We’ve known this day was coming for a while, but that doesn’t make the news any easier to swallow. The Audi R8, the flagship of the German automaker and a beloved supercar for nearly two decades, is officially no more. The final R8 rolled off the assembly line earlier this month at Audi’s Böllinger Höfe plant, according to Top Gear, which was on site for the occasion.
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The last-ever example of the V10 mid-engined supercar was a “Performance Quattro Edition” putting out 612bhp and styled with “Vegas Yellow” paint, bronze 20-inch alloy wheels and a carbon fiber package. Talk about going out in style.
Audi had originally sounded the death knell for the R8 last fall, alongside its TT sports car that gave its final bow in November. Fan demand led Audi to extend production a few more months to fill additional orders, but now it really is the end of the road for the R8.
Farewell, old friend
The R8 made a big splash when the first generation debuted back in 2006 for the 2007 model year. Audi wasn’t exactly known for sports cars at the time, let alone mid-engined supercars with beastly Lamborghini V10 engines. As a halo car, the R8 helped change perceptions of Audi — which at the time of its release was arguably viewed as a distant third in the German luxury car trinity after Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
The R8 offered supercar buyers something different, not just because it was an Audi, but also because of its unusual design and cutting-edge technology. The car’s massive contrasting “sideblade” intakes and all-LED headlamps (it was the first production car to feature the tech) made the R8 look like it had arrived from the future. The techy draw of the R8 was exemplified by its association with Iron Man/Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Robert Downey Jr.’s billionaire genius superhero drove an R8 in a number of the franchise’s films, starting with Iron Man in 2008.
But now, the once futuristic R8 is a thing of the past. So what’s next for Audi? Is a replacement supercar on the way?
Will there be an electric Audi R8?
Many are speculating, with good reason, that whatever car Audi comes up with as a replacement for the R8 won’t be powered by a naturally aspirated V10. In fact, it’s unlikely to be powered by an NA anything. Audi currently plans to launch its final ICE car in 2026 and eliminate gas-powered vehicles entirely by 2033 in favor of an all-electric lineup.
The brand has also hinted that whatever halo car eventually replaces the R8 will be an EV, so if it’s the Lambo-like roar you loved most about the R8, you’ll be relegated to shopping for one on the used market from now on. In any case, any electric R8 replacement isn’t expected to arrive from Audi until at least 2029.
You can read everything we know about Audi’s future electric supercar plans here.
