Audi's New V8 Is The Last One The Company Will Make

Just when we were getting used to idea of the downsizing trend killing off Audi’s awesome 4.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8, a company insider is predicting the death of V8s altogether in the firm. Speaking to Autocar, a source within Audi said that the company’s all-new V8 range will likely be the last eight-cylinder engine family it builds.

“By 2025, the plan of Audi management is to have between 25 per cent and 35 per cent of Audi’s output as battery-electric vehicles,” he said, adding: “It would be very difficult to justify the huge investment in another new V8 because of the cost of developing electric drivetrains and battery packs.”

Sad news for anyone who likes a jolly nice V8 burble (that includes us, of course), but at least the concept of a V8 will be going out on a high at Audi. The new hot V-style engine will soon be found under the bonnets of various Bentleys and the Lamborghini Urus, and is already powering the Porsche Panamera, giving it 542bhp to play with in the Turbo. Petrol versions will be used in future cars from Audi, and a diesel version is currently installed in the SQ7, where it includes fancy compressed air-blown turbo technology.

It’s set to get even more powerful too, with a 600bhp version expected for the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and Panamera S. A 600bhp V8 swan song? Sounds good to us.