Audi R8 to get a base model with 450 hp bi-turbo V6?

This story about a possible entry-level Audi R8 has certainly done its rounds. It has been quite a rollercoaster with all kinds of rumours, and now Car Magazine UK claims that the latest news coming out of Ingolstadt is that a new 2.9 litre twin-turbo V6 engine with 450 hp will form a new base R8, replacing the much-loved 4.2 litre V8 motor in the old car.

It’s time to get the tissues out again, and start wiping away those tears. The publication states that all of this is happening due to the Chinese government’s tax threshold for large capacity imports, where draconian taxes are charged for engines above 3.0 litres in capacity. Sounds familiar, right?

So there you have it folks, the old R8 and RS4‘s famous 4.2 litre V8 is no more, but all is not lost, as the naturally-aspirated 5.2 litre FSI V10 will still be around for the top R8.

But for how much longer, one may ask. That’s of course something none of us quite know just yet. But if there is one thing that is certain, if you’ve always wanted a V10-powered Audi R8, there’s no better time than now to get one!

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