Report: Mystery Audi R8 Might Have Had a 500-HP V6

Spy pictures of an Audi R8 testing surfaced the other day and, as they often do, raised more questions than they answered.

Now, a report claims to have answers to many of the burning questions raised by those shots.  reports that the mystery R8 was actually the long-rumored R8 V6 and that all of the car’s rear-end differences were a result of the engine’s smaller proportions.

The exact V6 in question is the Porsche/Audi 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 that is currently housed in everything from the RS4 Avant to the Porsche Cayenne. Apparently, Audi hasn’t landed on a final power figure for the R8 — and like its V10 sister, the R8 V6 is expected to come with more than one output number — but the report claims the unit could make more than 500 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque.

SEE ALSO: A Faster, More Hardcore Audi R8 May be on the Way

Although the idea of a small-displacement, forced-induction R8 might seem antithetical to the whole exercise because the naturally aspirated V10 is such an important part of the current R8’s charm and uniqueness, a smaller, lighter engine would lower the overall weight of the car. And although 500 hp is a full 40 less than the standard R8, it’s still a more-than-ample number.

If the report is right, it could prove to be an important one indeed, since recent comments by the head of R&D at Audi suggest that the V10 might be on its way out, so we’ll have to get used to smaller displacement. On the other hand, he did suggest that the V8 will be safe for a while, so the V6 might not be our lot.