April 18, 2025 – Volkswagen Group’s U.S. arm has a clear stance on the future of one of its iconic models. Kjell Gruner, the newly appointed CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, has ruled out the possibility of reviving the legendary Audi R8, a mid-engine, all-wheel-drive supercar.
During an interview at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, Gruner emphasized, “When it comes to the R8, it’s ultimately a matter of product lineup strategy – whether there’s still a niche for it in the market. In my view, a mid-engine, combustion-powered vehicle no longer fits into our long-term plans.”
The Audi R8, introduced in 2007, quickly became a symbol of the brand, initially equipped with a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine and Quattro all-wheel drive. Later, it was upgraded with a V10 engine sourced from Lamborghini. The second-generation R8, unveiled in 2015, featured a redesigned exterior and did away with the manual transmission option. Production of this generation concluded last year.
Despite the R8’s retirement, Volkswagen isn’t abandoning performance cars altogether. Despite a slow start in sales for the Golf GTI and R models in the first quarter of 2025, both will remain in the lineup.
Gruner noted, “The U.S. market has never been a hotbed for hatchbacks. Trends come and go – hatchbacks had their day, then minivans, and now it’s SUVs that are dominating because they cater to almost every consumer need. Hatchbacks won’t take over in the U.S., and frankly, that’s not a concern for us.”
