POWERED BY a twin-turbocharged version of the same 5.2 litre V10 found in the Lamborghini Gallardo, the current generation Audi RS6 (pictured) develops 433kW and a massive 650Nm of torque.
Reports circulating online this week suggest that Audi will continue the downsizing trend it began with the 2009 Audi S4, swapping the big V10 for a lighter, more efficient V8 in the next generation RS6.
As with the S4, dropping a pair of cylinders while maintaining power and performance levels with the use of turbo or supercharging, will help Audi meet tightening fuel-efficiency and emissions requirements around the world.
A new compact and lighter V8 powerplant will see the next-gen RS6 shedding the kilos, assisting in fuel-efficiency gains for the big saloon.
If Audi does make the switch, it won’t be alone. BMW is believed to be working on a twin-turbo V8 engine for the next-generation M5 - the RS6’s direct competitor - to replace the existing V10 powerplant.
Using the 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 from the current X5M and X6M, BMW engineers are expected to massage the engine to produce up to 450kW.
The current 5.0 litre V10-powered M5 develops 373kW, and the V8 in question already produces 413kW in the X5M and X6M.
Loading ...
Comments
Click here to jump to Add Comment box
How do you get a picture next to your name?
Get a Gravatar. Click here to find out more.
This burns, more power or not, these cars are losing their iconic individuality.
Looks good, but Audis have always been a sterile drive. You could give them a million horsepower and the Audi engineers would still find a way to make them feel safe and boring.
Anyway why invest so much in more and more power. Why not make these overwieght tanks weigh less instead by using stronger and lighter materials.
Jess, I think thats the reason why they are dropping th V10, as a V8 would weigh less. And out of all the manufacturers BMW and Audi are doing the most to use more advanced materials to try and reduce weight, but its a constant battle between the safety regulations forcing manufacturers to add weight to the car and advances in material manufacturer to try and reduce that weight back down again.
Spot-on, Tom. Both Audi and BMW have invested heavily in the use of lighter materials. That said, aluminium is an expensive material to work with effectively, and the 2010 7 Series is expected to be built on an all-steel chassis.