R4 Too Competitive for Porsche Says Automotive News

If you believe what you read from Automotive News Europe, the rumored Audi R4 mid-engine sportscar is now off of Audi's new model plan. The original story on the car, via several European automotive magazines, was that Volkswagen Group shareholder Porsche would co-develop a mid-engine sportscar platform with Audi utilizing Audi's aluminum space frame construction. As the Lamborghini Gallardo shares some chassis components with the Audi R8, the new chassis would spawn rear-wheel drive next-gen Porsches like the Boxster and Cayman with horizontally opposed flat six Porsche engines. An Audi version, known in the press as "R4", would feature all-wheel drive and FSI 4-cylinder and/or 5-cylinder turbocharged engines from Audi.
Word today from Automotive News Europe is that Porsche execs think the Audi R4 might be too cannibalistic to its Cayman/Boxster twins, though in reality we think the R4 would spell more doom for Audi's own TT to be frank.
So is it true? Well, as with the original rumor, plans this far out are subject to change. Executives talk, but they also change their minds, while other decisions may not yet be made 100% or stories can be totally different depending on who you ask. We don't know Automotive News' source so we'll reserve our judgement until we hear more. Here's hoping though that an R4 will happen. Such a car would be immediately attractive to a younger and less traditional buyer and likely would compete very little with the likes of Porsche's entry-level siblings. Automotive News Story , Subscription