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VIDEO: Winding Road drives the Audi R8 TDI LeMans
Audi's R8 TDI LeMans concept is a powerful, exotic, and diesel-fueled supercar. Given its one-off nature, few have experienced it firsthand. Last month we told you about Autoweek and Fourtitude's time behind the wheel, as they drove the concept at an Audi drive event. The 500 hp V12 diesel was crippled by its modified A4 transmission and Audi's imposed 50 mph max speed, but the smooth power of the German oil burner was still present. The car was also on hand at the New York Auto Show, where low-speed demo drives were offered among a motorcade of Q7 TDIs that acted as pace cars.
Our friends over at Winding Road also spent some time with the R8 TDI, and the online mag had a full spread dedicated to the 738 lb-ft beast. The article is an interesting read, and it also comes with video footage and an interview with the car's technical project manager. Among the items covered in the video is a segment on how the engineers shoehorned the massive V12 into the R8's engine bay. Naturally, there's straight car footage, too. Hit the read link below to view the video.
Gallery: Audi R8 TDI Le Mans
[Source: Winding Road]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SPF 12:15PM (4/27/2008)
That is the hottest car in the world!!! It can run over me, I'd still be smiling.
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dea911 12:16PM (4/27/2008)
that is one mother f***ing gorgeous car!
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Chicagocat74 2:09PM (4/27/2008)
I agree. gotta love the color combo.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:26PM (4/27/2008)
Supercars aren't limited to 50mph. Even the most explosive gearboxes of the early 80s supercars didn't lead to that.
Does just mid-engined car get the supercar moniker now?
I gotta go get me a Fiero 2M4 supercar.
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Marko 1:28PM (4/27/2008)
RTFA.
apu 1:07PM (4/27/2008)
Dulll da dull dull. Dullll da dull dull dulllllll.
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BAMF 3:45PM (4/27/2008)
Apparently Jeremy Clarkson was spot on in his description of how Germans think about cars.
"I'm speaking to you now from inside of one of the Venturi Tunnels!!"
agreed 1:08PM (4/27/2008)
I believe you are misunderstanding the concept of a 1-off and missed the part of the article about the use of the A4 transmission until a more suitable one can be installed.
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:52PM (4/27/2008)
I guess you missed the previous articles on autoblog that said the V12 TDI R8 isn't going to be built.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/did-we-say-50-50-audi-r8-v12-tdi-not-coming-4-2-v8-tdi-instea/
This is the only one. It is crippled by its gearbox. It is not a supercar.
Arsenal 2:20PM (4/27/2008)
@why not the LS2LS7?
Pedantic:
too concerned with formal rules and details: too concerned with what are thought to be correct rules and details, e.g. in language
It's a concept for a supercar. Supercar concept cars themselves are rarely supercars because they can't actually do what supercars do. Family sedan concept cars, in an amazing coincidence, are also rarely actual family sedans because they also can't do what actual family sedans can do.
Thank you for helping us understand the difference between supercar concept car....and supercar.
why not the LS2LS7? 3:49PM (4/27/2008)
pedantic:
Concerned enough with the dictionary definition of a word to post it to an unrelated forum.
It's not a supercar if I can dust it off in an economy car. Not even if it is a concept.
friko 5:46PM (4/27/2008)
In the article it says that it will be built.
Pet Project.
why not the LS2LS7? 7:03PM (4/27/2008)
The Head of Production at Audi seems to think otherwise. I wonder who would know better?
nagmashot 2:11AM (4/28/2008)
The decision if the R8 V12 TDI gets build is made by the managing board end of 2008.. not earlyer not today.
The most important key for the R8 V12 TDI production is the tranny.
Currently they develop a midengine DSG tranny that can operate 1000Nm (~740ft.lbs.)
The key question is if they are able to build this tranny for a competetive price or not... in 2months the Volkswagen managing board make a decision if the build the tranny or not.
The technic is no problem, the cost are the factor. This tranny is planed as the standart tranny in all Volkswagen brand midengine powered car range, R8, Gallardo, Murcielago and their successors... and if Porsche builds again a midengine supercar this would be the tranny.
If the tranny get green light the chance are high that the R8 V12 TDI get into production. If not the R8 V12 TDI concept went into the Audi Museum ...
chris 1:26PM (4/27/2008)
I would buy one if I had the money... It's sick.
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Bubbles 4:58PM (4/27/2008)
I don't like how It looks, but I'm interested in how It sounds.
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Anik 5:17PM (4/27/2008)
Towards the end. at 2:04 it kinda sounds like the world's quietest jet. But otherwise sound of the car was meh. Looks nice. wouldn't buy it red. But did it look like the wheels weren't moving to anyone else?
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Smeagle 9:05PM (4/27/2008)
Thats just the frame rate matching up with the time it takes for one spoke to get to where the next one is. Would love to see this car get at least a limited production run. *sigh*
mk 6:07PM (4/27/2008)
An R8 with that bodywork, and a "petrol" engine, even just the V8... would be fantastic.
The revised bodywork, transparent roof and roof duct, and all the rest are actually improvements on the R8, which itself it hard to improve upon.
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innoc3nt 5:46PM (4/27/2008)
So, she's a wheezy, asthmatic, temporarily-handicapped supermodel. Hmm. I'd still hit that.
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