Building on a previous rumor regarding the Audi R8 going turbo, it seems it’s been unofficially confirmed by Ulrich Hackenberg. The official said going turbo “is inevitable” to give buyers more choice.
He made it clear they want to keep selling it with naturally aspirated engines and also confirmed that “it would be in this model cycle, to give us a fuller range.”
We now even know that this new turbo will in fact replace the entry V8 model, but what hasn’t been specified is what kind of engine it will be. It can either be the new twin-turbo V6 that’s going to power the next RS4, or a spiced up variant of the five-cylinder found in the RS3.
The source report from Motoring also quotes Quattro boss Heinz Peter Hollerweger, who seems to suggest Audi’s leaning more towards the use of the five-cylinder engine in the R8 and not the V6.
He remarks that “as a configuration, it’s got such a rich history with the Audi brand and there is no sound more ‘Audi’ than the five-cylinder motor in the RS3. It would have more than enough power and torque for the R8, and it’s lighter, too, so it would package well, but we will see…”
Ed. Note: A previous version of this article’s title wrongly said that Audi’s Hackenberg “confirmed” a five-cylinder turbo, when his precise word’s were that “It is inevitable that we will go to a turbocharged motor for it at some point” with the five-cylinder being an option.
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