Audi is rumoured to be working on a mid-engined sports coupe to slot between its compact TT coupe and its flagship R8 supercar, according to a new report.
German publication AutoBild claims that the car is under development, codenamed PO455 by Audi’s engineers and built to rival mid-engined sports coupes like the Porsche Cayman and Boxster.
Tentatively named the R6, the car is rumoured to be a production version of the sleek, turbocharged quattro concept (pictured below) that first debuted at the Paris Motor Show back in 2010.
Based on 718 Boxster
AutoBild claims that Audi’s second dedicated R model will be based on the underpinnings of the new Porsche 718 Boxster, albeit with new engines and Audi’s signature quattro four-wheel drive.
The two-seater quattro concept was powered by a 402bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine and was claimed to be able to hit 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds, but the real thing could be even faster.
Whether the R6 would use a five-cylinder engine remains unclear, but it’s likely that it won’t use anything bigger given that reports claim the R8 will get a V6 engine in the next couple of years.
New engines, four-wheel drive
In terms of pricing, it’s likely that the R6 would be well below the £119,500 R8 but more than the upcoming TT RS, which is expected to be priced from around £43,000.
However, at this stage the R6 is still just a rumour until Audi officially confirms or denies it, but it’s expected that more will be known in the near future.