According to Motor Trend, the rumor Audi's planning to launch a version of its new R8 powered by the LeMans-winning TDI V12 is more than just casual speculation.

Senior board members confirm Audi is working on a diesel version of its new R8 Porsche-fighter in the aftermath of its historic 2006 Le Mans win with the diesel-powered R10 racer.

On the obviousity meter, Audi putting a version of the LeMans-winning tugboat pusher into the R8 registers somewhere between "Al Pacino tends toward overacting" and "oranges aren't purple." Still, considering the company's already slapped a detuned version in the Q7 to throw us off the scent, we can probably expect a similar 500 hp / 738 lb-ft torque monster R8 sometime in 2007, give or take. – Mike Spinelli

[via The German Car Blog]

Related:
Out of the Mouths of Executives: Audi R8 TDI? [internal]