No turbos for next Audi R8

Almost every modern mid-engined sports car today is force-fed by turbochargers, trading high revs for big power and low-end torque.

Either that, or they’re being pulled towards full battery-electric status.

We say “almost” because the Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Huracán (and Aventador) stubbornly stick to naturally aspirated power.

And, if Audi Sport board member Oliver Hoffmann has his way, the next generations of both supercars will, too.

Except it may not be that simple, or that light, with the Audi’s board member for development, Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, today hinting that it could even arrive as a plug-in hybrid.

Rothenpieler yesterday insisted Audi would offer seven plug-in hybrids and five battery-electric cars by the end of next year, and will be the hydrogen fuel-cell development centre for the entire Volkswagen Group.

He insisted there would be 30 electrified cars wearing Audi badges by 2025, up from Audi’s earlier claims of 20, and some of those would come from Audi Sport.

Though under tremendous pressure to turbocharge any successor to the current R8, Hoffmann insists naturally aspirated power isn’t dead yet.

Upcoming EU 7 emissions regulations will make life harder for naturally aspirated engines, yet Hoffmann insists there are ways Audi Sport can keep the V10 alive – but it won’t be easy and they’ll be difficult to develop.

“For 2023/24 for EU7; it will be hard for naturally aspirated [engines] but we have some concepts to deal with it,” Hoffmann insisted.

“The more electrification we have, the longer we can have the V10 and people want the V10.

“We have to have an answer for EU7, for naturally aspirated, high-revving engines.”

That answer looks to be the same as Lamborghini’s future, with CEO Stefano Domenicali insisting his company would retain its high-revving naturally aspirated powerplants, even with EU 7.

Domenicali has already admitted he would move to hybrid solutions to blend with his V10 and V12 supercar engines, though the Urus SUV already uses an Audi-sourced, twin-turbo V8.

That’s despite Ferrari switching to turbo power with the 488 and now the F8 Tributo that debuted at the Geneva motor show, McLaren prospering with basically one turbocharged V8 and Aston Martin developing its own biturbo V6 for its upcoming Huracán competitor.

At yesterday’s annual financial conference, Audi CEO Bram Schot was less convincing on the future of the R8 and even the TT.

“Audi will always have icon cars. We are an emotional brand,” Schot said.

“The e-tron GT will be a new icon, but with the TT and R8, we’re also looking at volumes because profitability is something we need to focus on.”

The difference for Hoffmann, though, is that the attachment to the R8’s V10 is personal and deep. He developed it.

“I worked for Lamborghini when we developed the 5.0 version of the V10. Then Audi asked if I wanted to do the new V10, so I did.”