For the last eight years in a row, a car with a diesel engine has won the 24 Hours of LeMans. Seven of those eight victories belong to Audi, and Audi is a part of the larger Volkswagen group that has brought us such supercar marvels as the Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Aventador, and most recently, the Porsche 918 Spyder. If supercars are supposed to be “race cars for the road” then it is high time for VW to set the precedent for true oil-burning supercars and sports cars.
As it turns out, they’ve already come damn close a couple of times. The first one came in 2008 in form of an Audi R8 with a 5.9L Turbo-Diesel V12 under the hood. The second was a promisingly realistic diesel Boxster with a VW badge called the “Concept BlueSport.” In both cases demand was deemed to be too low, and the timing also happened to coincide with the global economic downturn. I agree that the climate was probably wrong for both models at their respective debuts, but having said that, the world has changed a lot in the last few years.
I think there is now a place for diesel sports cars and supercars in the world, so long as they fit with the identity of the larger brand. I don’t think a diesel Porsche or Ferrari will ever be a good thing, but as a VW or especially an Audi, I think it would work splendidly.
Now, there are already other diesel “sports cars” out there, but they seem largely a footnote in the lineup. The BMW Z4 is a good example. What I am talking about here instead is a full-fledged effort for sports cars and supercars that have a real purpose in being diesel powered. Audi’s R18 TDI is not an appendage of their larger racing program, it is the main attraction, and that is how these sports cars also must be. Diesel has always been viewed as a sort of compromise in cars, and it’s time that changed.
The Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept was hardly a compromise when it came out. It had 500hp and a mental 738ft/lbs of torque at its disposal. This was all before the R8 V10 was released, so the diesel model would’ve been the daddy of the lineup. Audi went on to just make a Lamborghini Gallardo in German clothing instead of something as radical as a diesel supercar. While the R8 V10 saw much sales success, many of us were left wondering, “what if?”
I mean honestly, what sort of supercar could pay homage to Audi’s racing dominance better than one with a diesel derived directly from their racing program? Also, think about the Porsche 918 at the other end of the VW group. If you were to pair the 918’s hybrid system with the V12 TDI you would end up with around 780hp and enough torque to fling the earth into another galaxy. Now picture that power plant in the wrapper of a halo supercar, based on the R8’s platform, but placed at the tippy-top of the Audi lineup. Something limited production, with a price tag around half that of the 918 Spyder would work pretty well I think. This diesel supercar would be striking enough to lead the way, and show that diesel should be considered serious alternative to a gasoline motor in a high performance application.
Obviously, things from the automotive stratosphere have a trickle-down effect. People would see the hyper-diesel Audi and would want it badly, however most could not afford it. This is where the Volkswagen BlueSport comes into play. If you release them around the same time, the buzz around the crazy Audi should generate actual interest and sales for the VW sports car.
Basically, all they’d have to do is take the platform from the Porsche Boxster, drop in the higher-output version of the 2.0 TDI (178hp 260ft/lbs), and clothe it in Volkswagen wrapping. VW would need to be sure to keep the energetic steering and chassis feel from the Porsche, but maybe soften the ride just a little. Boom! You’ve got a fantastic little diesel sports car that people will buy.
Why will they want to buy a diesel VW Boxster, you ask? Because most people are not hardcore car enthusiasts, and just want a car that’s fun to drive and will be pleasantly cheap to own. They aren’t connoisseurs of the nuances of on-limit handling, and they won’t care about the lack of a high-revving engine. In fact, the diesel’s propensity for low-midrange performance will suit the average driver better because most of them are afraid to redline their cars.
What journalists and enthusiasts may see is a car that would be a lot better off with a shouty 3.6L VR6 or at least the 2.0T. What most normal buyers will see is an attractive, mid-engine sports car with a more exotic appeal than a Mazda Miata or a Scion FRS. They will love it for feeling “sporty” and they will really love that it gets almost double the MPG of a Miata (VW was saying around 55mpg when the concept came out). They can have fun, look good, and not kill their wallet, the BlueSport would be a home run for sure. (PS: The DSG trans is a given, but a manual option is a must!)
Diesel sports cars definitely have a place in the world if they are done right. They just need to be the focus instead of an afterthought. Design a sports car to take advantage of the merits of a diesel engine, and it won’t have a lackluster comparative appeal. Also Americans seem to finally be waking up to the idea that diesels are indeed the way to go for passenger vehicles, so there will now be a total global market for such cars.
I think both of these diesel-powered cars are a realistic possibility, and I think they would both do well in their respective segments. The question is, will VW take the steps to make diesels more inspiring, or will they leave them as the option for the “I was thinking about some spicy capicola, but I just got a ham sandwich instead” sort of people?
-Article by Nick Walker
Mind Over Motor 
Intriguing idea! I’ll take the capicola . . . VW sports diesel!
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Diesel is a viable alternative. http://bizbearing.wordpress.com/?s=diesel
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it looks like an excellent argument, but there are a couple of points which you need to look at.
When you say that a diesel ferrari won’t be a good thing, you are effectively putting the brand value over the product, and while the real world functions in that way, if another company chooses to go forward with a ‘diesel’ sports car, it can very quickly turn into a nightmare as these cars sell on their no-nonsense quality most of the time (yes, there are exceptions).
what i am trying to say is that diesel is a viable option for ALL brands, regardless of their stature. in order to support the argument, take the case of Rolls-Royce 102-EX.
