RE: Why Audi needs a diesel R8: PH Blog

[astrsxi77]

Dan Trent said:

I'm not saying they do it for those reasons, purely the performance ones. Many of the latest crop of petrol turbo performance engines have very diesel-like power delivery anyway - why not celebrate that and explore the performance potential of a properly set-up supercar diesel engine with a direct link to proven Le Mans glory. Zero lag thanks to electrically driven compressors, variable lift to permit a wider rev range and higher redline than diesels traditionally have - it's all there already in the SQ7's V8 TDI and ready to be calibrated in a way that makes it interesting in an R8.

It might not be The Answer. But it would be interesting. And different to what everyone else is doing.

Keep it coming!

Dan

Celebrate the Diesel-like power delivery of a turbo petrol car, but with the benefit of added NOx? Brilliant.

[LA167]

Great article Dan, it would be an interesting innovation.

I can see the PH review of it now.....

'Effortlessly calm at ludicrously high speeds, interior is awesome, the amount of torque is insane but the steering is st!'

[RTH]

Following yesterday's staggeringly bad air quality report on central London- it looks more likely than ever that a new far more stringent low emissions zone for inside the London circulars will be brought in, which will with notice see diesels excluded.

[Vee12V]

Good idea from a marketing perspective, but that's about it. No, just no.

[Shambler]

I like the idea. But could you imagine an RS4 or RS6 with this engine it would be immense.

[Adrian E]

astrsxi77 said:

There would nothing innovative about a Diesel R8. Simply politics, fashion and marketing. True innovation would be manufacturers rebutting heavily compromised and dubious Diesel technology in favour of something better suited to the application.

+1

I'm surprised nobody has suggested it, but to be innovative on the R8 platform I'd want to see a downsized petrol powerplant backed up with a 48V hybrid system to fill in low down torque and allow a big enough turbo to make it interesting higher up the rev range. Some limited electric only operation and happy days

Keep the weight under that of the V10 (preferably a good chunk under it) and it's your eco friendly sports car alternative to the genuinely innovative but hardly mainstream i8

Edited by Adrian E on Wednesday 15th June 13:56

[Vocal Minority]

Dan Trent said:

I'm not saying they do it for those reasons, purely the performance ones. Many of the latest crop of petrol turbo performance engines have very diesel-like power delivery anyway - why not celebrate that and explore the performance potential of a properly set-up supercar diesel engine with a direct link to proven Le Mans glory. Zero lag thanks to electrically driven compressors, variable lift to permit a wider rev range and higher redline than diesels traditionally have - it's all there already in the SQ7's V8 TDI and ready to be calibrated in a way that makes it interesting in an R8.

It might not be The Answer. But it would be interesting. And different to what everyone else is doing.

Keep it coming!

Dan

I agree - it's an interesting concept. It may not work, it may. Be interested to see.

I have never quite understood the 'kill it with fire' attitude to anything suggested as slightly different.

I find that petrolheads are insular and backward looking about some things - if you don't like it buy the V10 version and everyone's happy - if tit doesn't work out we've lost nothing (well Audi have lost money - but thats not our problem)

It's like if someone does it they think its going to be made law for everyone to do it....

[griffdude]

These guys have been producing an oil burning big capacity(6.6L) GT car for a few years.

http://www.tridentsportscars.com/

The looks are 'challenging' IMHO but the technology is very interesting.

[underphil]

Only the braindead would want a diesel R8


..it could do well!!

[Selmer Mk6]

Oh, and how would a R8 diesel sound?

I suppose there are people who want to drive an R8 but cannot afford the fuel cost and the RFL. However, the car is likely to cost the same. Then again it will have more torque. Can't forget the torque, so it will obviously be better.

[Terminator X]

WTF it's a sports car not a daily hack!

TX.

[JohnGoodridge]

Dan Trent said:

it's all there already in the SQ7's V8 TDI and ready to be calibrated in a way that makes it interesting in an R8.

Interesting is like the kiss of death to a supercar. And interesting/admirable is all that can be said for even Audi's Le Mans diesel heritage. How many threads have I read bemoaning the whoosh of an R10 down La Sarthe, whilst admiring it's efficacy, only for contributors to subsequently effuse uncontrollably about the noise of Aston, Corvette and Ferrari cars. And rightly so.

Are you really telling me you'd put your own hard earned into a R8 TDi rather than an NSX, or a 991.2 Turbo? Or that anyone else would.

Back in 2008 I honestly thought the R8 V12 TDi was the future, but supercars are built to go fast, not for going fast. They're built for making us feel a certain way, which I don't think diesel will ever do, calibration and electric compressors or no. Anyway, surely it's just a matter of time before this clever turbo tech makes it's way onto petrol engines anyway?

[SlimJim16v]

No, just no. It's like taking a pretty girl home only to find 'she' has bks and a cock.

[R E S T E C P]

Vitorio said:

Nope, the Diesel TT is bad enough imho

If you can afford an R8 yet are concerned about mileage/fuel cost, buy yourself a diesel barge for the long runs instead.

What's so bad about a diesel TT when it's offered along with so many petrol options? There's only one diesel while there's the 1.8 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI, TTS and TTRS.

We have a Mk3 TT TDI which my wife uses for 20k+ miles per year where 99% of the time she's the only one in the car. She wanted a high spec, "pretty" coupe that didn't feel depressing to drive and we both like sporty seats in our cars (the TT's "Super Sport" seats are fantastic!)
Also the engine isn't so bad, as far as diesels go. Especially with the fake exhaust noise thing (which petrol cars have too) - it doesn't sound diesely. With a lower annual mileage the TTS would have been our preference, but I'm really glad we could choose a car that suited us so well.

A barge would have been the wrong choice for my wife, never mind someone considering an R8!

[matsoc]

No, I like the R8 just because has a Lambo engine in more restrained looks. A diesel is fool for a number of reasons:

- lower fuel consumptions makes little sense in a 2 door baby supercar
- added mass would harm the handling
- how much extra torque you may need?

Anyway if the R8 must have an Audi engine why do not use the RS6 one, turbo petrol V8

[leglessAlex]

Nope. Nah. No. Oh god no.


I see what you're getting at, but I think this is one of those things that works well on the racetrack and is completely undesirable in a sports car/supercar that is supposed to feel special. In fact, lots of reviews I've seen have labeled the V10 as the last or only really 'special' part of the new R8, why on earth would you want to take that away?

[E65Ross]

Audi have been winning Le Mans with diesels because the rules, their budget and a great team have enabled them to do it. If they spent the same money investing into petrol competition they'd do just as well.

[jeenyus]

Let's hope they don't promote diesel with a halo car such as a R8 TDI. Diesel has been promoted enough through tax incentives. Halo cars should be looking towards the future i.e. efficient energy consumption and lower toxic emissions such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides at the point of use.

Innovation leads to trickle down of the latest technologies to the general consumer, trickling up rep mobile diesel tech doesn't make sense in this regard.

[Durzel]

sealtt said:

Sticking an elephants head on top of the roof would make it different and stand out from the competition too, doesn't mean it's a good idea or that it's something anyone would want.

Briliant summation.

A diesel engine in an R8, an aspirational not-quite-supercar, whatever next.

[toppstuff]

No No No

A million times. NO !

Maybe 10 years ago. Not ever now. Absolutely under NO circumstances.

The world is already turning against diesel. Hybrid electric is the inevitable way forward.

Go and have a lie down, Dan. It's a silly idea.