Audi's R8 supercar may not be gone for good. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, speaking at a press event for the new RS 5 in Austria, called a third-generation R8 built on Lamborghini Temerario underpinnings a "good idea" — then laughed. That's about as close to a wink as executive language gets, and multiple outlets including Autocar and The Drive now point to a rumored 2027 debut. The R8 left the US market after the 2023 model year, and global production wrapped in early 2024.
What a new R8 would bring
The Temerario is Lamborghini's latest mid-engine supercar, and its powertrain is the centerpiece of this story. It pairs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 3 electric motors for a combined 907 hp (676 kW) — with a 10,000-rpm redline that makes the hybrid system feel anything but clinical. Lamborghini quotes a 0–62 mph time of 2.7 seconds.
Audi has done this before. The original R8 shared its bones with the Lamborghini Gallardo; the second generation tracked closely with the Huracán. Temerario-based hardware would follow that same logic, letting Audi build a mid-engine halo car without funding an entirely new platform from scratch.
One thing almost certainly gone: the naturally aspirated V10 that defined the outgoing R8's personality. A plug-in hybrid (an internal-combustion engine paired with a battery pack that can be charged from an outlet) setup would replace it — though Lamborghini's approach prioritizes peak output and high-revving character over electric-only range.
The US market angle
The R8's exit left a gap between Porsche's 911 Turbo S and Ferrari's entry-level offerings — a segment where Audi had real presence. A returning R8 at similar pricing to the outgoing model (which started around $158,000 before it left) would slot directly into that space.
Pricing, US-specific trim levels, and any potential federal tax credit eligibility are unknown at this stage. Whether a Temerario-derived plug-in hybrid would qualify under the IRA's Section 30D rules — which require North American final assembly and battery sourcing thresholds — is an open question.
Döllner also made clear that Audi's upcoming electric sports car, built on a Porsche-derived platform and reportedly debuting in 2027, will not serve as the brand's performance flagship. That role, he suggested, still belongs to a car with an internal-combustion engine under the cover.
Timing and what's not confirmed
Nothing here is official. Audi has not issued a press release, confirmed powertrain specs for an R8-specific variant, or named markets. The 2027 timeline comes from Autocar's reporting, corroborated by Motor1 and others — but it remains a rumor. Döllner's comments are a signal, not a commitment.
Still, between VW Group's broader pivot away from full electrification in its performance lineup and the CEO's very deliberate choice of words, the odds of a third-gen R8 look meaningfully better than they did a year ago.