Audi R8 V10

Audi R8 V10

With Lamborghini working on a replacement for its Murcielago, word on the street is that Audi will use the new supercar’s platform for its own range-topping model. There will be one major difference between the two cars, however.

While the Lamborghini supercar will feature a powerful V-12 engine and compete with similarly endowed models from the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin, the new Audi model will likely pack a V-10 engine and only develop around 600 horsepower.

The shared platform for the future supercars is expected to be a heavily modified version of the current Audi R8’s aluminum spaceframe chassis. Extensive use of carbon-fiber will be employed to keep weight down and a hardy dual-clutch transmission is also likely to make the cut.

This new Audi supercar, which could be called the R10, will sit above the R8 and in keeping with this positioning it will be wider and longer than it as well. Audi quattro all-wheel drive will be standard.

According to sources, prototypes disguised as Lamborghinis are already testing at Germany’s Nurburgring, however, any release date is slated for beyond 2012.

[AutoExpress]