Word is that the world’s first green supercar will be showing its face at the Detroit Motor Show later this month. As previously alluded to at TMR it looks as though Audi have found a way to shove a monster diesel between the rear strut towers of their R8 supercar.

First details of the Detroit debut for the Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept have been leaked by Auto Motor und Sport magazine despite there being an embargo on the story until January 13, when the supercar with an oiler is due to take its first bow in Detroit. Audi are calling the car a “design model” and will use it to gauge consumer reaction before giving the model the green light for production.

The V12 appears to be a version of the V12 TDI found in Audi’s R10 racer, and develops 373kW/500hp and 1,000Nm of torque. The massive torque ensures the R8 V12 TDI can scramble from 0-100km/h in just 4.2 seconds on its way to a top speed somewhere north of 300km/h. As expected, the oiler is physically bigger than the usual 4.2-litre V8 and 100kgs heavier, so the little storage space that the R8 had, has been seriously compromised and there will be some change to the balance of the car when compared to the V8 petrol version.

Scans of some artists impressions of the V12 TDI can be seen over at the R8-quattro forum.

[Source: WCF]