AUDI

Audi R8 V12 TDI – Supercar with a diesel engine

In 2008, Audi surprised the public at the Detroit Auto Show with the R8 V12 TDI concept, which spectacularly demonstrated that diesel engines could also power supercars. The idea came directly from the racetrack, as Audi had triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in a row with the R10 TDI prototype (in 2006, 2007 and 2008).

The Audi R8 V12 TDI is powered by a six-liter diesel engine with twelve cylinders and two turbochargers, located in the middle of the body. It releases 500 horsepower at 4000 rpm, while the maximum torque is as much as 1000 Nm between 1750 and 3000 rpm. These figures gave it performance similar to gasoline supercars of the time. The maximum torque is, by the way, greater than any production Audi R8 ever made, including the electric R8 e-tron from 2015.

Acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h takes 4.2 seconds, and the maximum speed is over 300 km/h. Logically, Audi also promised significantly lower fuel consumption compared to the competition, although this is not a particularly important item for supercars... Or maybe it is? Many people who can afford the most expensive cars are actually surprisingly frugal compared to their hefty bank accounts, and often compared to "mere mortals".

Due to the installation of a large diesel engine, numerous modifications were made compared to the standard Audi R8 of the first generation. Larger and more numerous air intakes allowed the V12 with two turbochargers to breathe "with full lungs". The chassis was additionally strengthened, so the total mass of the vehicle increased to over 1700 kilograms. This meant that the R8 with the V12 TDI engine could not maintain the agility of the standard versions with the 4.2 V8 and 5.2 V10 petrol engines (1560 and 1620 kg).

A specially developed six-speed manual transmission in a “lattice” housing is used to transfer power to all wheels (permanent Quattro drive). Ah, those good old days...The brake discs are made of ceramic and carbon fiber, which was the only option capable of adequately restraining the powerful V12 turbo diesel at the time.

The V12 TDI looks like a standard first-generation R8, but on “steroids”. In other words, the front end is far more aggressive – there is a characteristic “honeycomb” radiator grille, as well as much larger cooling vents in a “3D” style with two horizontal strips each. The striking side intakes have been significantly enlarged, the rear end has a new diffuser and redesigned exhaust system ends, and a large NACA duct has been built into the roof for additional cooling of the massive engine. From today's perspective, the design of the V12 TDI concept looks like a "bridge" between the first and second generation Audi R8.

The interior retains the basic look and layout of the controls from the standard R8, but the uniqueness of this "super diesel" is emphasized by the use of more aluminum and carbon fiber. All things considered, Audi made it clear that the R8 V12 TDI was not just a design study, but a seriously developed "production-ready" prototype.

Unfortunately, the result of the whole story was - a cold shower. Although the Audi R8 V12 TDI aroused enormous interest from the public and the media, it never entered series production. The main problem, allegedly, was that the engine was too heavy for a supercar. Development costs were too high, and exhaust emissions did not fit into the already strict environmental standards at that time.

Although it was not destined for series production, the R8 V12 TDI is certainly one of the boldest and most extravagant projects in the history of the Ingolstadt factory. And despite the aforementioned shortcomings and market unviability, the Germans showed that the TDI engine was very applicable in the supercar segment.

If it was relatively close to series production in its time, it is clear that in today's era of electrification and the "killing" of cars with diesel engines, such a thing would be impossible. In any case, the Audi R8 V12 TDI will be remembered as a unique supercar that stopped right on the border between a bold vision and market reality.

Autonews