Autoblog

Click image above for high-res shots of the R8 V12 TDI Le Mans

We just got our first glimpse of the newest AudiR8 concept and we are breathless. Most of that is due to digging ourselves out of the scrum that resulted when the press conference concluded and we found ourselves in a crush of humanity that made us momentarily consider knocking down a few pushy folks around us. Gladly, the thought passed quickly and so did the crowd. What we have for you now is a cluster of pics of this tasty turbodiesel treat. When we told you about this car yesterday, we expected it to be much like the silvery version we saw in Detroit. That was mostly true. This version, finished in Brilliant Red is called the Audi R8 TDI Le Mans to play on Audi's participation in dominance of that legendary endurance race in recent years. It features the same 6.0L V12 pumping out 500 horsepower and prodigious torque, enough in fact (737 lb-ft) to be among the torquiest cars extent. 0-62 doesn't drop much at 4.2 seconds, and the 186 mph top end isn't too far off the V8 version's, but remember, this baby is Euro 6-compliant, making it mean and green. And red and chrome. Enough with the chrome Audi, but the car is a winner so please build it now.

Live shots are here, and the press release is after the jump.