The Audi R8 Has Cheated Death, But Not For Long

The Audi R8 is one of only two cars left in production with a V10 engine, alongside the related Lamborghini Huracan. We’ve known for a long time that that number would soon be dropping to one, with the end of R8 production confirmed as early as 2019.

Back then, we were told that production would be ending in 2023, but Audi recently confirmed to German outlet Automobilwoche that the R8 is still being built. The more astute amongst you will have noticed that it’s now 2024, so what gives?

An Audi spokesperson told Motor1 that, given the announcement of the end of production came in 2019, “it is not surprising that the actual end date has changed by a few weeks.” Audi gave the close of Q1 2024 - the end of March, in other words - as a new deadline for the end of production, so it’s only a matter of weeks before the final car rolls out of the factory in Heilbronn, Germany.

It seems this unexpected stay of execution has come about, somewhat ironically, as a result of Audi’s original announcement of the end of production. This has driven a new level of demand from people wanting to get their hands on the howling V10 supercar before it disappears forever.

If you’re suddenly rubbing your hands together thinking you’ve now got a second chance to get yourself a brand new R8, then you’re going to be disappointed: the slight extension is purely to fulfil existing orders, and Audi’s UK website explicitly lists the R8 as subject to stock availability.

The end of production will bring to a close nearly 18 years of Audi’s halo car, which was produced from mid-2006 in its original, V8 form. The 5.2-litre V10 was added to the range in 2009 and became the sole engine option with 2015’s second-generation car.

It will leave the Lamborghini Huracan as the last V10 standing, and that car’s days are numbered, too: its production will end later in 2024, and its successor is heavily rumoured to use a twin-turbo V8. The R8, meanwhile, currently has no direct replacement confirmed, but there have long been rumours of a fully-electric halo car in its mould.