Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live - Jalopnik Comments

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

smokes — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:48:02 EST

And for tomorrow's trick, it's going to fly away...

smokes

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Naters4 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:19:54 EST

I love Audi's more than anything. The whole concept of a kickass diesel R8 makes me want to dry hump any/everything. However:

WTF (!!!) did they do to the fascias?

It looks like a toonermobile from Holland with brake ducts to the windshield. The original R8 is beautiful and taught, this has some recockulous slats slapped on. It ruins the whole point of the R8: understated, beautiful looks with killer dynamics. This would have been the ultimate if it had a little front lip and small skirts. Now it looks like a bucktoothed tard cart.

Give me a normal R8, an R8 with the MTMcharger, or the normal R8 with a diesel transplant. Screw it, give me a new A4 2.0T and I'll have fun with it.
Anything else before being seen in the ugliest car to wear 4 rings.

Naters4

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

laxman15 — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:26:51 EST

oh baby look at that beautiful engine.

laxman15

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

txturbo930 — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:07:30 EST

this car makes me happy in my pants. ;)

txturbo930

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

doctorv8 — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:17:27 EST

Interesting that a gas powered CL65 AMG has identical torque ratings, and manages 19 mpg hwy through an automatic trans. Granted, it's not AWD, but I would expect more than 25% better mileage from Audi's new diesel wundercar. If it doesn't make closer to 28-30 mpg hwy, that would be very disappointing.

doctorv8

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Teds — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:36:13 EST

@Fitty7lax:
I sat in a regular R8 recently and actually the rear visibility is pretty decent, The car is very real world useable.

Teds

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

cgates1 — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:46:33 EST

Say it with me class: engine torque is only loosely related to melting the tires. The torque at the wheels comes through the gearbox, and is almost certainly not much more tire-melting than, say, a Corvette with a paltry 500 ft. lbs.

That's why the gearbox in a diesel has to be extra-strong (see all the stories on the R10 about this) - the extra twist from the engine turns really tall gears (reducing the meltiness in your tires).

cgates1

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

zack535is — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:58:46 EST

Tire melting torque, economy, and razor-sharp design? Want. So. Bad.

zack535is

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

diskreet — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:34:07 EST

With the dependability, economy and power of a diesel, Audi just might have created the perfect supercar that works in real life.

diskreet

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

thunder — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:54:53 EST

Holy tree stumps: 737.56 lb-ft of torque?!?! That's trailer towing territory there. With a little added structural reinforcement, a guy could mount a fifth-wheel hitch to the roof of that puppy. Wouldn't that be a sight, pulling into a KOA with that Audi tucked under the front of a travel trailer.

Might also need some work on the shocks. And the gearing. And the clutch. And...

thunder

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Hyman Decent — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:50:27 EST

@TomAnderson, @13thfloorelevator: Y chromosome

@Duffman: Please post photos of the mechanic.

Hyman Decent

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

wonkydonky — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:39:02 EST

That engine looks like the Love Child of a Cylon and a Flux Capacitor!!!

Love the duct, I assume it gives you extra power via Water Injection when it rains??

738 lb/ft of Torque means that for the first 3200 rpms, your immortal consciousness is actually outside the car and 200 ft. behind whilst driving it.

wonkydonky

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

camp6ell — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:30:06 EST

@ab3: my reading's as good as your typing...

camp6ell

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

larsenf — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:16:21 EST

to bad it is still an audi.

larsenf

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

clothingoptional — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:01:32 EST

I saw an R8 on the street last month. Freaking amazing.

One of the regulars at my coffee shop is an Audi dealer and he usually rolls up on Sunday mornings in something interesting. Even better that me and my 4 year old were the only ones on the street. We had it all to ourselves... "Wow, daddy! Can you get a car like that?" I wish.

clothingoptional

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

ab3 — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:35:51 EST

@camp6ell: 500hp, 738 ft-lbs torque, 23 mph; you obviously do not know how to read...

ab3

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

ZZMarcus — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:31:47 EST

I wasn't impressed until I studied that rear picture and saw the Y was ducting not bracing. That, not the standard front 3/4, is the PERFECT shot to make me woozy with desire. Holy crap.

ZZMarcus

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Number_Six — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:10:59 EST

This thing is so friggin cool.

Number_Six

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

camp6ell — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:09:45 EST

bla bla bla, what are the performance and economy figures expected to be?

camp6ell

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

graverobber- It says Loud Pipes Save Lives — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:58:12 EST

Yowzer. Now that's a freight train. Papa like.

graverobber- It says Loud Pipes Save Lives

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Euromobile — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:44:06 EST

Pourquoi even.

Euromobile

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Euromobile — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:43:24 EST

@chrystlubitshi: Pourqoui?

