MotorAuthority

Audi rules out diesels, hybrids, and SUVs for RS lineup

Posted Thu Oct 9 2008 4:10 PM by James Martinez

Audi’s RS future lies in lighter vehicles and advanced transmissions

Mercedes Benz has offered a diesel model under its AMG label (in Europe at least) as well as a SUV, and BMW’s usually stringent M Division is currently working on a pair of new SUV models and has even hinted at installing a hybrid energy-recovery system in its future models, but the guys at quattro Gmbh won’t have any of that when it comes to Audi’s RS sports models.

Audi’s head of powertrain development, Wolfgang Hatz, has revealed in his latest interview the future plans for the RS models and the shortcomings of expanding into the SUV, hybrid and diesel segments.

Speaking with MotorTrend at the recent Paris Motor Show, Hatz explained that a traditional petrol-electric hybrid system would simply add too much weight because of the required batteries. As for an energy-recovery system like the KERS being developed for F1, Hatz states that it wouldn’t be worthwhile in a vehicle weighing three times as much as an F1 car. Furthermore, he adds that packaging it safely and conveniently in the engine compartment would be difficult.

Modern diesel engines, meanwhile, have shown that they can match their petrol equivalents when it comes to the performance stakes. Audi’s own R10 Le Mans racer has a number of titles under its belt. But putting a big V10 or V12 diesel engine, like the one in the recently revealed R8 TDI concept, would only be applicable in something like a Q7 RS model. However, Hatz is ultimately against adding a tall and heavy SUV to the RS lineup. He also started that a diesel engine's characteristics don't fit very well with those of the target RS buyer.

Instead, he sees more dual-clutch transmissions making their way across the RS range in the near future. There will be two different designs - dry clutches for lighter low, torque applications, and wet clutches in heavier, higher torque vehicles.

story Tags:

• Audi
• Audi quattro Gmbh
• Audi RS
• quattro
• quattro Gmbh
• RS

Reader Comments

• Thu Oct 9 2008 6:15 PM

  NoNameDenton says

  Their loss on diesels, Mercedes said they would do it

• Thu Oct 9 2008 8:32 PM

  SuperSkyline89 says

  Got nothing against Diesels or even SUVs, if I were to buy an SUV it would definitely be an AMG or the Porsche Cayenne. I don't care what I buy, if it ain't fast it ain't gonna be in any garage owned by me.
  
  But where the hell did they get the idea of a hybrid? RS and hybrid in the same sentence? That's just wrong.

• Fri Oct 10 2008 4:50 PM

  HECTOR says

  Hooray for Audi. There are some things that should remain sacrosanct for us pistonheads. The RS line is one of them.