Audi plots supercar comeback with next-gen hybrid R8

Audi is looking to be a player again in the world of supercars, with plans to launch a new model of the once highly coveted R8.

The details: The next-gen R8 is scheduled to make its global debut in 2027 as a plug-in hybrid, drawing from some high-tech performance attributes of the German brand’s sibling, Lamborghini. 

• The new R8 will be based on the Lamborghini Temerario, which currently features a turbocharged V-8 with three electric motors.

• Speculations are that the new Audi supercar will be offered as both a coupe and convertible model, capable of producing nearly 1,000 horsepower.  

The next-gen R8 will usher in an entirely new era for the Audi supercar after being discontinued in 2023 after a nearly 20-year run, with total sales figures pegged at around 45,000 units.

Between the lines: News of a new twin-turbo R8 comes amid a surge in supercar sales globally, which could pave the way for Audi to win in the more exclusive market sector that tends to yield higher profit margins for automakers and dealers.

• Sales in 2024 for Ferrari—which made $192,221 in operating profits per vehicle sold in 2023—increased 5% in the Americas in 2024 and .7% globally, with its net revenue jumping 11.8% to $6.9 billion. 

• Lamborghini—which reported 27.3% profit in 2023—had another record sales year in 2024, delivering 10,687 units globally (6% increase), including 3,712 cars in the Americas (7% increase), the brand’s largest market. 

Audi isn’t the only mass car brand looking to garner a piece of the supercar market with a new model. Acura confirmed last year during Monterey Car Week that it plans to debut an EV in 2027 or 2028, as a replacement to the NSX. 

Why it matters: An all-new R8 could potentially help Audi and its dealers boost their profit margins. In addition, given Audi’s 14% sales decline in 2024, a new R8 could be just the right vehicle to give the German brand a much-needed jolt in the market and help drum up more interest in other Audi products, driving buyers to the showroom.

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