Audi R8 V12 TDI – Mean and Green
Let’s say you are a tortured soul…
Tortured in that you are a sports car fanatic and love to drive, but you also want to save the world. A supposed incompatibility...
OK, the “save the world” quip was a little over-dramatic. We can rephrase that in a more realistic “want to do your part in a lighter shade of green” manner. (I am trying desperately to leave politics out of this blog.)
Well, Audi may have the solution for your troubled psyche…
Audi’s recently introduced R8, powered by a standard gasoline V8 engine, is one of our favorite cars extant. An exotic mid-engined sports car with the street presence of a Ferrari combined with an everyday reliability, build quality and ergonomics, the R8 is one fine piece of automotive engineering. (Even at 6’6” I fit comfortably!)
This new diesel powered version of the R8, first shown at the Detroit Auto Show in January and then again in Geneva (with new red paint), uses an engine based on the powerplant in Audi’s Le Mans-winning R10 race car. The V12 engine cranks out 500 hp along with an amazing 737 lb-ft of torque, yet still meets the upcoming Euro 6 emissions standards. And don’t forget that diesel engines get better mileage than their gasoline counterparts!
Will this car make it to production? At the moment, Audi is not saying, but our guess is that it will.
Then all the Al Gore fearing lead foots can have and eat their cake. The future does look bright indeed..!