Audi's Plug-In Hybrid R8 Supercar Could Look Like This
The Audi Concept C two-door sports car will arrive next year as an EV that sits somewhere between two discontinued vehicles, the TT and the R8, replacing neither of them. That leaves room for a halo supercar at the top of the lineup, and a recent interview with Audi Sport managing director Rolf Michl reveals that Ingolstadt is considering filling that void using the Lamborghini Temerario as a launching pad. Rumors about the R8's return are not new, with some claiming that a third-generation R8 will arrive in late 2027, but this is the most concrete indication yet, so we've created some renders to show what the new plug-in hybrid supercar could look like.
Next Audi R8 Could Blend New and Old Styling
Our renders imagine the R8 with the same layout as the Temerario, but the styling is influenced by the Concept C. At the front, narrow horizontal headlights sit above vertical air intakes, framing a large, rectangular center grille, the outline of which we've illuminated. While the Concept C is exceptionally angular, and so is this R8 render, we've retained some of the second-gen R8's styling cues. The front arches curve sleekly into the door, which integrates a reinterpretation of the side blade that made the R8 instantly recognizable. Instead of this running to the roof, however, it extends only up to the shoulder line, and instead of the intake sitting ahead of the blade, it's now behind it.
Related: Audi TT Restomod Brings Original 1995 Concept to Life
The flowing rear arches lead into the rectangular rear end, where thin taillights stretch across the fascia, integrating an illuminated Audi logo. The engine cover is louvered to let heat escape from the twin-turbo V8, and because the large negative spaces on previous R8 supercars were such a hit, those have been added above a big rear diffuser that integrates a pair of rectangular exhaust tips. Y-spoked wheels finish off the look. But is a new R8 really likely, or are we just fantasizing?
Temerario-based Audi R8 Could Happen
Michl acknowledged that the previous R8, which ended production in 2024, and the Huracán shared genes, adding that every car project benefits from synergies. The trick is to create "a definite character," he said, so that "emotional" cars like the R8 are more than just rebodied Lamborghinis. That unique character won't be a combustion-only powertrain, though, as Michl says that "to develop an engine just for a small volume doesn't make any sense" for Audi. The 10,000-rpm V8 in the Temerario is designed to meet regulations and requirements for at least two life cycles, so it seems like the perfect system for Audi to take advantage of, potentially with a unique approach to the electrification side of things. As for the reports claiming an R8 successor will arrive sometime next year, Michl neither confirmed nor denied them, saying, "Maybe it is another chapter of speculation." We'll just have to wait and see, but a new R8 seems more likely in 2027 than at any other time in the last two years. If it looks like our renders, we think it could be just as popular as the original.
Note: The images in this article are AI-generated renders and should not be considered official imagery of a new Audi R8 supercar.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 7:00 AM.