GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Audi teases next R8

Audi has provided the first official look at its next-generation R8 super-coupe by releasing this single teaser pic overnight.

It's the second important piece of the R8 puzzle since motoring.com.au revealed last week that the R8 would likely debut a four-cylinder or V6 engine on its e-tron plug-in hybrid variant.

The mid-engined sports coupe, which has been on sale in its current form since 2007, will share its platform with the Lamborghini Huracan and, for the interim at least, will carry-over its 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10, with the 4.2-litre V8 scrapped.

Revised engines are expected mid-way through the R8's model cycle, as it the R8 e-tron.

From launch, a faster-acting shift system for the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is also anticipated, as is an electro-hydraulic Haldex V all-wheel drive system to replace the current car's viscous coupling.

For now the only officially confirmed feature of the new R8 is a set of headlights featuring one laser module with four high-intensity diodes per side.

The arrangement creates four very intense blue-light laser beams which are converted to white-light via a phosphor transformer. It's believed the lights, previously debuted on the 2014 Audi R8 LMX, will be optional on the new R8, with a 37-LED array (per side) arriving as standard.

Audi first premiered its laser light technology on the Le Mans R18 e-tron quattro race car. It arrived in the mass market in 2004 as part of the daytime running light array of the Audi A8 L W12 and is part of a lighting technology push at the German company that has included LED daytime running lights, matrix LED headlights and laser spot high-beam lights.

The second-gen R8 will move toward a look reminiscent of the recently debuted TT with an edgier body profile and more pronounced trapezoidal grille. The body is expected to feature 23 per cent carbon-fibre, making it 25kg lighter.

The bonnet, roof and front guards are likely to be made of CFRP (carbon-fibre reinforced plastic), while the springs are reinforced polymer, the brakes carbon ceramic and the rear wheel hubs titanium.

It is expected the next R8 will tip the scale at around 1500kg (down 135kg from the kerb weight of the current base manual model).

The outgoing R8 is currently priced between $279,500 (4.2 FSI quattro auto) and $440, 000 for the swansong R8 LMX limited-edition, all three Australian examples of which have now been delivered.

The new R8 will make its world debut at the Geneva motor show on March 3, but won't arrive Down Under until well into 2016.