All Torque, No Action: Audi reportedly cancels R8 TDI

Noah Joseph — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:59:00 EST

Audi R8 TDI Le Mans concept - Click above for a hi-res image gallery

If anyone could have done a diesel supercar, it would have been Audi. After achieving utter domination in Le Mans racing with its R10 TDI, the German automaker unveiled two successive turbodiesel concept versions of the R8 supercar at the Detroit show and then at the Geneva salon in 2008. But after whetting our appetites for an oil-burning supercar with instant power delivery and endless reserves of torque, Audi has reportedly canceled development of its R8 TDI program.

Apparently, the R8 was not originally designed to accommodate the company's enormous V12 turbodiesel engine, and re-engineering the car was proving far too costly for Audi to justify under these financial circumstances, especially when the American market, which accounts for 1/3rd of R8 sales, is marred by diesel prices that are higher than gas. Fortunately Audi's already given us the 5.2-liter V10 FSI and has the convertible version in the works, but a diesel R8 just isn't in the cards.

Gallery: Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept

Gallery: Audi R8 TDI Le Mans

[Source: Auto Express]

All Torque, No Action: Audi reportedly cancels R8 TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Audi R8 V12 TDI video leaked!

Alex Nunez — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:47:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Supercars, Audi

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]

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Audi R8 V12 TDI video leaked!

Detroit 2008: Audi R8 V12 TDI video leaked! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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