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One concept car that never made it to series production was the R8 with a turbocharged V12 diesel engine; the R8 V12 TDI concept. Background: In the 2010s, Audi was successful at Le Mans with the R10 TDI and wanted to establish diesel technology for sports cars, which had not existed until then. With 500 PS and a maximum torque of 1,000 Nm, the concept went from zero to 100 km/h in about four seconds – with an average consumption of less than ten liters. The final evolution of the first-generation R8 was the Audi R8 LMX, a special edition released in 2014 that was limited to 99 units and – like the R8 GT a few years earlier – was inspired by racing. With 570 PS, the R8 LMX raced from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, making it the fastest Audi production car at the time. Another unique feature was the laser high beams, which the R8 LMX was the first production car to use. A laser module in each headlight generated a light beam with twice the illumination range of full LED headlights. In eight years, Audi produced just over 26,000 units of the first R8 at the Neckarsulm plant. The Audi R8 as a movie star Thanks to its movie-star looks and Hollywood flair, the Audi R8 was featured in numerous blockbusters. The R8 made its most famous cameo as the companion of Marvel hero Tony Stark, alter ego Iron Man. In all three movies, Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., drove a first-generation Audi R8; in the third installment, it was an electric R8 e-tron. The second-generation R8 also starred in Marvel movies, such as “Captain America: Civil War” in 2016 and “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in 2017. In the 2004 sci-fi thriller “I, Robot,” the main character, Del Spooner, played by Will Smith, drove a super sports car whose basic shape was reminiscent of the Audi R8. The futuristic sports car was an Audi RSQ Concept, designed for the movie by Audi’s design team and then Head of Design Walter De Silva.

Wolfgang Ullrich (A) 1 Winner 24h Le Mans, Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer 2 French Touring Car Champion 3 Italian Touring Car Champion1 No races 19931992 1994 19991998 2000 Audi V8 quattro Audi 80 DTM Class 11 Audi 80 quattro2 Audi 80 competition3 Audi R81 Audi R8C Audi R8R Audi R8R Audi A4 24 Audi Sp ort Super Touring Cars Sports car LMP 2 Winner 24h Le Mans, Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer 3 Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer 1 Winner 24h Le Mans, Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer, Winner European Le Mans Series 2 Super Touring Car Champion in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, South Africa & Spain 3 Central European Touring Car Champion 1 Italian Touring Car Champion, Winner Touring Car World Cup 19961995 1997 20022001 2003 Audi R81 Audi R82 Audi R83 Audi A4 quattro3Audi A4 quattro2Audi A4 quattro1 Audi A4 25 DTM Sports car LMP Sports car LMP1 DTM Sports car LMP1 Customer racing 2 Winner 24h Le Mans 3 Winner DTM 1 Winner 24h Le Mans 4 Winner 24h Le Mans, Winner FIA WEC Driver & Manufacturer 3 Winner 24h Le Mans, Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer 1 Winner 24h Le Mans,Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer, Winner Le Mans Endurance Series 2 Winner DTM Driver & Manufacturer Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer 5 Winner 24h Le Mans 20052004 2006 20112010 2012 Audi A4 DTM2 Audi A4 DTM Audi A4 DTM Audi R81 Audi R83 Audi R84 Audi R10 TDI5 Audi R8 LMS Audi TT RS Audi R8 LMS/ultra/GRAND-AMAudi R8 LMS Audi A5 DTMAudi A4 DTM3Audi A4 DTM Audi R18 TDI2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro4/ultraAudi R15 TDI1 4, 5 26 Audi Sp ort DTM DTM Customer racing Sports car LMP1 Sports car LMP1 Customer racing 3 Winner 24h Le Mans 4 Winner DTM Manufacturer 1 Winner 24h Le Mans, Winner FIA WEC Driver & Manufacturer 2 Winner DTM 3 Winner 24h Le Mans, Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer, Winner Le Mans Series 4 Winner DTM 5 Winner DTM1 Winner 24h Le Mans, Winner ALMS Driver & Manufacturer 2 Winner DTM 20082007 2009 20142013 2015 Audi A4 DTM2 Audi A4 DTM4 Audi A4 DTM5 Audi R8 LMS Audi RS 5 DTM2

