Audi, this is a request - no, a plea - for you to produce a rear-wheel-drive version of the Audi R8 V6 you are developing but can’t confirm exists.
We're confident that it exists because our snappers have caught it testing on the continent - and that’s great, even though you can’t confirm it, because there’s a gap for such a sports car on the market.
Your sibling, Porsche, has discontinued the flat-six of its mid-engined Cayman, which many still proclaim was the best attainable all-round sports car. It’s left a gaping hole for a genuinely usable midship-six in this segment.
Good news, then, that the R8 V6 is coming. Hurrah, indeed. Maybe it'll also fill the void left by the discontinued R8 V8, although, I often prefer the silky tone of a six-cylinder engine over a more monotone V8, anyway. That statement might see a P45 land on my desk…
But there's one thing: we're worried the R8 V6 might be all-wheel drive only. This would be a massive shame.
As shown by the launch of your new R8 RWS - you know, the rear-wheel-drive one - there’s a hunger for purer, more basic driver-focused cars. And one available with a V6 engine wouldn’t just plug the hole in the segment, it would help dry the tears of those wishing for another six-pot Cayman – one that’s not limited in production like the GT4.
So, Audi, keep up this momentum after the launch of the rear-drive R8 and do the right thing. Launch a rear-wheel-drive Audi R8 V6, please.
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Is the awd Hurucan
Is the awd Hurucan Performante the best handling Hurucan? Inarguably. So why does it follow that a rwd R8 will be necessarily better? This piece is just juvenile soup of the day I'm afraid. Next they'll be asking for manual boxes and vinyl car systems. Get a life.
A awd V6 R8 would be a wonderful thing.
be careful what you wish for
After seeing distinctly lukewarm reviews for this engine in other applications I'm surprised there's a clamour for it - from Autocar's own RS5 review:
Where the minuses occur, they do so with a predictable sense of inevitability, and it feels it (there’s simply too much torque fermenting in the engine bay for it not to be) but there isn’t the same accompanying theatrical fizz to its high-rev function, nor the same pockmarked mechanical shunt to its paddle-operated gear changes.
That it proves less than mesmerising in such moments is hardly a shock"
"to buy the latest RS5 solely for its new engine would probably be a mistake: the V6 is as consistent as treacle, and about as satisfying when warmly spooned into your life – but it’s not the kind of engine that stands dramatically out from the rest of the driving experience."
It will fill a price point in the range and help R8 sales that have struggled with its significant increase in price over the previous generation, but the real world useful torquey midrange rather than a naturally aspirated revver doesnt exactly sound a driving purists dream, and at a price point still likely to be circa £100k its not eactly a Cayman substitute.
"Maybe it'll also fill the
"Maybe it'll also fill the void left by the discontinued R8 V8". Erm, well, in terms of power and presumably pricing, that is exactly what the V6 model will be doing. It's just replacing a larger N/A engine with a smaller turbo one.
And as mentioned above, yup, the Evora alreday fits your requirements being a mid-engined V6 car. As does the Ford GT. And the Lotus Exige.