Audi’s next R8, set to come out in 2015, will have a lot in common with the new, V10-powered Lamborghini Huracan. Both cars will put 5.2-liters of 10-cylinder power to the road through 7-speed dual-clutch gearboxes and all-wheel-drive. That should come as no surprise. After all, the current 4-ringer shares a lot of its DNA with the departed Gallardo.
But there is still room for differences.
For instance, the next mid-engined Ingolstadt exotic will ride wider tracks and roll on a longer wheelbase than its Italian corporate cousin. Audi technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg said, “The engine and gearbox will be the same, but with different applications. The suspension layout and geometry is different so we can tune different characteristics.”
Another way in which the two cars will differ is in their total engine offerings. The Audi will also be available with a carry-over 4.2-liter V8 and, more than likely, something smaller and probably turbocharged. “It’s a big step from 10 cylinders to four though – there are some numbers in between that we could look at,” Hackenberg said.
Even an electric powertrain, in the form of the one found in the R8 e-tron, could join those of the next-generation model range thanks, in part, to an increased range of more than 279 miles.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
You must be logged in to post a comment.