Despite the growing trend towards electric vehicles, Audi is not ready to abandon its combustion engine lineup. Audi Sport GmbH, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, is working on a series of performance cars powered by gasoline. This revelation was made by the Head of Audi Design, Marc Lichte, in an extensive interview published on the company’s official media site. He clarified that most of the forthcoming RS-badged cars would be based on two platforms: the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) for electric vehicles and the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) for those with internal combustion engines (ICEs).
Although details about the PPC were not provided, it’s likely to be the platform for RS versions of Audi’s larger cars, currently utilizing the MLB architecture.
While the TT RS and R8 models are being discontinued, Audi is giving a final nod to gasoline-powered engines with a series of “old-school” RS models. Spy shots have already unveiled a hotter RS6 Avant in development, and it will be accompanied by a next-generation RS4 Avant transitioning to the RS5 Avant nomenclature. Expect another RS5 Sportback and a larger RS7 Sportback to join the lineup.
Audi recently updated the Q8 and SQ8 models, and it’s reasonable to anticipate an RS Q8 facelift. The next-generation Q5 could also finally receive its RS variant, though this has not been officially confirmed. These models are currently based on the MLB architecture, shared with other Volkswagen Group brands like VW Touareg, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, and Bentley Bentayga.
Earlier this year, Audi Sport’s chief, Sebastian Grams, hinted at a more potent RS3 with the turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. The current version produces 401 hp in the United States and 394 hp in Europe, but an upcoming facelift may bring even more power. It’s unclear whether this extra power will be applied to the RS3 hatchback and/or sedan. Additionally, the RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback models, sharing the MQB platform with the RS3, are still part of Audi’s sporty gasoline-powered lineup.
As exciting as the near future sounds for fans of gasoline-powered RS models, Audi has already set a timeline for transitioning to electric vehicles. The company plans to launch its final ICE-powered models in 2025, with all product launches from 2026 onwards being purely electric. Audi aims to cease the production of gasoline and diesel vehicles entirely by 2033 in favor of electric propulsion.
