Detroit '08 Preview: V12 diesel-powered Audi R8 TDI to be unveiled

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupes, Supercars, Audi

click above to view more images of the 2008 Audi R8

Audi has already publicly revealed it will be showing two vehicles at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. One it called a "stunning" concept car and the other is a new production car making its world debut. One of the two cars will reportedly be an Audi R8 powered by the brand's V12 TDI diesel engine, this according to German mag Auto Motor und Sport. While the R8 TDI is likely destined for production, it's probably not the production car that Audi will debut in Detroit. If it's the "stunning" concept, consider us stunned. The car is projected to have around 500bhp/738 ft-lbs of torque, accelerate to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds and return 28 mpg, presumably on the highway. That's truly outstanding fuel economy for a supercar, though Corvettes are known to get above 30 mpg while lazily cruising this nation's highways, as well. That said, the equally as powerful 2008 Corvette Z06 is rated by the EPA as 15 city/25 highway mpg. Back to the R8 TDI, Auto Express also reports that since the V12 TDI is much larger than the standard car's 4.2L V8, it will gobble up all available luggage space just to fit. The R8 TDI's appearance in Detroit certainly isn't confirmed by Audi yet, so we'll have to wait until January 13th to see exactly what the German automaker brought to town. We think, however, that it is a safe bet.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Carscoop, Auto Express]
Gallery: 2008 Audi R8


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