It’s been a good 2014 for Audi->ke14. The company is on pace to sell 1.6 million cars this year, a record-breaking number that has come closer and closer to threatening BMW->ke178’s top sales numbers. But Audi isn’t just settling for the sales title. It also wants to continue to be on the cutting edge of innovation, something Audi boss Rupert Stadler brushed on when he announced plans to launch RS-badged high-performance diesel models in the future, possibly as soon as the end of the decade.
The company is optimistic that it already has the applications to transition the technology from concept form into production. Remember, the RS5 TDI concept showed that it was possible to slap an e-turbo-diesel engine into an Audi without compromising the car’s performance capabilities.
Stadler understands that the key in achieving that goal is to take a step-by-step process on piecing together the tools and technology->ke1701 needed to make it work on a production model.
You can count on Audi to always be at the forefront of innovation. The German automaker thrives on being in that position, and when you give it incentive to succeed, you can bet that it's going to pull out all the stops to make it happen.
Click past the jump to read more about Audi's future diesel plans.
Why It Matters
With this announcement, Audi is once again looking ahead to bringing high-performance diesel cars into the market with a range-topping, limited-edition model.
“We can't do everything at the same time, but I could imagine such a car,” Stadler said, referring to a high-powered diesel R8. “We've shown at Le Mans that a diesel car with the right balance of power and torque can be a winning combination on the track.”
If Audi successfully transfers that Le Mans->ke1591 technology into a new line of high-performance diesel models, you can bet that it's going to once again redefine what has become a continuously evolving premium market.
Audi RS5 TDI Concept
The Audi RS5 TDI Concept was introduced last May to showcase the company's new, 3.0-liter, TDI engine fitted with e-boost.
On the outside, the RS5 TDI Concept is basically identical to the regular, gasoline-powered coupe. The concept’s body is adorned by red and black stripes, while the front spoiler lip and the rear diffuser feature bright-red accents. Again, standard RS5 goodies.
What separates the RS5 TDI Concept though is its new, 3.0-liter, TDI engine fitted with e-boost. This new engine technology, specifically the electric turbo, seeks to reinvent the way the car unleashes its torque figures by eliminating turbo lag using small electric motors to spin the turbines at lower rpms..
There aren't a lot of automakers that are in this specific stage of development, so it's safe to assume that Audi is once again leading the charge toward another technological advancement in the auto industry.