Wolfgang Ullrich (A) IM S A G T O D T M S u p er To u rin g C a rs Audi 90 quattro Audi V8 quattro Audi V8 quattro Audi V8 quattro Audi 80 DTM Class 1 Audi 80 quattro Dieter Basche (D) 202016 Diverse1 STC Italy, STC South Africa STC Italy STC Italy, STC World Cup STC Central Europe 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 Audi A4 quattro S u p e r To u rin g C a rs Audi 80 competition Audi A4 quattro 1 STC Australia, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Spain Audi A4Audi A4 quattro Audi A4 21 20 ALMS 24h Le Mans ALMS ALMS 24h Le Mans ALMS 24h Le Mans, ELMS 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 S p o rts ca r LM P S p o rts ca r LM G T-P Audi R8CAudi R8R Audi R8RAudi R8 Audi R8 Audi R8 Audi R8 22222016 S p o rts ca r LM P 1 DTM DTM ALMS 24h Le Mans DTM ALMS, LMS 24h Le Mans ALMS ALMS 24h Le Mans ALMS 24h Le Mans ALMS 24h Le Mans, LMES 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Audi R8 Audi R8 Audi R8 Audi R10 TDI S p o rts ca r LM P Audi R10 TDI D T M Audi A4 DTM Audi A4 DTM Audi A4 DTM Audi A4 DTM Audi A4 DTM Audi R10 TDI 23 2222 DTM DTM 24h Le Mans 24h Le Mans FIA WEC 24h Le Mans FIA WEC 24h Le Mans DTM 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 S p o rts ca r LM P 1 D T M Cu sto m e r ra cin g Audi A4 DTM Audi A4 DTM Audi A4 DTM Audi R8 LMS Audi R8 LMS Audi R8 LMS Audi R15 TDI Audi R15 TDI Audi R18 TDI Audi R8 LMS/ ultra/GRAND-AM Audi R8 LMS/ ultra/GRAND-AM Audi TT RS Audi A5 DTMAudi R18 e-tron quattro1/ultra Audi RS 5 DTMAudi R18 e-tron quattro 1 Only the Audi R18 e-tron quattro took the victories 242016 DTM 24h Le Mans 2016 2015 2014 S p o rts ca r LM P 1 C u sto m e r ra cin g D T M Audi R18 e-tron quattro Audi RS 5 DTM Audi RS 5 DTM Audi RS 5 DTM Audi R8 LMS/ ultra Audi R8 LMS/ ultra Audi R8 LMS Audi R18 e-tron quattro Audi R18 Audi TT cup Audi TT cup 25 24 WEC 28 Technology 36 Basics 38 Key personnel 39 Drivers and engineers 40 Team 41 Drivers 48 Circuits 58 Le Mans 63 LMP statistics 66 Partners INNOVATIONS AT LE MANS 2001 TFSI technology TDI technology / LED daytime driving lights 2006 Lithium ion battery / V10 TDI replaces V12

The majestic V12 TDI power unit with its capacity of six litres endows the high-performance Audi Q7 SUV with sports car credentials. It is the harbinger of a wide-scale model initiative, as Audi seeks to make major inroads into the US market with its diesel models – courtesy of a new emission control technology which cuts emissions drastically. The Audi Q7 V12 TDI raises the bar in the burgeoning sports utility vehicle segment. A time of just 5.5 seconds for the dash from zero to 100 km/h and an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h give the high-performance SUV sports car calibre. Its six-litre twelve-cylinder diesel unit demonstrates the tremendous technological expertise at Audi's fingertips. 18 years after the Ingolstadt brand invented the modern-day TDI engine, it is presenting it in an all-new high-tech, range-topping guise. Audi makes the vital breakthroughs All of the diesel engines from Audi deserve the tag of 'sporty' on account of their impressive performance – the six and eight-cylinder 2.7 TDI, 3.0 TDI and 4.2 TDI units serve to underline this. The pioneering role that Audi assumes in the field of diesel technology stems from the peerless expertise it has amassed over recent decades. Audi engineers have been responsible for one vital breakthrough after another – the most important of these was the world's first ever TDI engine to be fitted in a passenger car, which Audi introduced in 1989. Last year, Audi demonstrated the dynamic potential of diesel power in most memorable fashion on race tracks around the world. The V12 TDI in the R10 sports prototype unleashed in excess of 650 bhp and left its petrol-engined competitors in its wake in each of the eight races it competed in. Highlights of this winning streak included its triumph at the gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours as well as its victories in the LMP1 category of the American Le Mans Series. The trend towards diesel engines is gathering strength all the time in the United States too.

The Ingolstadt brand already has a host of landmark achievements to its credit – and the list is about to be extended with the advent of the first ever V12 TDI passenger car engine. The six-litre unit under the bonnet of the Audi Q7 V12 TDI study delivers a majestic 368 kW/500 bhp and a formidable 1,000 Nm of torque. This injects the high-performance SUV with the dynamism of a powerful sports car. The colossal power of the Audi Q7 V12 TDI takes it into a whole new dimension. A time of 5.5 seconds for the sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h and an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h put the performance SUV from Audi on a par with high-calibre sports cars. The engine limits its consumption to an average of just 11.9 litres/100 km. The new V12 TDI is the crowning glory of an engine line-up brimming with dynamic performance – each and every one of the diesel engines from Audi generates a high output and tremendous pulling power for a sporty drive. This character has emerged over and over again in the brand's models, not least in the form of the six- and eight-cylinder 2.7 TDI, 3.0 TDI and 4.2 TDI models. The pioneering role that Audi assumes in the field of diesel technology stems from the peerless expertise it has amassed over a period of decades. Since the 1970s, the Audi engineers have been responsible for one vital breakthrough after another, the most important being the world's first ever TDI engine to be fitted in a passenger car which made its debut in 1989. And in 2008, Audi intends to start making inroads into the US diesel market with Bluetec technology: thanks to Bluetec, TDI models bearing the four-ring emblem are not just sporty and economical, they can also run so cleanly that they comply with the emissions legislation in all 50 US states. A year ago, Audi added yet another new chapter to the ongoing diesel success story on race tracks around the world.

