Switching to Electric
The Audi R8 is a wonderful supercar, but its days are numbered due to VW Group’s shift towards electrification. The R8 will continue on for a few more years, but it likely won’t outlive this generation. When the car’s lifecycle has run its course, the model will pass on and be replaced by an electric supercar, the e-Tron GTR.
According to Car Magazine, the company is working towards a 2022 launch of this e-Tron GTR. That car will replace the R8. While the information on the vehicle is pretty scarce, Car has some interesting tidbits that may prove to be true. The e-Tron GTR could have three electric motors, 95kWh solid-state battery, wireless charging, about 650 hp, 300-mile range, all-wheel drive, and an aluminum chassis.
That all sounds pretty good to us. What doesn’t sound so good is the fact that there will be no V10 supercar available in Audi’s lineup. We’re far from against electric vehicles. The technology is promising and could offer an even more exhilarating experience than the current R8. With that said, there will always be a special place in our hearts for a V10 engine, or any engine, really.
It will be interesting to see if the e-Tron GTR is ready by 2022. Solid-state battery technology is still being refined, and 2022 sounds a little ambitious. However, once that battery technology is good, it makes total sense to replace the R8. If you want one of the V10 supercars, you’d better buy one in the next couple of years.
