The idea of a new Audi A3 sounds quite fanciful right now. The German automaker launched the supercar in 2007, and it was quickly hailed as one of the best of the modern era. Audi continued to produce it until 2024, and even though an all-electric version was introduced in 2015, fewer than 100 of those were ever sold.
However, automotive fans might be about to go giddy with excitement, as the current boss of Audi, Gernot Döllner, is a big fan of V8 engines and the R8 as well. Rumors are running rife that we might soon see a new Audi lineup, and that might well include a reborn R8 supercar, but this time with a Lamborghini engine.
Döllner hinted at this at a recent roundtable of automotive journalists, which saw him heap praise on the supercar and the engine layout of the V8 itself. Currently, just a handful of Audis have V8s, which include the RS 6 Avant station wagon and the SQ7 SUV. But a supercar has been missing from the range since 2024.
While heaping praise on the V8, Döllner did tease the future and what the engine could go into next. While he avoided directly mentioning the supercar by its name, it’s clear the R8 was at the forefront of Döllner’s mind.
What Döllner Said About an Audi R8 Revival
Döllner spoke quite enthusiastically about the V8 and how it fits into the current Audi range. “It’s a perfect fit for full-size SUVs, and whenever it’s possible, packaging-wise, there’s no restraint to having that engine in a different vehicle concept,” Döllner said. In particular, the 4.2-liter engine from the original RS 5 is still held very highly within the German automaker.
Döllner then brought up Lamborghini’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, which you can currently find in the Temerario. This engine makes 789hp and 538lb-ft of torque, and it produces a thrilling soundtrack. The perfect engine to go into another supercar that happens to be a sister brand to Lamborghini.
The Audi boss actually directly referenced this fact in the roundtable, and how Audi can pull engines from other brands within the Volkswagen Group. “We have these opportunities [as part of the] Volkswagen Group to come from the different technical solutions and combine them. The C Sport is an example of how we can build a car with character based on a Porsche platform, yet the result is clear Audi,” he said.
Could the R8 Really Make a Return?
Döllner nodded and said “Good idea!” when the suggestion of a new R8 was suggested, but at the time of writing had not expanded upon what exactly that could mean. But this does suggest that there has at least been some thought towards a new Audi R8, even if it has only been two years since production concluded. That would be a welcome bit of news for enthusiasts and diehard Audi fans.
If it did make a return, the addition of a mild-hybrid to the V8 is incredibly likely. The Lamborghini Temerario, for example, has three electric motors, boosting power from 789hp to 907hp in total. That is likely the figure that Audi would aim to match, or even beat, should a new R8 come along. Many of us miss the incredible R8, so it would be very exciting to see it make a comeback.