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Two weeks before the Detroit motor show opens it doors, Audi’s star of the North American International Auto Show has leaked onto the internet – and according to early reports, it’s a 500bhp diesel-powered sports car.
The German car brand will show a design concept called the R8 V12 TDi at Detroit and, just as its name suggests, it’ll be a twelve-cylinder turbodiesel...Read the full article

If this makes it into production then this could be a runaway success, and may finally persuade people that diesel isn't so uncool after all.

Rapidly establishing diesel a 'pedigree' in motorsport with success at Le Mans et al.

With a less peaky engine and torque n spades - I wonder if it's quicker point to point than the petrol?

Interesting.

 

Yeah tons of tourque but it'll still sound like a bus!!!

rosstopher:

Yeah tons of tourque but it'll still sound like a bus!!!

at least it'll share something with it's racing namesake.

If it sounds anything like the diesel racer, I think it would be pretty nice. Just like a phantom (the ghost phantom, not the Roller) slinking along, with a slight whistle and whoosh from its turbos.

If this car makes production and becomes a success, this could well confirm many suspicions that petrol has nearly had its day. Nearly all diesels are more economical, smoother and have better performance figures that their petrol equivalents, even if a petrol engine has more Bhp. I drive a 325i and often see many lower bhp diesels pull away because of their torque. The only saving grace for petrol is their noise and flexibility, but does this matter nowadays?! I bet the next step will def be a diesel Porsche Cayenne.

Yeah, I don't doubt it will be absolutely stupendously fast, and feel completely different to any other super car (probably in a good way), but there is still something about a high reving petrol engines power delivery that just gets the hairs standing up on the back of neck.

I tried to get on with a diesel before, but on the whole lazy delivery is just a little too relaxed with the lack of revs and lack of hard edged noise.  Super cars are more than just a speed experience, they should make you get out with your ears ringing and body tingling from the whole sensation!

That said, it will be interesting to see how well they have executed it. 

We all expected it.  Sounds impressive though.

What I really love about this story, though, is the picture.  I like to think that whilst they were testing the petrol R8, someone had the foresight to think "hang on, I bet that Audi will bring out a diesel version - lets get a picture of an R8 in a farmyard to use with the story when it breaks"...

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It's about time. In this industry it's all about being first, and if Audi did not do it then Peugeot will as they have similar technology in their Le Mans racer.

just watched the autocar video on the detroit motorshow where they show the diesel R8.  really like the new front end treatment which looks meaner and also the air duct in the roof is also pretty and functional.

shame that the engine is so big that golf clubs no longer fit in the car!  would said diesels were more practical?!

 

Kee Law:

shame that the engine is so big that golf clubs no longer fit in the car!  would said diesels were more practical?!

Good! Now it would be used by real drivers! Not golfers! 

 

Cheers!

Sami