As automakers shift deeper into electrification, the option of having a pure, unelectrified combustion engine is slowly fading away. The latest automaker to make this more than evident is Audi or, to be more specific, Audi Sport – the group within Audi that’s responsible for all the high-performance RS models that we all love. Audi marketing Boss Rolf Michl expanded on this in an interview with Autocar, exposing Audi Sport’s intention of limiting drivetrain options in the future for all RS models.

Goodbye Pure Audi RS Models, Hello Electrified Performance

Audi’s sibling brand, Volkswagen, has been rather generous in offering a wide range of powertrain options in cars like the Golf. If you want gasoline power, you can buy the Golf GTI, while you can opt for the Golf GTD if you’re a diesel fan, or the GTE if you want plug-in hybrid performance. Audi, on the other hand, won’t be giving you that option if you’re eyeballing a future RS model. In his interview with Autocar, Marketing Boss Ralph Michl explained that all future RS models will feature some form of electrification, closing the doors on any combustion only models down the road.

So, what can we expect down the road? Well, Audi AG, as a company, will continue to consistently push itself into the electric future. The way Michl sees it, the company has Audi Sport has already done so with the hybrid RS6 and the Audi E-Tron GT.

for performance cars, such as torque vectoring and amazing cornering speeds. Electrified performance can absolutely be emotional.”>

In short, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles are going to become a crucial piece to the puzzle that is Audi Sport’s range, and when this happens, there will only be electrified RS models. Is this a good thing? Well, if you’ve been paying attention to the performance that can be derived from 48-volt mild-hybrid systems, then I think you’ll agree with me when I say yes. Future RS cars will be more fuel-efficient (when not fully electric) and lighter thanks to the ability to downsize engines while supplementing power and torque delivery via electric motors. The future is coming fast, and in the end, mild-hybrid performance is going to be a huge advantage over pure ICE performance that we’ve always known and loved.