Euromobile

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Duffman — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:32:34 EST

One of the main features on the Corvette that made it so desirable for me was the brakes. But now we have 12 cylinders, turbo charged, diesel with smoking hot looks. This is the car for me. Sorry GM. I would sell my daughter (hardly used only 3 years old balance of warranty and mechanic included) for this car. As far the front fascia, it just looks more practical than cosmetic so that is OK with me.

Duffman

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Maymar - now with 37% less anonymity — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:18:58 EST

@TomAnderson: It looks suspiciously Flux Capacitor shaped.

"Spark plugs? Where we're going, we won't need spark plugs!"

But, I'm tempted to say that not only does this run on diesel, but also pure, distilled win. Mega-want.

Maymar - now with 37% less anonymity

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

chrystlubitshi — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:38:04 EST

@euromobile: +1

chrystlubitshi

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Euromobile — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:20:15 EST

Too much grille, but wow. What an engine.

Where is the TT TDI!?

Euromobile

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Adamskiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiy — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:16:40 EST

@newfmike:
@Rick Astley:
Well, it is a CAD model.

Adamskiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiy

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

SLR999 — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:14:18 EST

Change the wheels, add Will Smith, and I'd say we're in the '20s (the one w/ robots, to be sure).

SLR999

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

JantheMan — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:13:52 EST

First a fashion label, then a bad ass actor and now this. DIESEL... It has even the word DIE in it

I will discard all my OTTO clothes, Actor, hrm...look here [en.wikipedia.org] And the word look like a facia of some anglosaxian misfit from the sixties.

JantheMan

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

chrystlubitshi — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:07:39 EST

goosfraba.... everyone, repeat with me... goosfraba

chrystlubitshi

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

smokyburnout — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:06:04 EST

@newfmike: maybe when 738 lb-ft of torque bends the space-time continuum and warps your plane of reality, the shift pattern will make perfect sense...

smokyburnout

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

racerx — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:03:38 EST

I'm quite glad that they put this engine in the fast R8 instead of a turbo V10. Much much cooler!

racerx

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

TR3-A — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:03:14 EST

More things I can't have. Sheesh. Hmmm, can we figure out a way to put the engine in a Dodge Ram?

TR3-A

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Rick Astley — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:00:53 EST

@newfmike: Looks like someone put the knob on upside-down.

Rick Astley

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

newfmike — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:57:23 EST

Mind-blowing tech for the engine. The redline is quite jarring compared to something like the S2000's 8800 RPM redline.

Any idea why the shift gate is a mirror image of the shift diagram on the knob?

newfmike

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

smokyburnout — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:56:57 EST

i'm not sure about that new front fascia (it appears to be about 90% grille openings), but otherwise it's very cool. i'll take one in grey with red side blades...

smokyburnout

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

franzouse — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:51:58 EST

That is an exciting vehicle but here in Europe, we're surrounded by HDIs, TDIs, DCIs... and no matter, I just hate diesels.
Pass the Octane please

franzouse

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Mad_Science — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:46:10 EST

Also, only Ze Germans would include such details as:

"Like the other power units in this range, the distance between cylinder bore axes on the V12 TDI is 90 mm (3.54 in.). Yet its included angle is 60 degrees, not 90 degrees. This means no free inertial forces or mass moments of inertia can occur with the V12. The results are refined in every respect."

Mad_Science

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Mad_Science — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:43:10 EST

Peak torque at 1750rpm.

Matte silver paint.

I've said it before, but:
[en.wikipedia.org]

Mad_Science

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

j6r — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:42:09 EST

Red line starts at 4,500 rpm. Wow look at that NACA duct on the roof. That's cool!

j6r

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

NovaloadMissesPolar — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:30:54 EST

@Fitty7lax: LOL and all you could see anyway would be rapidly receding specks angrily flashing their tiny lights as you blew by.

NovaloadMissesPolar

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Fitty7lax — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:26:24 EST

I don't see a center mirror...which makes sense because it doesn't look like you can see out the rear window anyway.

Fitty7lax

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

13thfloorelevator — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:21:23 EST

@TomAnderson: It's for 'yeah, baby.' What did you think it was for?

13thfloorelevator

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

FLB — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:17:59 EST

As much as I like Corvettes, this is the star of the show for me. It's the first 21st Century supercar with actual racing lineage. I love Ferraris, but the R8 V12 TDi pushes more of the right buttons for me than the Enzo.

As far as I'm concerned, it would be an immediate entry into the JFG.

FLB

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

gamble — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:17:29 EST

The things I would do to this car, you have no idea...

gamble

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Tomsk — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:13:15 EST

What's the big red "Y" on the engine for?

Also: Six-speed manual? Sweet. Now just figure out where to attach the Class IV hitch receiver...

Tomsk

Detroit Auto Show: Audi R8 V12 TDI Live

Rick Astley — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:07:53 EST

We appreciate your sacrifice to bring us this information, Matt.

Rick Astley