911 and R8 to share tech

Audi and Porsche are trying to do the seemingly impossible by squeezing the R8 and 911 sportscars closer together.

The arrival of a mid-engined racing version of the 911 plus widespread cost cutting across the Volkswagen Group have sparked rumours that Porsche would dump its iconic rear-engined configuration in favour of a shared platform, but now that seems not to be the case.

Instead, sources insist the next generation of each of the flagship coupes will share the entire front-end architecture, including their steering systems — despite the 2019 992 Porsche 911 retaining a rear-engined layout and the R8 committed to siting its engine ahead of the rear axle.

That’s not a great problem for the chassis engineers, Porsche insiders insist, because the 911 already shares its front end layout and architecture with another mid-engined sports car – its own Cayman/Boxster twins.

The move will slash costs in both development and in manufacturing, and sources at both companies insist there is enough flexibility in the packaging to allow them to deliver the characteristics to which their drivers are accustomed.

It also leaves a major question looming over the third-generation of Lamborghini’s mid-engined entry-level sports car, which changed names from Gallardo to Hurucan on its way to the second generation.

The current, second-generation R8 will already lean heavily on Porsche technology, borrowing the turbocharged, 2.9-litre V6 from Porsche to create an entry-level R8 that will be shown either late this year or early next year. Look also for a convergence of gearbox technologies.

There are no plans to send the R8 towards a rear-engined layout, nor does Porsche have ideas about moving its production cars away from a rear-engined layout towards the mid-engined layout debuted in the 911 RSR at last week’s Daytona 24 Hour race.

Neither will Audi move its engine family towards the new turbocharged range of flat sixes that will be ushered in with Porsche’s next generation of the 911 family.

While regulations allow, Audi will retain the V10 for the top-end R8 and R8 Plus, with the 2.9-litre V6 providing the entry level and no V8 engine in between.

Insiders insist Porsche’s new turbocharged lineup for the 2019 911 will see the end of the naturally aspirated powerplant in the GT3 and GT3 RS, moving the traditional range toppers to a 375kW flat six turbo.

The introduction of across-the-board turbocharging will also help Porsche usher in an era of hybrid 911 power in 2020, with 48-volt and 12-volt electrical systems running in parallel.