Will Audi electrify the ТТ and R8?

As Audi continues optimizing its spending strategy, the TT and R8 are the first two models that may have to go. It remains open whether the manufacturer wants to discontinue either of them permanently or just put out of production for a while and then bring back as an EV.

The latter version seems especially plausible given that the Ingolstadt-based company plans to electrify 30 of its models within the next five years. This includes 20 purely electric vehicles and 10 hybrids.

The R8 did have a battery-powered version with the added model suffix “e-tron” (watch the video if you missed it). The super-EV had dual electric motors on the rear axle producing 462 hp (345 kW) and 920 Nm (680 lb-ft) of torque. It could sprint 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in mere 3.9 seconds and had up to 450 kilometers (280 miles) of range. However, the €1 million price point proved too much for most buyers, landing the company with fewer than 100 units sold in 2015 and 2016 combined.

In the meantime, news emerged about the intention of Audi and Porsche to further their cooperation developing new engines and a new architecture called Premium Platform Electric (PPE). After releasing that one, the two automakers will design another platform to replace the aging MLB and MSB designs currently employed in the Bentley Continental GT, Bentley Flying Spur and Porsche Panamera.