The V12 TDI with a displacement of six liters powers a concept car based on the Audi R8. This unit generates a huge 500 hp and 1,000 Newton-meters (737.56 lb-ft) of torque. Audi is writing a new chapter in diesel technology with this power unit. Equipped with the expertise that Audi has built up through its motor sport activities, the R8 V12 TDI in matt "Grace Silver" embodies superb road handling, pioneering technology and fascinating design. The V12 TDI is closely related to the engine in the Audi R10, the two-time Le Mans winner – so it catapults the Audi R8 into supercar terrain concerning performance too. It sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.2 seconds and its top speed is well over 300 km/h (186.41 mph). The peak torque, reached at only 1,750 rpm, paves the way for effortless acceleration that is unrivaled even at this level. The new V12 TDI belongs to Audi's family of V engines but has the ideal included angle for this engine type of 60 degrees between cylinder banks. Its highlights include the new chain drive layout that includes the two newly developed high-pressure pumps for the common rail injection system. Its sound is as thrilling as you'd expect in a sports car of this caliber. For all the subtle smoothness that typifies this design principle, the twelve-cylinder unit is full-bodied and equipped with energetic overtones that make no secret of its performance potential. The equipment, specifications and prices stated herein refer to the model line offered for sale in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.

The new V12 TDI with its supreme performance is a trademark Audi engine. Ever since it first invented the TDI engine 18 years ago, the brand has played a pivotal role in advancing technology in this field. Diesel engines from Audi are powerful, efficient and smooth, and they have demonstrated their superiority both on the road and the racetrack. 368 kW/500 bhp – the new V12 TDI engine in the Audi Q7 is a veritable pageant of technology and represents the new pinnacle of passenger car diesel development. The twelve-cylinder power unit provides unquestionable proof of the pre-eminent technological expertise at Audi. 18 years after the Ingolstadt brand invented the modern-day TDI engine, it is presenting it in an all-new high-tech, range-topping guise. The wide-ranging pool of know-how at Audi is also plainly in evidence in the brand's other large diesel engines which likewise succeed in fusing sheer power with excellent efficiency. The two V6 TDI units summon 132 kW/180 bhp and 171 kW/233 bhp respectively from their capacities of 2.7 and 3.0 litres, with the V8 TDI drawing 240 kW/326 bhp from its 4.2 litres. The TDI engines from Audi are full of power and torque, yet they are also efficient and economical, as well as being quiet and smooth. TDI engines are full of power The three-litre TDI unit propels a variety of Audi models, ranging from the mid-size A4 up to the Audi Q7 high-performance SUV. Its 171 kW/233 bhp equates to an output of 57.6 kW/77.9 bhp per litre – a figure which up until just a few years ago was unprecedented outside of the sports car faction. In all of the models it is fitted in, the 3.0 TDI drives all four wheels via the quattro permanent four-wheel drive system, yet another Audi technology whose tremendous potential for motoring pleasure and driving safety underscores the brand's sporty essence. The three-litre diesel engine ensures dynamic performance.

The diesel engine in the R10 sports prototype won its very first endurance race at Sebring, Florida, when it was pitted against an entire field of gasoline-engined challengers. But its most crucial victories were surely in 2006 and 2007 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, when it simply outclassed the international elite. The V12 TDI race engine in the R10 produces over 650 hp from a displacement of 5.5 liters, giving it the potential for a top speed as high as 330 km/h (205.05 mph) depending on the gear ratios. Its power and sturdiness immediately impressed both fans and experts, who were impressed by its restrained noise level. Unusual for a race engine, this powerful Audi diesel makes barely more than a whisper. Long traditions of motor racing and production technology complement each other at Audi. The FSI engine of the R10's predecessor, the R8, captured five wins at Le Mans with a direct gasoline injection system. Audi is also looking to maximize the advantage by using the race-tested FSI principle in its production models. The latest examples of this are the V8 with high-revving concept in the RS 4 and the production version of the Audi R8. The equipment, specifications and prices stated herein refer to the model line offered for sale in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.