Five-Cylinder Turbo Audi R8 May Be In The Future

With the previous rumor regarding the Audi R8 going turbocharged, it seems it’s been unofficially confirmed by Ulrich Hackenberg. Ulrich said going turbo “is inevitable” to give buyers more choice.

Ulrich also added they want to keep selling it with naturally aspirated engines and also confirmed that “it would be in this model cycle, to give us a fuller range.”

At this point we  know that this new turbo engine will in fact replace the entry naturally aspirated V8 model, but what hasn’t been specified is what kind or size engine it will be. It can either be the new twin-turbo V6 that’s going to power the next generation Audi  RS4, or a spiced up variant of the five-cylinder found in the Audi RS3.

The source report from Motoring also quotes Quattro boss Heinz Peter Hollerweger, who seems to suggest Audi’s leaning more towards the use of the five-cylinder engine in the Audi R8 and not the V6.

He remarks that “as a configuration, it’s got such a rich history with the Audi brand and there is no sound more ‘Audi’ than the five-cylinder motor in the Audi RS3. It would have more than enough power and torque for the Audi R8, and it’s lighter, too, so it would package well, but we will see…”