Audi R8 V12 TDI won’t happen

It got the motoring world in quite a lather when Audi showed the R8 V12 TDI concept at Geneva. A supercar with a diesel engine. But not just any old diesel engine. Oh, no. A state of the art V12 with 500bhp and 750 lb ft of torque no less. And pushing on 30mpg, when driven sensibly (which was never going to happen!). Motoring journalist even got the chance to drive the car, and everyone was excited at the prospect. But sources at Audi tell us that the R8 V12 TDI will not now be made.

A big, hungry-for-air diesel engine in a small supercar was always going to be a problem. There’s nothing wrong with the engine, it is superb, but the R8 and the V12 TDI did not make happy bed-fellows. And Audi has concluded that it is just too problematic to continue with the project. So, does that mean the end of the diesel R8? Not on your life.

Audi are leading the way on big, powerful diesels. The Q7 V12 TDI, which launches at the end of the year, is ample testament that Audi are committed to this route. And they are absolutely right to be. It addresses many of the issues that makers of powerful cars are facing in making products the customer wants, whilst still improving economy. And whilst no diesel engine will ever ’sing’ like a petrol engine, the wall of torque they offer is a huge compensation.

So Audi is now looking to fit a V8 diesel in the R8. Will it be the same 4.2 engine you find in the Q7 and A8? Well, it seems likely that will be the starting point. That engine, in current form, puts out around 325bhp. I feel sure Audi will be looking for something a little more potent. But maybe not. Maybe it will be an entry-level R8. That would make sense. You’d have the diesel R8 as the entry level, followed by the current V8 petrol version and the range-topping R8 V10, which is due to hit the roads in the New Year.

Whatever Audi actually give us, it seems certain that the R8 will be the first supercar to offer us a diesel option. It’s going to be interesting.

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