Audi's having a spot of trouble keeping a lid on things ahead of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. First the TT-S photos were leaked to Spanish website Motorpasion, and today we see video of the R8 V12 TDI concept has been posted on a Russian site. The Detroit-bound car is said to make 500 horsepower and 737 lb-ft (1000 Nm) of torque while boasting fuel economy of over 23 US mpg (10 liters per 100 km). Zero-to-sixty reportedly takes 4.2 seconds and the car should have a top end of 300 km/h, or around 186 mph. Want one? According to Auto Tuning News, a production version is likely in mid-2009. Save those pennies, kids. Detroit's just days away, and we'll get the full story on the TDI R8 as soon as Audi releases the goods. In the meantime, check out the video (it's all studio stuff with the car static against a plain backdrop) after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Oldenburger!
[Sources: Auto Tuning News, YouTube]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mobius_1 @ Jan 10th 2008 8:11AM
Diesel technology at its very best
EJ25RUN @ Jan 10th 2008 11:14AM
I GOT PRODIGY "DIESEL POWER"
PLAYING RIGHT NOW.
Temple @ Jan 10th 2008 10:16PM
Should have called it the R10, just to be consistent with the LeMans racing heritage the R8 is based off of. The R10 being the diesel successor to the R8 LMP1 car.
John R @ Jan 10th 2008 8:11AM
If one could reverse-engineer an Imperial TIE-Fighter...
PiCASSO @ Jan 10th 2008 8:29AM
The Wolverine Audi... very cool.
Ilya @ Jan 10th 2008 8:30AM
Yup, you understood it correctly - it does say that production version is expected in mid-2009 (I know Russian).
Alex Nunez @ Jan 10th 2008 12:55PM
Thanks, Ilya!
stefan @ Jan 10th 2008 9:29AM
I rather have my diesel in my truck.
Carlos @ Jan 10th 2008 9:39AM
So now I'm not so very impressed. I was envisioning this car to get at least 25 mpg in the highway, a gasoline Corvette can get more than that. It also doesn't sound like a bus, I am very disappointed in this car.
lovice @ Jan 10th 2008 11:50AM
I think when Audi claims this car can achieve 23mpg, it means the average fuel consumption.
I don't think any other 200mph supercars can achieve anywhere near this figure (average 23mpg).
Carlos @ Jan 10th 2008 1:49PM
Too bad this car doesn't do 200mph and the Corvette still gets better gas mileage.
mattypape @ Jan 10th 2008 2:54PM
you have been corrected once and ignored it, 23 mpg average! not highway, it will be more, as a guess it will be in the 30 ish bracket, comparible but less than the big A8 diesels.
zach @ Jan 10th 2008 9:41AM
good god, that is incredible... really hope the wheels and the roof intake are kept for production.
Leaf @ Jan 10th 2008 10:06AM
Well... Okay... but I still say this car is perfect with the V8 the Audi-Gods gave it.
stealth @ Jan 10th 2008 10:22AM
The only question left unanswered is if this will burst into flames like the R10
or not
o_O
GTX141 @ Jan 10th 2008 11:35AM
Ummmmmm,
No R10s have burst into flames. And besides, diesel doesn't really "burst into flames' anyway.
stealth @ Jan 10th 2008 12:16PM
Here it is R8 mule testing the V10 from an RS6.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/audi-r8-v10.html
I guess the turbos are just a bit to hot.
gotsmart @ Jan 10th 2008 10:29AM
Two words: Bad. Ass.
Run biodiesel in it and save the world at 300 km/h!
Punkcrisis @ Jan 10th 2008 10:01PM
The crazy part is I was thinking that exact thing! I would leave every place in the province smelling of french fries in no time!
B Montgomery @ Jan 10th 2008 11:44AM
GOODNESS!!! That new Audi R8 is INCREDIBLE! I'll bet it hits 60 far faster than the 4.2 figure with 1000Nm of torque - the V8 R8 is doing it in 4 flat and even dipping into the very high 3's. I'd expect a mid 3 out of this beast! I need to win the lottery.