Why no Audi RS TDi?

[The Surveyor]

It's great that Audi still produce there awesome RS 4 and RS6 estates, fantastic things but why have they never launched a high performance diesel? They have spent millions proving that diesels are fantastically quick in sports car racing at Le Mans etc, they have a huge v10 5.0 TDi engine in the group from the Touareg, so why not offer a Le Mans edition V10 RS6 TDi?

It would be an awesome long distance tourer!

[wiliferus]

I think the V6 Bi-turbo tdi is as close as they're going to do. Apparently is an outstanding long distance weapon.

[adsvx220]

Because diesels are boring IMO!!!!

I would much prefer a screaming v8 or v10.

[snapdragon69]

adsvx220 said:

Because diesels are boring IMO!!!!
I would much prefer a screaming v8 or v10.

Eh? Audi do excellent V6, V8 and V10 diesels. The first being the best all-rounder IMHO.

[anonymous-user]

the v12 tdi not good enough?

[adsvx220]

Good engines yes!!

But c'mon you can't beat the sound of petrol v's.

I'm a firm believer that performance models should be left to traditional performance petrol engines not oil burners.

Having a diesel rs4-6 would be like chucking a diesel lump in an m3 or 5. It just isn't right.

[The Surveyor]

adsvx220 said:

Because diesels are boring IMO!!!!

I would much prefer a screaming v8 or v10.

That's the standard 'top gear' reply but a diesel thumping out over 700 nm wouldn't be boring, just different!

The point was why spend so much money developing high performance TDi engines for racing but not do high performance road car, the logical progression would be a R8 TDi.... People would buy it if it was faster than the V8 however it sounded...

[ModernAndy]

The Surveyor said:

adsvx220 said:

Because diesels are boring IMO!!!!

I would much prefer a screaming v8 or v10.

That's the standard 'top gear' reply but a diesel thumping out over 700 nm wouldn't be boring, just different!

The point was why spend so much money developing high performance TDi engines for racing but not do high performance road car, the logical progression would be a R8 TDi.... People would buy it if it was faster than the V8 however it sounded...

I'd disagree with your last point but Audi were seriously looking at an R8 TDi a few years ago. However, they knew it would be a money pit and wouldn't sell in great numbers. The reality is that such an engine would use so much fuel and cost so much more to develop into the car that they might as well only offer petrol engines which wouldn't work out any more expensive for the end-user anyway.

[The Surveyor]

ModernAndy said:

I'd disagree with your last point but Audi were seriously looking at an R8 TDi a few years ago. However, they knew it would be a money pit and wouldn't sell in great numbers. The reality is that such an engine would use so much fuel and cost so much more to develop into the car that they might as well only offer petrol engines which wouldn't work out any more expensive for the end-user anyway.

Then why race a TDi in a traditionally petrol based LMP1 class at Le Mans year after year. Yes they have been rather successful but it just seems odd that they never capitalised on the publicity all that investment produced. They've done the initial development on the track and as far as fuel is concerned, it'll still use less than the petrol versions.

The old 'race on Sunday, sell on Monday' saying is still the reason these manufacturers spend millions on their Motorsport programme, again unless I've missed something !

Paul

[joema]

Torque is fun. But you need the sound too.

And tbh the majority who have an rs don't use them for long distance commuting, so those that can afford an rs, the price of fuel isn't much of an issue...

But I see what you're saying about Le Mans, I bet they are pretty expensive, complicated engines!

[adsvx220]

Standard topgear saying or not it's just my own opinion. I find dispels boring as I like revvy petrol engines where you have to work the car for power. In diesel motors you get in step on the gas and the power is there.

Developing a high performance diesel would be masses of money to make reliable on every day driving basis.

These are just my own personnel opinions obviously hence I will probably never buy diesel unless I was pulling loads etc.

[xRIEx]

I've not driven any fast Audis, but the recurring theme is they understeer like a bh when pressing on, due to their preferred layout with the heavy lump of a petrol engine slung in front of the front axle. Now surely changing that to an even heavier lump of a diesel engine is unlikely to improve matters. The ability to steer well is paramount to a successful 'sports'-segment car, along with big power.

A diesel engine would just give worse handling with less power and lower running costs. If someone wants an RS Audi, they accept the running costs as part of the package; for those who don't want the performance but do want favourable running costs, well, that's why S Line models exist.

The Le Mans racers are mid-engined so any weight disadvantage is slung between the axles and probably a lot easier to cope with. A diesel R8 would be a consideration, but a diesel exhaust note is hardly going to contribute to the exotic feeling of an expensive supersports car.

[davepoth]

The Surveyor said:

Then why race a TDi in a traditionally petrol based LMP1 class at Le Mans year after year. Yes they have been rather successful but it just seems odd that they never capitalised on the publicity all that investment produced. They've done the initial development on the track and as far as fuel is concerned, it'll still use less than the petrol versions.

The old 'race on Sunday, sell on Monday' saying is still the reason these manufacturers spend millions on their Motorsport programme, again unless I've missed something !

Paul

The millions of people who have bought VAG TDi-engined cars would disagree.

[Ari]

adsvx220 said:

Because diesels are boring IMO!!!!

I would much prefer a screaming v8 or v10.

Audi phoned you and asked you? That's remarkable...

[xRIEx]

The Surveyor said:

That's the standard 'top gear' reply but a diesel thumping out over 700 nm wouldn't be boring, just different!

The point was why spend so much money developing high performance TDi engines for racing but not do high performance road car, the logical progression would be a R8 TDi.... People would buy it if it was faster than the V8 however it sounded...

But would people buy it if it was heavier, slower and much more expensive than the V10? From the Wiki article on it, the R8 Le Mans Concept's V12 diesel engine put out 493bhp compared to the 518bhp of the V10, and weighs about 250kg heavier. In fact, quoted from Wiki:

'In May 2009, Audi decided to halt plans to produce the R8 TDI, citing "the cost of re-engineering the petrol R8 to accommodate the massive twin-turbocharged diesel engine is simply too great – and that it would be unable to recoup its investment through sales alone".'

[Searider]

I would buy a 4.2TDI A6 avant if they made it.

[bompey]

what about the audi sq5 tdi? i'm looking forward to trying this given the 0-62 in 5.1s.

http://www.audi.co.uk/about-audi/latest-news/audi-...

bompey

[Christian85]

The Spruce goose said:

the v12 tdi not good enough?

Agreed. Could imagine that engine in an A6 Avant

[anonymous-user]

bompey said:

what about the audi sq5 tdi? i'm looking forward to trying this given the 0-62 in 5.1s.

http://www.audi.co.uk/about-audi/latest-news/audi-...

bompey

combined mpg 41 more like 30 but the rest i like.

[Mr2Mike]

The Surveyor said:

Then why race a TDi in a traditionally petrol based LMP1 class at Le Mans year after year.

Because the regulations still favour diesels.