IAB Report - Next generation Audi R8 will not launch before 2016

Shares its underpinnings with the Lamborghini Huracan.

Speaking to Indian Autos Blog at the VW Group Night at the Paris Motor Show, Audi's member of the Board of Management and head of Technical Development, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, said that the second generation R8 will come in 2016.

The new R8 shares its underpinnings with the Lamborghini Huracan, which went on sale in India last month. Like the Huracan, the R8 too would have a light kerb weight in the vicinity of 1,500 kg thanks to the use of high-strength aluminium and carbon fiber.

Regular variants of the new R8 will continue to be powered by the 4.2-liter V8 and 5.2-liter V10 engines. However, they will be tuned to produce more power and torque, as was the case with the Huracan, whose 5.2-liter V10 makes 50 PS more in comparison to the Gallardo.

Reports are rife that Audi will introduce a turbocharged petrol engine, a plug-in hybrid, an all-electric e-tron and even a diesel variant on the new supercar.

Also read: Our review of the Audi Q3 Dynamic

Before the new R8 is revealed, the current version will bid adieu with a 'Final Edition', which according to spyshots is believed to be a hardcore performance variant of the R8 V10 Plus.

Competitors: Porsche 911, Maserati GranTurismo
Expected Price: INR 1.5-2 crores, ex-Showroom
Launch date in Europe: 2016