Another iconic Audi model is retiring. The last Audi R8 has rolled off the assembly line at the Böllinger Höfe plant in Neckarzulm.

The epitome of the Audi R8 supercar was the Vegas Yellow-coloured coupe in the Performance Quattro Edition with a carbon aerodynamic package and 20-inch wheels.

Audi had to increase production of the R8 before ending its series production. The announcement that the flagship model would be discontinued was followed by a boom in orders. The last car was originally supposed to be built at the end of 2023, but that didn't end up happening until March 2024.

Looking back at the sales results of the coupe and Spyder versions, we can say that demand for the R8 was always low, which is understandable given the exorbitant price. Demand peaked in 2008 when Audi delivered 5,016 examples of the R8 to customers.

Audi R8 sales for all time:

Year Audi R8 sales
2023 1591
2022 1068
2021 1887
2020 1651
2019 1944
2018 2760
2017 3068
2016 2878
2015 2191
2014 2222
2013 2595
2012 2536
2011 3349
2010 3166
2009 3074
2008 5016
2007 2952

 

The end of the Audi R8 also means that the Volkswagen Group's legendary ten-cylinder engine has one foot in the grave. Lamborghini will phase out production of the Huracan, which is the Audi R8's closest progenitor, later this year. The entire remaining run of the Huracan has already been sold out ahead of schedule, meaning it is no longer possible to order the mid-engined supercar with a 5.2-litre non-carbonated engine.

That said, Lamborghini said in June 2023 that it was making enough money to develop a nasledenik Huracan without sharing costs with Audi. Preliminary information suggests it will be a plug-in hybrid with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

While Lamborghini is preparing to launch a new model, Audi has no intention of producing a direct successor to the R8 with an internal combustion engine. From time to time, company representatives hint at an all-electric replacement, but that's likely to happen for a while yet.

Source: Motor1

Tags: Audi
Евгений Ушаков
Evgenii Ushakov
15 years driving