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Audi's R8 TDI is the Torque of the Town

Audi has the unique talent of being able to mix the oil and water of theengineering world and somehow turn it into champagne. Take for instance the passenger car and four-wheel drive. Besides the tiny volume production of Jensen, Audi was the only manufacturer that attempted to combine the drivetrain system of agricultural vehicles, like tractors and pickup trucks, in a frame belonging to a regular motor vehicle. It worked brilliantly. Audi found great success with quattro, which helped it dominate rally races and road races alike. Today, quattro is the cornerstone of almost all things Audi. Without it the brand just wouldn't be the same.

The gears are beginning to turn on a new groundbreaking phase for Audi, which is set to revolutionize

The R8 is a wonderful car, but is Audi ready to push the boundaries with diesel power? (Photo: Audi)

the auto industry in another way: through the use of diesel power. Diesels aren't anything new, of course, and while Audi has had great success using diesel power on the track, especially with its new TDI Le Mans winning R10 racer, they're far from the first to incorporate Rudolf's invention in race or road cars.On the contrary, they're looking to be the first to create a diesel-powered supercar, based on nothing less than their brand new R8.

Instantly, the engine that Audi aficionados will think of is the brand's

No, it probably won't get the V12 TDI, but that's no problem considering the V8 TDI is an excellent engine. (Photo: Audi)

flagship diesel, the majestic 6.0-liter V12 TDI that develops 500 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque, although it probably wouldn't make the cut for its size and weight. Keeping in mind that the R8 is a very small vehicle, the cast-iron and vermicular graphite block would completely alter the car's balance and therefore its handling characteristics. Instead, insiders are reporting that the R8 TDI will feature Audi's newly developed 4.2-liter V8 TDI engine.

The latest evolution of the V8 TDI has yielded a brand new engine that is 4.2-liters in displacement and generates 326 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. With four less cylinders on board, the engine will weigh less and will be more compact in size.

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