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5
Handling
4
Performance
Usability
3
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Readers' rating
3.5
By Georg Kacher
First Drives
10 April 2008 10:43
Does the world need the Audi R8 V12 TDI, a supercar powered by diesel? We love the regular Audi R8. It’s our 2007 performance car of the year, with sublime steering that belies its Ingolstadt roots, and one of the best gearboxes around. That high-revving 4.2-litre V8 sounds wonderful and the quattro system juggles all-weather security with rear bias for tail-out action. How could you want any more? Well, there is a V10 version coming in 2009...
But over the past few years Audi has sought to fill every conceivable niche. Welcome then, to the Audi R8 V12 TDI, the world’s first diesel production supercar. Yes, it's a concept car for now, but Audi is seriously debating the future of this car.
We did indeed. Underneath that stunning bodywork sits an oil-burning engine. The car was first unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show at the start of 2008 in a shade of silver. Since then it’s been repainted red and now CAR Online has been to Miami for a drive of this rather special concept car.
The job of the R8 V12 TDI is two-fold. For one, it is designed to showcase the Hungarian-built V12 TDI engine. At six litres it easily surpasses the 5.0-litre V10 that sits in the nose of Volkswagen's Phaeton and Touareg. The new V12 will be available in the Q7 from later in 2008, will probably be in the next A8, and maybe, just maybe in the R8…
That’s right, the second reason for the R8 diesel concept is to preview a production car that is currently 50:50. But that’s without taking into account the influence of a certain Dr Ferdinand Piech, the man who insisted that the impossible be made reality with the Bugatti Veyron.
Click 'Next' to read more on the R8 TDI
Look out for the June 2008 issue of CAR Magazine for a full feature on the R8 TDI
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B005T3R says
Yeszir!!!
Thats looks simply awesome!! I look forward to getting one and thrashing it to bits for a few months!
14 April 2008 10:22
kkirkou says
Wow!
In this color combination and with this makeover it looks really MAD!!!I won't argue about it's rationality because I think that there's no rationality in any supercar anyway. Yes, they are doing it just because they can. Congrats, then!
11 April 2008 20:37
AReader says
Blingadingding
Down in the Keys, the R8 is in the house. This is "DIESEL" man! Word!
11 April 2008 15:35
Gregg218 says
Agreeing with Joe
That one overhead rear 3/4 shot looks like what someone would do with a TT if given the boredom and time. Overall, the idea of a diesel supercar is an intriguing but tiny blip on the radar. I do find it interesting that they have Georg come to the States the drive it though. Are they using Paris Hilton to clinic the car?
11 April 2008 14:49
-Joe- says
Oh and...
the styling is alful. its the sort of thing a Burburry hatted person would do to a Nova. Debagdge the front grille and glue a horrible oversized wing thing on the back that looks completly out of place
11 April 2008 09:43
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