Spy pictures of an Audi R8 testing the other day, as they often do, raised more questions than they answered. Now, a report claims to have answers to many of the burning questions raised by those shots.
Autocar reports that the mystery R8 was actually the long-rumored R8 V6 and that all of the car’s rear-end differences were as a result of the mill’s smaller proportions.
The exact V6 in question is the Porsche/Audi 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 that is currently housed in everything from the RS4 Avant to the Porsche Cayenne. Apparently, Audi hasn’t landed on a final power figure for the R8—and like its V10 sister, the R8 V6 is expected to come with more than one output number—but the report claims the unit could make more than 500 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
Although the idea of a small-displacement, forced induction R8 might seem antithetical to the whole exercise, the n/a V10 being such an important part of the current R8’s charm and uniqueness, but a smaller, lighter engine would lower overall weight of the car, which isn’t exactly a featherweight.
And although 500 hp is a full 40 less than the standard R8, it’s still a more than ample number.
If the report is right, it could prove to be an important one indeed, since recent comments by the head of R&D at Audi suggest that the V10 might be on its way out, so we’ll have to get used to smaller displacement. On the other hand, he did suggest that the V8 will be safe for a while, so the V6 might not be our lot.
[source: Autocar]
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