Next Audi R8 May Ditch V10 For 1,000 HP EV Powertrain

Audi allegedly shelved plans to develop a third-generation R8 following the disappointing response to the second-generation model. It’s now reconsidering the idea, minus the internal combustion engine part. Keen to have an entire stable of E-Tron branded electric vehicles, Audi believes there’s room in its lineup for a high-performance EV that would serve as a successor to the mid-engine V10 R8.

Autocar’s report suggests the supercar will pull inspiration from the recently unveiled Audi PB18 E-Tron Concept. It will tap that vehicle’s shooting brake rear end, giving the car more daily usability. That doesn’t mean performance won’t be the main focus, however. Audi is allegedly targeting an output of close to or over 1,000 hp for the R8 EV, which will enable a 0-60 mph sprint of “scarcely more than two seconds” and a top speed of 186 mph.

SEE ALSO: Audi PB 18 e-tron Marks Audi’s First Pebble Beach Debut

The PB18 E-Tron is powered by a forward-thinking electric drivetrain that consists of a 95 kWh battery and three electric motors making a combined output of 671 hp and 612 lb-ft of torque. Audi also gave us a glimpse at what its electric motors are capable of in the fully working E-Tron Vision Gran Turismo Concept, which featured two rear axle motors and a single front axle motor making a combined 815 hp.

It’s clear Audi has the technical know-how to produce a 1,000 hp R8 EV, then, but will this rumored product ever see the light of day? Rumors point to it arriving in 2022, so it should be interesting to see if it arrives shortly before or after other coming EV supercars like Ferrari’s rumored EV and the second-gen Tesla Roadster. Some hybrid supercars should also be on sale by that time, including Lamborghini’s forthcoming hybrid Aventador and Huracan successors.