sort of principle that Ferrari are working on for Hybrids then it could cut weight from the R8 and help with performance. Plus it would tick a ‘Green’ box or two – good PR.

It is also possible that Audi may just show us a V8 diesel R8. That is more plausible than the big V12 which was just too difficult to shoehorn in to the R8 and keep cool. But a diesel R8 with Audi’s 4.2 litre V8 would make a very interesting entry-level proposition, and still deliver remarkable performance.

Guess we’ll just have to wait for Frankfurt to find out for certain.