Big V8 diesels were a thing in the mid 2000’s, when almost every high-end car manufacturer offered at least one in their line-up, but nowadays few cars can be commissioned with such an option (most of them SUVs). Audi plans to change all that, though.
The German car manufacturer still has a humongous 379 hp, 4.2-litre V8 diesel unit available for the luxurious A8 model, and, to make matters even more interesting, the company plans to introduce a brand-new unit with 400 horsepower on tap and 678 Nm of torque.
Car&Driver reports that the engine will make its debut along with the next-gen A8, sometime in early 2017; apparently, it will be potent enough to catapult the all-aluminum giant from 0 to 100km/h in “just over” 5 seconds.
Not only that, but the engine could be offered in VW’s group large SUV models (including the the upcoming SQ7) and the Porsche Panamera. The American magazine goes on saying it could even be sold in the next-generation Bentley Continental, but it’s a tough bet.
This could be the second high-performance diesel in Audi’s line-up, next to the electric supercharged V6 TDI, showcased in the RS5 TDI.
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