Audi R4

Audi R5



The upcoming Audi R5 roadster has routinely been called the “Baby R8,” in reference to its design similarities with the German automaker’s high-performance mid-engine supercar. We doubt Audi minds the comparison. This new entry-level Audi sports car is being developed in cooperation withVW and Porsche, both of which will spin off their own variations. This illustration offers a look at what Audi’s convertible version will look like. A hardtop coupe is also planned.
VW already offered a preview of what’s to come at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, where it displayed its sleek 2-seat diesel-powered Concept Bluesport. Porsche has been a tad more secretive, but we expect its version to slot beneath the Boxster in size, power and price. A 1.9-liter flat-4 cylinder engine will power the Porsche, whereas traditional inline-4 cylinders (and possibly an inline-5) will motivate the VW and Audi. The platform will accommodate rear- and all-wheel-drive systems. Hybrid and electric-powered versions are also possible.

What's not to like. Though I doubt either Mercedes or BMW will follow with something similar simply because VAG can justify the business case of this over three different brands (Porsche, VW and Audi) something neither BMW or Merc can do.

Given the choice of a 2.5L R4 or a v8 R8 I would pick the R4 every single time and I bet most would.

If Audi don't offer their amazing inline5 and only a 4cyl then I might agree with you in picking the R8 but I don't believe they won't offer that engine because it was designed to fit where only the 4cyl went before. As for the Porsche with it's boxer4, I wonder what it will sound like, will it have the bassy note of an Imperza or a slightly off Porsche boxer engine note.

The only way I can see this car having market potential is if the R8 goes upmarket by not coming in an entry level 400hp-ish version so that this model can span from 300hp to 450hp. Worst case senerio would be if we have another Cayman i.e a promising mid-engine car with a brilliant chassi that cannot realise its full potential because of an older sibling.

R4/R5 Renders from Autobild and Auto Motor und Sport:

If it ends up looking anything like this it will be a hit. Looks stunning.

The best one yet

I absolutely agree. If it looks anything like that it will be stunner.

Here are Auto Motor und Sport's new renders:
Source: http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...elle-bis-2016-das-heer-der-ringe-1880165.html

A few years ago Audi appeared gung-ho about launching a new mid-engine sports car positioned between its TT and R8, and based on a platform to be shared with Volkswagen and possibly even Porsche.

After a couple of concepts and plenty of rumors, news of the new sports car, which was tipped to be called the R4, went dead.

Fast forward to today, and talk of a new mid-engine sports car from Audi is once again making headlines.

Speaking with Autocar, Audi R&D boss Wolfgang Dürheimer revealed that a Porsche Boxster-sized sports car had been in “design, packaging and evaluation” phases but was not a major priority.

He went on to reveal that developing a new sports car with sufficient technology but with a pricetag between that of the TT and R8 would be difficult.

“We would want to bring technology to the segment, but getting the volume and pricing right for a mainstream sports car would be a challenge,” he said.

Of more interest to Audi is a fully fledged supercar that leverages technology derived from its successful Le Mans project. Dürheimer said the supercar was progressing to the design stage despite the project yet to receive the production green light.

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/audi-r4-sports-car-could-make-it-to-production-ar153674.html

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1083700_could-audi-revive-stillborn-r4-sports-car

Just throw in the 4pot from the S3 and/or the 5pot from the TTRS and RWD biased quattro from the existing parts bin and this mid engined sports car will be an instant hit.

Rumor: Return of the R4 or Much Ado About Nothing?


Remember the on-again/off-again rumor of an Audi sportscar, let’s call it R4, that could or would have been based on a mid-engine MQB derived platform first shown as the Volkswagen Bluesport TDI concept car? To be frank, the rumor has been more off again than on, but fresh fuel was thrown on the ever-so-burning embers of this rumor this week when Volkswagen Group chief of design Walter de Silva spoke on the issue of such a car… at least such a Volkswagen.
First, let’s stick to what was actually said. According to Auto Motor und Sport, de Silva reportedly stated when asked about the mid-engine roadster idea, “I’m not the only one in our company who is convinced that a small roadster for Volkswagen would not be the worst idea. This is a vehicle that we particularly like and we always have in mind.”
Those words aren’t exactly confirmation of anything, but they’re encouraging given all these years of thinking the project was dead. One of the last rumors pointed that at Audi, saying Ingolstadt didn’t want to go along and Audi’s added volume was critical to a business case. The brands operate autonomously enough that this was enough to keep the project from moving forward even though Volkswagen and Porsche were both reportedly on board.
Given de Silva was asked about such a car and the answer was vague enough, any further theorizations are pure conjecture. Even still, the project has some highly placed benefactors in the likes of de Silva and also Volkswagen Group development boss Ulrich Hackenberg. No doubt they’re always likely looking at the business case. Perhaps now at Audi there is renewed interest in the idea of an ‘R4′-like vehicle, or maybe the rumors of an imminent purchase of Alfa Romeo have them thinking a different Alfa-badged direction for the project. Time will tell.
Read more at Auto Motor und Sport (in German) HERE.