Audi Still Taking Gradual Steps Towards Future Super Car

AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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is still making small steps towards building a super car that would sit above the R8Audi R8Germany, 2006 > present44 versions
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in its range. The car is meant to take inspiration from Audi's recent Le Mans victories the same way that the R8 took inspiration from the R8Audi R8Germany, 2000 > present1 photo
racecar. Audi says that the new super car has not yet been given a green light for production. 

The major reason the car has not gone into production yet is Audi is not sure how to make its globally successful. To build off the R18 e-tronAudi R18 e-tron quattroGermany, 2012 > present8 photos
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, Audi wants the car to be a diesel hybrid, but diesels are not strong sellers in North America or China, which combined would likely represent a majority of sales.

One possibility would have the car coming slightly later. Le Mans rules will force factory-backed cars to be hybrids and force all prototypes to use a specific amount of fuel per lap. It might allow petrol-fueled cars to gain performance parity and allow Audi to build a petrol hybrid supercar. 

According to Audi technical boss Wolfgang Durheimer there is "no business decision on series production, but we hope to create one."

Durheimer says that the company has also been evaluating a smaller, mid-engine convertible that would take on the Porsche BoxsterPorsche Boxster Gen.3 [981]Germany, 2012 > 20165 versions
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.

"It's difficult to realise for production. 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," said Durheimer.

Source: Autocar