VW's R brand: we're going for diesel and 4WD

If only they can tune a diesel to be interesting in it's delivery.

All too often they are mid-range heavy and make say 90% or more of their peak power from 3000rpm onwards.

But at the same time, that is a core reason people like them, easy fast day to day, but then not so fun on a mini-hoon home.


Catch 22, it'll be interesting to see how they work around it!

Dave

Only diesel I'm interested in is the BMW M550dX Estate.

'Going for diesel and 4wd' doesn't, of course, mean to the exclusion of everything else...

Why would they be bothered with those markets when they have the petrol Golf R?

This car could potentially weigh less and have more torque than the petrol Golf R. Whichever way you cut it, that's an interesting prospect for European buyers.

Intresting the "R" badge diesel, now if it's a tuned engine that VW have produced in the past i.e. they won rallies with the TDi this should be good.

There's no denying that diesels have come on massively in recent years. Outputting power figures comparable or even better than their petrol counterparts. Not only this, but the way this power is delivered is much, much more linear than it has been previously.

Just look at the latest twin turbo diesels on the market. You'd barely even know that the 535d/335d was a diesel, at all. People even compare the power delivery from the 123d to a larger naturally aspirated engine. Even my mapped 320d picks up from 1500rpm and pulls smoothly all the way to 5000rpm, and that's a traditional single turbo. I'm using BMW as an example because in my opinion they are clearly leading the way.

Tie that up with the economy and torque that a diesel provides and you're on to a winner. No doubt.

Diesels are only going to get better. Give it another few years and haters will definitely be eating their words.

BMW ///M? VW GTD R? It's exciting to see what the future of diesel holds.

I'm not a "derv head" either, so hold off with those comments diesel haters! I'm a petrol head myself, but there's not denying the future is to be dominated by diesel performance cars.

Smaller, turbo petrol engined cars will also be the trend... boo.

Interesting.... A focus on weight is no bad thing, so let's bank that.

So VW think derv is the future at a time when BMW are ,aking noises that petrol is now back at the top of the development agenda.

Will be interesting at watch how this pans out.

BMW diesels are leading the way. It's a shame they won't bring xDrive to more of their cars in the UK.

This statement is certain to cause an arguement!

Out of interest, would you be able to fish up any graphs to show the similarities? I genuinly don't know how the torque curves compare!

I am sure other manufacturers are smiling with this news.

Yes by all means make a R Diesel but include a petrol as well.

Surely not too hard and let the drivers pick which model they desire.

This means if one does not sell so well drop it.

I do however like the sound of weight loss on a car

Only problem about that statement is 4WD adds weight.........lol