The idea of a follow-up to the Audi R8 (Mk2), which ceased production in 2023, isn’t new. Fans have theorized about the lack of a successor since it became clear one wasn’t initially in the cards. However, seasons change and so can minds at Audi, and comments from the head of Audi Sport GmbH aren’t something to take lightly. Those comments make us seriously wonder if an R8 (Mk3) may be inbound.
So, let’s dig into what we know and complement that with a slew of renderings showing what we think a next-generation R8 might look like.
PREVIOUS RUMORS
We’ve covered the on-again, off-again rumors surrounding the R8 (Mk3) for several years — who said what and how to contextualize those comments. I’m not going to rehash all of that here, but the main takeaway remains the obvious path to a new R8 via the Lamborghini Temerario hardware set, much as the first- and second-generation R8s shared components with their era’s baby Lamborghinis — the Gallardo and Huracán respectively.
THIS WEEK’S UPDATE
Rumors alone aren’t enough to get me back onto this subject, but comments from key figures at Audi are a different story. Media-trained executives tend not to officially comment on future product unless there’s been a strategic decision to do so. Should they choose to comment, it’s natural — and logical — to glean what you can from those statements. So, here’s what we know.
Australia’s GoAuto.com published comments attributed to Audi Sport Managing Director Rolf Michl. If you’re doing your own sleuthing, you should probably read the whole story linked there, but in the meantime here’s a summary and several direct quotes of points that were covered.
MORE THAN EMOTION
First, when speaking to why such a car would require more than emotional reasoning for production, he stated:
“In really challenging times — and we’ve talked about regulations, and very cost-intensive developments — every car has to be a business case.”
“It wouldn’t make sense just to calculate, let me say, a brand-leveraging effect … you really have to see that intense spending has a valid chance to realize the specific earnings.”
TEMERARIO AND ITS HYBRID SYSTEM
With the arrival of the RS 5 and other high-performance hybrid cars on the market, there’s an increasing level of acceptance around hybrid-powered performance cars of this nature.
“I can also see the market development … I think with a hybrid car, you still have the sound — which you can see with the Temerario — but you still have the electrical part, and the benefits from it.”
“My first experience when I first drove the (V12 PHEV) Revuelto was really amazing to see … (because) it is very expressive, but you are commuting fully electrically.”
“You see a lot of manufacturers going this way, and I think they have a reason for that.”
… and regarding platform sharing in particular:
“The R8 and the Lamborghini Huracan basically shared their genes, or their platform. I think for every car project, you have to look for synergies, but each car — especially emotional ones like we do — has to have a sharply defined character.”
… and regarding the idea of an ICE-only powertrain to cut back on weight and the cost of a hybrid system:
“Honestly, I don’t see the possibility volume-wise, because it’s very specific … to develop an engine just for a small volume doesn’t make any sense,” said Mr. Michl.
When pushed hard on speculation of a new R8 appearing as early as 2027, Michl pushed back, saying “maybe it is another chapter of speculation”.
Maybe. Sure. But maybe not. There’s also no need to be vague if the answer is a definitive no. He’d know if no meant no.
CONTEXTUALIZING THESE COMMENTS
Audi is managing several press events in Europe this week, ranging from the Q9 interior reveal to select media and an RS 5 driving event in Austria. We’re not 100% clear under what conditions these comments were made, but I suspect it was casually over drinks at dinner.
As head of Audi Sport, it’s reasonable to think Michl would have been doing the PR rounds alongside the RS 5 launch activities, though the story itself doesn’t specify.
HOW WOULD AN R8 MK3 FIT WITH CONCEPT C?
This is an interesting situation to consider. Though there’s been plenty of speculation about Concept C being the next TT (MkIV), Audi has made no such confirmation and has also made no effort to associate the car with the TT name.
What we do know is that it’s based on the upcoming Porsche 718 Electric architecture, which is slightly larger than the outgoing 718 Cayman and Boxster. Think R8 Mk1 proportions and you wouldn’t be far off.
A Temerario-based R8 (Mk3) also wouldn’t be far off from that footprint. In many respects, then, these cars may end up similarly sized. However, they’re expected to be very different beyond the EV versus plug-in hybrid drivetrain distinction.
A lot is already known about these completely different architectures. Further, we can make some assumptions about pricing. A production version of Concept C would likely sit just north of six figures, while the Lamborghini Temerario starts around $350,000 and climbs quickly from there.
Effectively, Audi could once again field a range of sports cars that may be similar in size but very different in execution and configuration.
RENDERING THE R8 MK3
This isn’t the first time this site has rendered an R8 (Mk3). A quick search through the R8 Mk3 tag here will uncover several previous attempts. The challenge with those designs, however, is that they were all influenced by Audi’s outgoing design language.
The aforementioned Concept C previews a new design language from Audi. Known as Radical Simplicity, the move is to distill forms down to their essentials through a less-is-more approach. None of that really aligns with those earlier renderings.
So, I approached this rendering using the basic proportions of a mid-engine R8 while applying this newer design language. That’s a very different approach from both the previous Audi language and the Temerario, though it works surprisingly well here.
I also brought back the side blade from the R8 Mk1 because, to me, it remains one of the car’s most iconic design elements. It’s also something the current Audi design team seems to be referencing through body surfacing on Concept C and the color segmentation on the R26 Formula 1 car.
As a personal design flourish, I added a row of four interlocking exhaust tips. Yes, I know it wouldn’t be ideal for flow, but it would be an interesting and functional way to integrate the Audi rings into the rear design. At a time when faux or heavily stylized exhaust treatments have become the norm — see the new RS 5 — it does make me wonder whether something like this might actually be possible.
IS THE RENDERING ACCURATE?
This is an interesting question, though I don’t want to dwell too much on the rendering’s accuracy. More important is which design language an R8 would ultimately adopt.
We’d previously heard Audi had approved an R8 long before Chief Creative Officer Massimo Frascella arrived or developed the design language now represented by Concept C.
That creates an interesting conundrum. With the Temerario already on sale, fast-tracking an R8 to market — if an R8 (Mk3) is indeed in play — would seem to be the highest priority. By our estimation, that would mean any R8 (Mk3) would either need to be a Lichte-era design, a modified version adjusted toward Radical Simplicity, or an entirely new design altogether.
Which path Audi chooses may depend heavily on timing. The more substantial the design revisions, the greater the delay if the previously rumored Temerario-based R8 was already deep into development.
There’s a fourth path I suppose… one that doesn’t involve Temerario. Audi could go super exclusive. Building cars for the super rich – think $500,000 – $1M per car club and things get faster in more ways than one. Time to market, locking down design, liberties in execution, etc. all get easier though costs rise and production numbers drop. If that’s the case, then Audi could pivot to another hardware set in the Volkswagen Group. Such a move would also seem more aligned with the hyper exclusive world where Audi is now playing with its F1 project. I’ll save theorizing on that for another story though.
FINAL WORD
In the end, this is still conjecture. We’re speculating, and we’d love to think that somewhere inside Audi, current leadership recognized the need to fast-track a car like this and bring it to market. As fans of the brand, it’s hard not to root for the return of a halo car worthy of a GT3 racing program or Tony Stark’s daily driver.
While a lot is being made of what was likely a casual conversation entertained by Rolf Michl — perhaps now to his own chagrin given the butterfly effect his comments have had on the news cycle — it could very well have been nothing more than conversation over a multi-course meal.
But it could also be more than that. Michl may be hinting at what’s to come and hoping for exactly this sort of reaction.
I know I’m hoping for the latter.
PHOTO GALLERY
