Yes, its still a concept, but there is no denying the excitement around Audi’s brutal derv-drinking R8. There are production-ready performance cars at the Detroit show like the CTS-V, ZR1 and second generation RX-8 that’ll make you look twice, but won’t give you whiplash like big brother R8.
As if the R8 (released just last year) wasn’t a smash hit in itself, Audi decided to take the competition out with a more focused R8 – loaded with an overdose of . Closely derived from the unit used in R10 racing car (winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring), the 6,0-litre twin-tubocharged common-rail injection V12 will give traditionally petrol-guzzling powerplants used in true supercars a run for their money…if it makes it to production.
The R8 V12 TDI concept voices its intentions through the wider and more muscular proportions it boasts – with emphasised wheel arches and larger air vents. There is also a “continuous” aluminium spoiler lip that extends from under the front bumper, running under the side-sills and rests a-top the rear diffuser. Like the original R8, the engine is also on display under a glass lid (appropriately restyled) and is visible at night, thanks to the LEDs illuminating the engine bay – available with full carbon-fibre lining for exaggerated boasting. Another notable highlight, are those unmistakable all-LED headlamps and three-dimensional illusion of the LED tail-lights.
The 6,0-litre V12 TDI is twin-intercooled, twin-turbocharged (producing up to 2,6 bar boost pressure), has a twin pipe exaust system with two particulate filters and is managed by two control units. The 368 kW produced under the glass lid isn’t exactly by the standards set by the top brass of the supercar realm but the colossal 1 000 N.m at 1 750 r/min is definitely something to write home about. These numbers allow the R8 V12 TDI concept to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4,2 seconds with the use of a six-speed manual gearbox – and, in turn, allows for a top speed of “well over 300 km/h”. Not only brutal but clean as well, the R8 V12 TDI concept is equipped with a special catalytic converter and an additional tank filled with a solution known as AdBlue. This solution is released (in small quantities) into the exhaust system, where due to the hot exaust gases, the solution breaks down to form ammonia that splits the nitric oxides into nitrogen and water. Utilising this technology, Audi has made the V12 TDI fully compliant with the Euro 6 emissions standard likely to take effect by 2014.
The R8 V12 TDI Concept’s chassis allows for sport-orietated driving, but is also capable of comfort for driving over long distances. The front and rear double wishbone suspension is also equipped with magnetic ride – adapting the chassis characteristics to suit road profile and driver enthusiasm. The ceramic brake discs are retarded by six-piston monoblock aluminium calipers at the front and fixed calipers at the rear.
By concept standards, the R8 V12 TDI is quite shy on glitz features, but that just makes it that bit closer to production. The compact flat-bottomed steering wheel is wrapped in Valcona leather and houses the engine start/stop button and the Drive Select switch with Dynamic, Sport and Race settings. When in race mode, the instrument lighting changes from white to red and the display screen shows a lap timer and gives navigational information about the track being raced. The generous use of aluminium and carbon fibre in interior applications also add to the motorsports feel.
Should the R8 V12 TDI make production, it would revolutionise the supercar as we know it and also set the example for diesel-engined performance cars of the future…who said diesels were boring?
To download a wallpaper of the Audi R8 V12 TDI, Click here.