Secondly, Audi is in the prime position to launch a diesel sports car thanks to its R18, but that is only when you speak from the technological standpoint. From the perspective of Market, Advertising and PR, it is a different ballgame altogether. You need to understand that it is not a good idea to build something solely because you can. The company will need to ensure that the product builds the necessary hype IN THE RIGHT SEGMENTS of society. it won’t help them if the auto-enthusiasts are jumping in their beds about it but no one is willing to part with their money to buy it. Lamborghini Estoque can perhaps vouch for it.
Thirdly, a person does not buy a sports car if he doesn’t like it. sure, there are people undergoing the middle-age crisis, but even they take it for the thrill AND the comfort the vehicle provides. That’s the reason behind Porsche’s success- it can cater to every segment’s demand in the sports cars. The revving sound is another high that people talk about. so is the low-rev a boon or a bane? only time will tell f the concept ever comes to life.
Sure, as mentioned in your article, there are a lot of reasons to launch a diesel sports car, and a lot of companies are capable of doing that, but it just puts all the more emphasis on the right marketing and advertising. A lot of products have fallen in that valley, iPad’s success is a testimony (or its predecessors’ failure, to be clear) to that.
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I’m not saying they should build diesel sports/supercars because they “can”, I’m saying they should build them because they “should.” In terms of what sports and supercars traditionally have been, racing derived street cars, a diesel makes 100% sense because of the massive success in racing. If you want a “modern Le Mans car for the street” then you want a diesel hybrid supercar.
And as far as sports cars go, for the price range of $25-35k most buyers would sacrifice the high revving excitement for the ability to get 50mpg. Basically it means you can take your car out and enjoy it that much more often because you won’t be killing your wallet by doing so. When I had both my STi and Miata, I took the Miata out for fun most of the time because it got double the MPG and offered a similar amount of fun. I love the speed of the STi, but an afternoon cruise would use 1/4 tank or more of premium gas, and it just wasn’t as financially worthwhile by comparison.
I agree, high revving engines are more exciting, and if money isn’t a concern then it’s ideal. But in the $25-35k range, buyers are still concerned with costs, and a little diesel roadster will put the wind through your hair just the same as a high-revving Porsche or BMW…. and that’s all 90% of customers car about.
I agree on the marketing/PR front as well. And clearly diesels are gaining much more popularity in the USA now that people have woken up to reality.
As for Ferrari, just remember who you’re talking about here… a company that has always been set in their ways, no matter what anyone said. It took them years to finally switch over to disc brakes back in the 1950s, and it wasn’t until the mid 1960s that they made the switch to mid-engine racing cars. Hell, even with the LaFerrari… it’s the only hybrid supercar that won’t run on pure electricity because “that wasn’t how a Ferrari should be.”
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apologies for the late reply.
well, I thought by Ferrari and Porsche you implied the top marquees, which would include lambo, Bugatti, Pagani,Koenigsegg or the top dogs of the supercar business.
Also, a diesel toyota 86/GT-86/FT-86.Subaru BRZ would perhaps be better target automobiles in diesel versions for the audience you have described.
The arrival of diesel Honda in India is a milestone to the importance of diesel motors. And perhaps it makes sense to create cars on a diesel platform. But this is where it gets tricky. Diesel is the choice of a practical person who may choose a ‘better average’ version of the counterparts. I can vouch for the importance of mileage to Indians having experienced it first-hand. On a global level, the scene may be different.
another point where i would like to differ is that people sadly don’t care just about the experience, they also care about the badge. Because frankly i cannot see an argument against the Aspid Supersport if what you said was an irrefutable rule, which i don’t think it is. This is where the big guns would have come in. It is my understanding that Ferrari California is the entry-level Ferrari because it is quite literally the entry-level. Ferrari has been quite arrogant and egoistic about who they sell their cars to (Enzo is perhaps the biggest example of that, and you need to jump through a lot of hoops for the 458 as well). But if they, or let’s say any other marquee were to start offering diesel editions as ‘Entry level’ cars, the scenario will greatly shift in the favour of Diesel motors. But that’s just my theory.
The case for Audi and BMW lies somewhere between the two. Sure, Audi easily has the biggest advantage in terms of technological expertise when it comes to putting “modern Le Mans car for the street” together, but where will it be placed in the line-up? That is the Marketing nightmare. You can put together a brilliant low-powered entry level R8, or a Top-end RS5, or go all guns blazing and put a manic top of the line diesel R8 which can smoke a Lambo and put the ‘ring lap time charts on fire while attracting attention of the previously mentioned top companies to the diesel motor, but it is not a venture without risk. If I recall correctly, Lexus LF-A is a technological marvel with Yamaha going nuts on the engine, but it still makes losses for every car Lexus sells.
thing is, I am not against Diesel supercars or sportscars. they make a lot of sense for the environment and personal economy. But with so much at stake, companies are shy to bring it in the mix of cars which defy practicality which only raises the stakes. It is possible that as we spek, a brand may be getting ready to launch a diesel sports-car, but be assured that their PR managers would have sweat a lot over the approach.
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hey you know top gear raced there once in i think a bmw i225 diesil netflix
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