A few years ago, one could still buy a V8 diesel-powered vehicle from pretty much, any of the German manufacturers (BMW used a boosted up V6 six-cylinder which did the same job – think 535d). Now, aside from the Porsche Cayenne S diesel, which has a long waiting list, there are no V8 diesels on the market to really speak of – they have all-but been wiped out and replaced with more V6s.
Now, though, Fiat is reportedly looking to introduce its own V8 diesel, which may produce an output of around 360 hp and 620 Nm (~ 460 lb-ft), considerably more than their “Ferrari-developed” V6 diesel used in the new Maserati Ghibli. Apparently, the aim is to make the unit achieve 30 mpg, which equates to 7.84 l/100km, and it is already “aching to be dropped in a mule as we speak,” according to a report from Car&Driver.
Not much else is known about this mysterious engine, but big diesels are very cool engines, and we’d sure love to see this particular one. If it does become a reality, it is expected to hit the market by 2016, though, it has not been specified under the bonnets of which cars – it may be the Ghibli, its bigger brother the Quattroporte, and/or their upcoming Levante SUV.
By Andrei Nedelea
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