Audi R8 With Five-Cylinder Turbo Engine, RWD, Manual Gearbox Was Once Considered

Rumors of an Audi R8 with an engine more compact than the in a natural way aspirated 5.2-liter V10 swirled close to the World wide web for decades and nonetheless it in no way happened. The second-generation supercar is staying retired with the GT RWD particular version pictured in this article, with plans for an all-electric powered substitution now announced. In accordance to the now-obsolete gossip, the 4 Rings allegedly needed to place a turbocharged V6 for a extra economical entry-degree model.

In accordance to the rumor mill from various several years in the past, it was supposed to be the indirect successor of the initially-technology R8 V8. On the other hand, the truth is substantially unique. Indeed, the peeps from Ingolstadt had planned a foundation variant, but with a five-cylinder engine as an alternative of a V6. Especially, the idea was to use the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-5 from the TT RS and RS3.

The attention-grabbing disclosure was created by Marcos Marques, Undertaking Supervisor eFuels at Porsche, in an job interview with journalist Steve Sutcliffe for The Connection. It was intended to do absent with Quattro and use a rear-wheel-push layout to save body weight. Although the next-era R8 has been completely offered with a 7-speed, twin-clutch computerized transmission, the more cost-effective edition that under no circumstances came to be would’ve also been accessible with a handbook. As you might remember, the initially-gen R8 was also bought with a superb 6-pace gated manual.

Marques claimed the turbocharged R8 had fewer horsepower but far more torque than the V10 model, which indicates the inline-5 would’ve been boosted further than the 369 pound-feet (500 Newton-meters) available in the RS3. For reference, the next-generation R8 experienced 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) when it debuted in early 2015. He pointed out the turbo 5-cylinder was “cleaner and just about as fast” as the V10.

When the time arrived to launch the rear-wheel-drive R8 RWS in the second half of 2017, the a lot more focused model retained the V10. Audi Activity ultimately determined to sell the supercar solely with the 5.2 FSI motor shared with the Lamborghini Huracan.

Marques, who also uncovered a quad-turbo, flat-eight Porsche supercar was aborted, believes the 5-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive R8 with a guide gearbox or a twin-clutch automated was a skipped opportunity:

“It was a shame because the five-cylinder turbo engine was a fantastic powerful engine, it sounded distinct, and I assume it labored perfectly in the R8. The vehicle was lighter and far more agile, way too, but maybe some individuals at Audi Activity did not believe it felt like a real R8, so rather late on they resolved the motor vehicle would not come about.”

As a last observe, the inline-five, V8, and V10 ended up not the only engines Audi installed in the R8 as some will try to remember the ludicrous V12 TDI idea from 2008. The twin-turbodiesel monster with approximately 500 horsepower and 738 pound-ft (1,000 Newton-meters) of torque went on to energy the Q7 V12 TDI. There was also a small-lived R8 E-Tron electric version.