Earlier this year, Audi Chairman Bram Schot openly speculated about the future of the R8.
During the company’s Annual General Meeting, the executive asked “Do we need a successor with a combustion engine? Does this fit in with our vision?” Schot didn’t provide answers, but it appears Audi is moving forward with plans for an R8 successor.
Car Magazine reports Audi has approached Rimac about the possibility of collaborating on a high-performance electric vehicle that would replace the R8. Details are limited, but the car is reportedly known at the RS e-Tron and could be launched in 2023 or 2024.
The vehicle would reportedly be built by Audi at their Bollinger Höfe plant, but a lot of the development work would reportedly be outsourced to Rimac. The company won’t just play an important role in the developing the model either as sources have told the publication that Rimic would also supply the powertrain.
Speaking of the latter, the car is envisioned to have four electric motors that produce a combined output of roughly 937 hp (699 kW / 950 PS). This setup would reportedly enable the all-wheel drive model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in just 2.5 seconds.
Other rumored specifications include a 95 kWh solid-state battery pack with a wireless charging system. The batteries are also slated to have a fast charging capability and enough power to deliver 300 miles (483 km) of range.
Furthermore, the two-seater is slated to have an aluminum monocoque chassis and active aerodynamics. That sounds pretty impressive and the car is rumored to start at less than €200,000 ($223,670 / £184,237).
Of course, nothing is set in stone and plans may change as Schot has previously expressed his desire to “concentrate maximum resources on our key projects” and eliminate model complexity. He also criticized the company for being “involved in too many projects for several years.”
Also Read: All-Electric Audi R8 e-tron Unveiled
A high-performance electric supercar isn’t exactly a key project, but the R8 has been an important halo model for the four-ring brand. That being said, the previous R8 e-tron was a failure as less than 100 units were sold.
