Audi Needs Porsche's Help for the R6
Despite sharing the comfort of a corporate umbrella, it seems that two standoffish German luxury makes are now pushing the beds together.
According to the German publication Autobild (via Autoguide), Audi is tapping Porsche’s expertise to develop a new performance vehicle, designed to occupy the vast gap between the TT and R8 supercar.
Carrying the R6 moniker, which Audi trademarked in 2012 to made sure people kept their paws off it, the midrange sports car is being developed by a team that draws experience from both brands. The vehicle would ride atop a mid-engined Porsche Cayman/Boxster platform.
Developing a new platform for a single vehicle would be a costly affair for Audi, which explains the interest in Porsche.
Audi doesn’t want a badge-engineered knockoff, so there’s much speculation over what the end product would look like. Autobild assumes that all-wheel drive and an Audi engine will be needed to differentiate the R6 from its Porsche brethren, on a mechanical level, at least.
Porsche has announced a line of four-cylinder engines for its smaller offerings, but those are horizontally-opposed mills (flat fours), so there’s a question of whether an Audi engine could fit in a Boxster-based vehicle. Though the report mentions a turbocharged five-cylinder possibility, the dimensions of the vehicle will determine if the R6 — if built — becomes a fast five.
Slant Five, maybe?
More by Steph Willems
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"Autobild assumes that all-wheel drive and an Audi engine will be needed to differentiate the R6 from its Porsche brethren, on a mechanical level, at least." Really a bold proclamation there. I don't really think this model is necessary unless they're doing away with ye olde TT.
On this episode of "When Automakers Make Decisions High On Crack Cocaine".... Instead of updating the Q5, fixing the god forsaken Q3, or speeding up the right sized/priced crossovers VW is literally DYING to get, they are pushing forward with a sports car nobody wants or is going to buy. JFC. Is the Phaeton II a go as well? Will this be built in the glass factory?
Does anyone remember the 1980's when Porsche and Audi were usually sold together in US dealerships? Can't help but think that the afterglow from Porsche helped Audi do pretty well until the 5000 debacle and saved them once again when the hot new A4 came out in 1996.