More rumors depicting a turbocharged Audi R8 are surfacing.
Various speculations have said that Audi’s mid-engine supercar could get a turbocharged engine to fill in the gap left by the no-longer-relevant 4.2-litre V8. Moreover, the fact that Audi had chosen not to include this engine in the current line-up, made the rumors even more credible.
Sure, turbochargers are needed in this day and age to counteract the competition’s performance-eco momentum, but CAR thinks going turbocharged has other benefits. That said, the British magazine reports that there are rumors of a 2.9-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 reserved for the entry-level Ingolstadt supercar.
Moreover, the engine will allegedly develop 450 HP, which is a more than welcomed oomph over the 414 horses drained from the 4.2-litre naturally aspirated unit. Come to think of it, a smaller engine isn’t a far-fetched idea, or even ridiculous, especially as the R8 was initially launched with a powerplant some deemed unworthy for a supercar – I’m talking about the N/A 4.2-litre unit. So, a small displacement, twin-turbo is actually keeping with the German car maker’s tradition.
As CAR states, the fact that China’s government has imposed humongous taxes for engines bigger than 3.0-litres, has determined constructors adopt a downsizing policy for their current and future line-up. That said, China remains one of the largest marketplaces for car companies and firms so that means Audi are obliged to comply in order to stay relevant.
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