The Audi R8’s position as one of the last of the big-banger atmo supercars is about to change, with a twin-turbo V6 version on the way.
Scheduled to be shown at the New York motor show late next week, the V6 will be the first non-V10 engine stuffed into the R8 since the original, first-generation R8’s 4.2-litre V8.
The engine, jointly developed with Porsche, is already used in Audi Sport’s RS 4 and RS 5. It is completely different to the standard Audi 3.0-litre TFSI V6, though they have similar capacities.
The engine develops 331kW and 600Nm in RS 5 specification, giving it a sprint time of 3.9sec to 100km/h – or just 0.2sec slower than the just-launched R8 V10 RWS.
That’s also a significant chunk more torque than the V10 musters (60Nm, which arrives at 1900rpm instead of 6500) and its power leak is only 66kW shy of an engine 2.3 litres larger.
There has been no confirmation of what power outputs the V6 R8 will have although Audi is expected to announce two variants. It’s fair to assume there will be at least some protection of the V10’s flagship position.
It has been a busy time for the R8, with Audi Sport recently taking the decision to rip out its front differential to create a drift-happy, lightweight version of the V10 in the form of the 999-unit RWS series.