New Audi R8 'Not on the Road Map,' Says VW CEO
Thankfully the GTI isn't going anywhere, despite lackluster sales.
If you were holding out on your next supercar purchase for a new Audi R8, you're going to be waiting for a long time. Kjell Gruner, Volkswagen Group of America's new CEO, confirmed there are no plans to revive the legendary all-wheel drive supercar.
No New R8 on the Horizon
"[It's a] product portfolio discussion—what's viable in the market," Gruner told journalists when asked about a new R8 at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday. "A mid-engine, internal combustion engine vehicle, I don't see that on the road map."
The R8 made its debut in 2007, powered by a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8 that sent power to all four wheels through the company's famous Quattro system. It quickly became a halo vehicle for the brand, eventually gaining a Lamborghini-sourced V-10. A second generation appeared in 2015, gaining new looks but losing its available manual transmission. Production ended last year.
The GTI Is Still Safe, Thankfully
Sad news, yes. But the VW Group's more attainable brands aren't entirely giving up on iconic performance cars. The GTI and the Golf R are here to stay, despite faltering sales in the first quarter of 2025.
"The US market is not a hatchback market," Gruner told journalists. "It evolved over time—there was some time when hatches were cool and then minivans were cool. SUVs are now cool, they can do pretty much everything a customer wants to do. Hatchbacks will never be a huge market in the US, and honestly, they don't need to be for us."
"But with [our] German roots, these fun hatches are crucially important, also from a brand perspective," he added. "Volkswagen is about fun to drive. If you get into a Golf R or a GTI, you get out with a smile on your face. We will continue to be there, absolutely."
Gruner went on to explain the Golf's recent model changeover as the reason for the slow first quarter. The company refreshed the car at the beginning of last year, with 2025 model-year cars starting to reach US shores now. Sales of the GTI dropped 21.6 percent, while the Golf R fell 37.6 percent.
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