Audi has enlisted fans of its R8 to create an emotional sendoff to the supercar.
Fans were consulted for various creative elements in the film, such as how the cars were filmed, where they were filmed, what music was used and what the storyline was.
In addition to the music behind the action, the film also featured the glorious soundtracks of various V8- and V10-powered R8 models making quick work of multiple sets of tyres. The cars also took to downtown Los Angeles for a night time blast through the streets.
The video featured numerous R8s, starting with the original 4.2-litre V8-powered manual model and ending with the limited-run 2023 Audi R8 GT RWD – a final hurrah to the R8 for purists, but which didn’t come to Australia as the supercar was dropped in 2021.
Also featured was a 2012 R8 GT, a racier version of the first-generation R8, powered by the Lamborghini-derived 5.2-litre V10 that also appeared in the 2022 R8 Performance Quattro and the aforementioned GT RWD.
There were a number of special R8s that didn’t feature in the video, however.
One of these absent R8s was the all-electric e-tron. It was produced exclusively for Europe in tiny numbers – less than 100 – at Quattro GmbH at the Audi Neckarsulm site in Böllinger Höfe.
The R8 e-tron completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds, thanks to two electric motors on the rear axle outputting a total of 340kW of power and 920Nm of torque.
The successor to the current V10-powered supercar will be all-electric, and it might not even wear an R8 badge.
Autocar reports this electric successor to the Audi R8 will be built on a bespoke electric vehicle (EV) architecture for low-volume sports cars and supercars.
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R8 e-tron
Audi technical boss Oliver Hoffman said to Autocar that “future iconic sports – sports cars and so on … will use systems and modules out of the [SSP] platform, or toolkit.”
VW Group CEO Oliver Blume has previously confirmed the SSP architecture will accommodate electric powertrains with outputs over 1250kW. This suggests sports cars and supercars could be possible.
Audi insiders have told Autocar the electric R8 successor will follow a similar formula with two doors. It could also be partly hand-built, like the outgoing car which shares its platform and engine with the Lamborghini Huracan.
Up until now, the Audi R8 and Lamborghini shared a 5.2-litre V10 – albeit in different states of tune – but that connection is set to end with the next generation.
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R8 V10 GT RWD
Lamborghini will develop the Huracan successor’s bespoke platform and engine independently of sister brand Audi.
The Huracan successor will reportedly share the ‘monofuselage’ construction developed for the Revuelto, but will use aluminium instead of carbon fibre.
The first-generation R8 entered production in 2007, and was the brand’s first supercar.
Before later models brought the option of Lamborghini’s screaming V10, a naturally aspirated V8 was available with either Audi’s R-tronic six-speed automated manual transmission or a six-speed gated manual transmission.
MORE: Everything Audi R8
