The Diesel is Coming...
I remember not too long ago, okay, well, a fairly long time ago that the biggest joke of the automotive world went something
like this: The Peugeot 504 Diesel Station wagon was the world's slowest car in 0 to 60 times - you measured it with a calendar, not a stopwatch.
That memory was shattered last week when Audi AG announced its new replacement for the all conquering R8, dubbed the R10, will have diesel power. What?! A diesel racer capable of - and you heard it here first - dominating at Le Mans?
I could be argued that the current R8 is the most successful sports car in history. It clearly is right up there with the Ford GT40 and Ferrari 512, and even the king of kings, the Porsche 911. The R8 has dominated at the top level of the sport for eons.
Now,
with the new R10, Audi has once again raised the bar, and could well re-invent long distance racing - if it doesn't get 'ruled' out of existence as quattro all-wheel drive previously did in Touring Car.
Audi, which invented the 'TDI' designation, will become the world's first automobile manufacturer to challenge for an overall victory with a diesel engine at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. The R10, which was shown to the world last week in Paris, is powered by a totally new 5.5-litre, twelve-cylinder bi-turbo TDI engine. This engine is extremely quiet - not necessarily good for a racecar - and economical - very good for a race car, and ideal for long distance racing.
I remember not too long ago, okay, well, a fairly long time ago that the biggest joke of the automotive world went something
 |
| Any thoughts of lackluster diesel performance were shattered last week when Audi AG announced, in Paris, that its new replacement for the all conquering R8, dubbed the R10, will have diesel power. (Photo: Audi Canada) |
That memory was shattered last week when Audi AG announced its new replacement for the all conquering R8, dubbed the R10, will have diesel power. What?! A diesel racer capable of - and you heard it here first - dominating at Le Mans?
I could be argued that the current R8 is the most successful sports car in history. It clearly is right up there with the Ford GT40 and Ferrari 512, and even the king of kings, the Porsche 911. The R8 has dominated at the top level of the sport for eons.
Now,
 |
| Now, with the new R10, Audi has once again raised the bar, and could well re-invent long distance racing. (Photo: Audi Canada) |
Audi, which invented the 'TDI' designation, will become the world's first automobile manufacturer to challenge for an overall victory with a diesel engine at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. The R10, which was shown to the world last week in Paris, is powered by a totally new 5.5-litre, twelve-cylinder bi-turbo TDI engine. This engine is extremely quiet - not necessarily good for a racecar - and economical - very good for a race car, and ideal for long distance racing.