Late in 2017, a report suggested that Audi had no plans to replace the current R8 once it reached the end of its second-generation lifecycle. And now a high-ranking executive at the Ingolstadt automaker has seemingly confirmed the news.
Speaking to Car and Driver at the Geneva International Motor Show, Peter Mertens, head of research and development at the brand, agreed with the suggestion that there were no plans for a third-generation version of the German supercar.
“I would say so. I always get [my PR chief] very nervous when I start talking about that stuff,” Mertens told the US publication.
However, Mertens also went on to say that the R8 flagship “has a long life, and it’s doing okay”, before adding: “Never say never; performance cars are good for Audi”.
Of course, as Car and Driver points out, Audi is expected to spend much of its development budget on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids over the next few years, which means things don’t look particularly rosy for the naturally aspirated R8…
