Most googled car on the Internet, Audi R8, primed for 2027 comeback as a Lamborghini-engined super-PHEV
- The Audi R8 could be making a comeback
- The last ever R8 rolled off the production line last year
- Now, it could be making a return as a plug-in hybrid
Published on Mar 14, 2025 at 10:08 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Mar 14, 2025 at 10:10 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The Audi R8 could be set to make a very welcome return in 2027 – this time as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) supercar.
The car was officially launched at the Paris Auto Show back in 2006 and was based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform.
A second-generation was released in 2015, but after almost two decades in production, the carmaker called time on the supercar in March 2024.
However, a year on, it looks as though it could be set for a big return.
The Audi R8 was an impressive supercar
The Audi R8 made history as it was the first mid-engine super sports car from the German automaker.
Since its 2006 launch, Audi has produced 45,949 R8s at its Neckarsulm and Böllinger Höfe plants, which were sold across the globe.
It was inspired by the Audi Le Mans quattro concept car – a ‘high-performance sports car suitable for everyday driving, a car that makes no compromises on comfort and user-friendliness’, according to technical director Bernhard Voll.
The Audi R8 was initially offered as a coupe with a 4.2 liter V8, before a convertible ‘Spyder’ model and V10 engines were introduced later.
At its launch, it was the first production car to use full-LED headlamps.
The car was also a bit of a Hollywood star and was the car of choice for the fictional Tony Stark – aka Iron Man – in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as appearing in Fifty Shades of Grey.
The car’s enduring popularity led to it being the most Googled supercar in the world, with more than 22.5 million searches in 2021 – closely followed by the Lamborghini Urus with 20.06 million searches.
It was the end of an era when production finished last year
After 18 years in production, Audi scrapped the R8 in March 2024 – a sad day for gearheads across the world.
The last ever Audi R8 to be built was a Vegas Yellow model with a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2 liter V10 engine under the hood.
The V10 engine delivered up to 612 horsepower and propelled the Audi R8 from 0-60mph (0-96km/h) in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it time of just 3.2 seconds.
As you might imagine, the car has earned itself a special spot in automotive history and rather than being sold off to a customer, the last ever Audi R8 was sent to the Audi Museum in Ingolstadt.
The legend could be set to return
Almost a year on from the ‘last ever’ Audi R8 being built, the iconic supercar could be set for a return – this time as a plug-in hybrid or PHEV.
Not only that, but the new version could become the marque’s most powerful and fastest roadgoing model to date.
According to a report in Autocar, the project is already underway and has the backing and support of Audi chairman Gernot Döllner.
The publication claims the new PHEV R8 will debut in 2027 and will be twinned with the Lamborghini Temerario.
The original, you’ll remember, shared a platform with the Gallardo, while the second-generation was twinned with the Lamborghini Huracán – and it seems that the marque is keen to keep this tradition alive, with the upcoming R8.
The new model is expected to use the same drivetrain, chassis, electronics and, some key structural elements with the Temerario, according to Autocar.
That means the upcoming PHEV could come with a twin-turbocharged 4.0 liter V8 that can crank out up 789 horsepower, further boosted to 907HP thanks to a trio of electric motors.
As yet, Audi hasn’t confirmed the return of the R8, meaning we don’t have specifics on how the car may look or any details about its performance.
However, its purported 2027 debut will coincide with the launch of a more powerful Temerario, meaning that – if the rumors are correct – an upcoming Audi R8 performance 2027 could be the most powerful to date with up to 1,000HP.
Alongside that, it’s rumored to have a top speed of almost 210mph, making it the fastest Audi ever created.
So, watch this space – because a legend could be about to make a big comeback.
Some of the images used for this article were generated using AI
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
