Volkswagen plans to have its many of its cars either fully electric or have some sort of hybrid component by 2025, and not just those with a VW badge but those sold under its subsidiary companies such as Porsche, and yes, Audi.
This would spell doom for Audi’s most recent V8 engine, which had premiered in the Audi SQ7 where it’s 4.0-litre capacity and electrically-assisted turbochargers helps the diesel burner generate 324kW and a whopping 900Nm of torque.
The engine will also be found further down the road in petrol form under the bonnets of models from Porsches, Bentleys, and Audis.
According to Autocar UK, a source said that the cost and engineering resources required to develop a new V8 engine after this one, possibly making it the final V8 to come out of Audi.
Their source said: “By 2025, the plan of Audi management is to have between 25% and 35% of Audi’s output as battery-electric vehicles. 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. You have to ask what is the best use of investment money.”
The most imminent model to house the 4.0-litre V8 diesel engine would be the newly unveiled second-generation Porsche Panamera. However, more and more buyers are prioritising fuel economy and governments are introducing stricter emissions regulation (particular to diesels) while disincentivising motorists from higher displacement engines.
The increased pressure to render the V8 engine irrelevant is due in no small part to the dieselgate scandal that rocked Volkswagen last year after they were found guilty of manipulating emissions tests which Audi, by way of its parent company, was also implicated.
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