The Audi R10 would already be the Scorpion project with a V6 TDI of more than 500 horsepower

Over the last few months of last year we told you about a new diesel sports car from Audi, which threatened to arrive together with an electric motor, in a really interesting combination that would bring to the streets the powertrain of the cars from the World Endurance Championship of the brand with the rings. We are referring to the R10, about which we gave you the latest clues in December.

Some leaks placed the new car within the territory of none other than the McLaren P1, a statement that was perhaps too optimistic. New rumours that our colleagues at Car and Driver have brought to light now speak of “more than 500 horsepower” thanks to a new TDI V6 paired with a hybrid system about which not much is known.

The project has begun to be known in Audi’s internal circles as Scorpion, none other than a diesel supercar that will take up the baton from an old concept of the brand, the R8 TDI Le Mans Concept. But for the further delight of enthusiasts, none other than the R18 TDI e-tron Quattro will be the breeding ground for the Scorpion project. Let us recall that the competition engine produces more than 500 horsepower, although that figure is held back by the restrictions inherent in the technical regulations of Le Mans and the WEC. If we remove those restrictions, the power could be even greater.

On the other hand, this news would knock down the V6 3.0 version of Volkswagen, which would have equipped the R10/Scorpion and which may equip future diesel models of the same Audi, Porsche or Volkswagen. It seems the people at Audi want to do things in a big way and use the same competition engine for the brand’s road-going diesel sports car. Without a doubt, we will need to pay close attention to this and wait for future news.

Via | Car and Driver