RE: Why Audi needs a diesel R8: PH Blog
Discussion
I agree with Dan on this one... Everyone I've spoken to about the R8 has said those fateful words. It's just an Audi.
The problem it has is it has an identity crisis, which could be remedied 100% by having it's own USP.
All those hankering on about noise and fuel economy have missed the point, these could be truly special machines. Leave the Lambo with the screaming V10, and put a gruff diesel V12 TDI in it's place and you're laughing.
For me the V10 being in the R8 dilutes the Lamborghini brand, and is the number 1 reason that I didn't get a Huracan. And most likely won't ever, unless the Superleggera turns out to be something special.
Let Lambo be Lambo, and Audi be Audi.
EDIT V12***
The problem it has is it has an identity crisis, which could be remedied 100% by having it's own USP.
All those hankering on about noise and fuel economy have missed the point, these could be truly special machines. Leave the Lambo with the screaming V10, and put a gruff diesel V12 TDI in it's place and you're laughing.
For me the V10 being in the R8 dilutes the Lamborghini brand, and is the number 1 reason that I didn't get a Huracan. And most likely won't ever, unless the Superleggera turns out to be something special.
Let Lambo be Lambo, and Audi be Audi.
EDIT V12***
Edited by exceed on Wednesday 15th June 16:49
Mr2Mike said:
J4CKO said:
Hmm, it looks like clickbait, it smells like clickbait..... 
Mr Trent has form in this regard.I also accept the argument that they possibly missed the boat, given what's happened since and the way things are likely to go for diesel cars in the medium to long-term.
Purely as an engineering and marketing challenge I remain curious as to how it would all have panned out.
Cheers,
Dan
Dan Trent said:
I'll try and take that as a compliment, given it's kind of my job to encourage people to the site to read the stories we put up! But I'll take issue with the implication it's simply contentious for the sake of being contentious. Hand on heart, I stand by the point - I WOULD be interested to see what such a car would be like. Possibly terrible. And difficult to argue when there's a fabulous petrol V10 in the range.
I also accept the argument that they possibly missed the boat, given what's happened since and the way things are likely to go for diesel cars in the medium to long-term.
Purely as an engineering and marketing challenge I remain curious as to how it would all have panned out.
Cheers,
Dan
Exactly - they won with the V12 R10, why not put the V12 in the R8 ? I also accept the argument that they possibly missed the boat, given what's happened since and the way things are likely to go for diesel cars in the medium to long-term.
Purely as an engineering and marketing challenge I remain curious as to how it would all have panned out.
Cheers,
Dan
Really can't see the issue people have - I bet they would still sell 300-500 of them !
It could be made exciting, loud waste gates, big turbo spool, heaps of torque... definitely unique!
Go the whole hog, put on a tow bar and pull a boat to the coast in Europe with it ...
LA167 said:
A diesel ban will never happen, how many petrol powered lorries have you seen in the cities lately!?
It certainly will happen in major cities sooner rather than later and manufacturers are already preparing for it. Earlier this year I visited a testing facility where prototype hybrid bin lorries were being developed. Diesel engine for the the open road, pure EV for low/zero emissions zones. That is how commercial vehicles will go until the technology is there to consign diesel to the history books completely. R E S T E C P said:
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!
You're probably saving £500-£700 a year on fuel by buying the TDi over the equivalent petrol model. But I imagine that the TD cost more to buy than the equivalent petrol too - certainly they are 10% more expensive new, so you'd have to wait nearly 5 years before your fuel saving equalled your purchase increase.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!
TEKNOPUG said:
R E S T E C P said:
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!
You're probably saving £500-£700 a year on fuel by buying the TDi over the equivalent petrol model. But I imagine that the TD cost more to buy than the equivalent petrol too - certainly they are 10% more expensive new, so you'd have to wait nearly 5 years before your fuel saving equalled your purchase increase.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!
Compared to the 2.0 TFSI the base price is the same and more like £1k fuel savings per year using realistic figures (plus TDI free tax in first year and £30 afterwards) - so financially the TDI was ahead.
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Look at the configurator, all prices are there. http://www.uk.audi.com/uk/web/en/models/tt/tt-coup... - Click "Start new configuration"Wow Dan! You could have just handed in your resignation like a normal person but to go on a journalistic rant to deliberately get yourself fired is rather old-school, Kudos Sir.
This is 2016, Diesel in a Sports car is SO mid-2000's, more's the question why Audi haven't Hybrided the sh*t out of the R8?
Anyway, was nice while it lasted, enjoy whatever cheap rag will employ you after this- probably only Auto Express or The Sun.
This is 2016, Diesel in a Sports car is SO mid-2000's, more's the question why Audi haven't Hybrided the sh*t out of the R8?
Anyway, was nice while it lasted, enjoy whatever cheap rag will employ you after this- probably only Auto Express or The Sun.
Nanook said:
TEKNOPUG said:
You're probably saving £500-£700 a year on fuel by buying the TDi over the equivalent petrol model. But I imagine that the TD cost more to buy than the equivalent petrol too - certainly they are 10% more expensive new, so you'd have to wait nearly 5 years before your fuel saving equalled your purchase increase.
Another £100-150 in tax saved each year too.What do the petrol and diesel TTs cost new? I just had a look on the Audi website and it's very easy to find their latest finance deals, not so easy to find out what the car actually costs.
Lots of reasons to buy a diesel over a petrol but you need to be doing a LOT of miles for fuel economy to be a prime reason, over a chaper equivalent petrol.
Edited by TEKNOPUG on Wednesday 15th June 17:33
The diesel Le Mans racers exist because the rules have been drafted to favour diesel over other forms of power in recent years. The road car is not subject to Fia rules hence it doesn't need to be diesel to be competitive, just like it doesn't need a F1 regulation sized air restrictor. The v8 and v10s are ideally suited to a road going junior super car and the requirements of buyers.
k. 
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