Porsche and Audi join forces for an Audi R4

Posted: Jun 29, 2007

Filed under: Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen

You guys were probably thinking the relationship between Audi and Porsche is probably on the rocks since Audi handels Volkswagen’s premium and performance division. Well to kill that speculation, Audi and Porsche will be joining forces on an entry level mid-engined Audi R4 coupe and roadster, as well as the next-generation Boxter and Cayman.

As reported before, Audi will be making a lineup of four ‘R’ badged cars including the R8 with a roadster variant, R4, R6 and an R10. While the Audi R6 will sit between the Porche 911 and Boxter, the Audi R4 will be an entry-level mid-engined car with a price bracket between £28-35,000.

While Porsche will be helping Audi with the R4, Audi will give their two cents for the next-generation Boxter/Cayman codenamed 981/C8. According to sources over at CarMagazine the Audi R4 will have a 2.5 liter 5-cylinder engine that produces up to 300 horsepower. The next Porsche Boxter may get an Audi spin-off with a quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Porsche and Audi will be sharing development costs, technology, Audi’s aluminium spaceframe bodies, powerful diesel engines, lightweight low-friction four-wheel drive with torque vectoring and dual clutch transmissions for almost all torque classes.

The only conflict between the two is timing. While Porsche has its work cut out until 2012 with the next Cayman and then the Cayenne hybrid, Audi wants the R4 to arrive in the market in 2010 (one year after the Porsche Panamera hits the roads).

Expect the Audi TT Clubsport quattro to play a huge roll in all this which was inspired by Porsche’s 356 Speedster.

It’s a match made in heaven.

Audi TT Clubsport quattro concept Gallery: