The brand of the four rings could be working on a more extreme version of its R8

The brand of the four rings could be working on a more extreme version of its Audi R8. Audi Sport is reportedly considering a more extreme version of the Audi R8 that will retain its street legal status, albeit with a series of visual and mechanical changes. Poised to capitalise on the success of the Audi R8 RWS, it will become a challenge for rivals such as the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT R Black Series.

The Audi more extreme R8 has been hinted at by Oliver Hoffman, head of the four-ringed brand’s high-performance division, in an online post.

“We have some good ideas for a more extreme Audi R8, as we know the powerful exterior design of our race car is amazing. People want to drive this on the street,” he said, one day before the Audi R8 LMS GT3 won the 24 hours of Nurburgring. “The engine in the race cars is almost identical to that of the road vehicles, so it is already proven, but we have GT3 drivers doing chassis testing for us.” For example, Frank Stippler, is driving our Audi R8 LMS GT3 and is also our development guy doing the tests at Nurburgring to develop road cars,” Hoffman assured.

Despite the obvious desire to create a track-focused variant of the Audi R8, the rumoured more extreme model will not receive a major power upgrade. This is because Audi Sport would not be interested in electrifying the 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine. At least, not for this generation.

A more extreme Audi R8, will we see it?

Instead, the German brand and its high-performance division will focus on driving dynamics, with Hoffmann alluding to a chassis derived from the Audi R8 LMS GT3 with suspension and brake upgrades, as well as bodywork add-ons inspired by the racer.

Given that the Audi second-generation R8 has been on the market since 2015, with an updated version introduced last year, this derivative or restyling could be a good way to reach the public. Conversations are already underway to develop what could become a more extreme, next-generation Audi R8. Some sources claim it could receive a fully electric powertrain and, of course, an even more aggressive look to match its updated appearance.

Some reports have suggested that Hoffman has already confirmed that, despite the success of the Audi R8 RWS, other models from the four-ringed brand and specifically from the Audi Sport division will not be rear-wheel drive. They won’t even get a modified Quattro AWD system similar to the xDrive of BMW that allows the new BMW M5 and the new BMW M5 Competition to become happy, or rear-wheel drive, cars with the press of a button.

Additionally, the head of Audi’s high-performance division has admitted that it was already on everyone’s mind that the recently launched Audi SQ8 TDI will soon join the Audi Q8 RS, which will be the “best SUV from Ingolstadt”.