Audi R8 TDI

The diesel version of Audi's new R8 sports car will arrive as a 2009 model, according to a new report. It will most likely make use of the 4.2L TDI V8 that powers the Audi Q7, according to Car and Driver.The news follows a statement by Wolfgang Hatz, Audi's executive director of powertrain development, indicating Audi was considering offering a diesel version of the R8. Hatz made the comments to Italy's Quattroruote magazine back in October 2006.While many enthusiasts assume a TDI (Turbocharged Direct Injection) R8 would come with the immensely powerful 500 horsepower V12 diesel motor from the R10 race car, C&D says the powerplant is too heavy for a small mid-engine sports car.A more logical choice, the magazine says, would be Q7's 4.2-liter V8. It makes 22 percent less power than the standard R8's gasoline engine, but produces a whopping 77 percent more torque. What's more, all that toque (561 lb-ft) arrives at 1800 rpm, rather than 4500 rpm. The diesel R8 would also offer 22 percent better fuel economy.

Audi R8 TDI due in 2009?

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Rear-Wheel Drive Pontiac G6 In 2010?

The next-generation Pontiac G6 will arrive earlier than expected, according to a new report. Based on GM's Alpha rear-wheel-drive platform for midsize cars, the new G6 should show up for the 2011 model year in late 2010.A recent report indicated the Alpha-based G6 might not arrive until 2013, but this latest information from Edmunds indicates the G6 will be the first car to use the new architecture.A successor to the front-drive Cadillac BLS will arrive a few months later, in early 2011, the report claims. Priced below the Cadillac CTS, the new BLS will be sold in North America, and should start in the high $20,000s.For the 2012 model year, Saturn will also get a new Alpha-based car. It will be offered in addition to the front-wheel-drive Aura, rather than as a replacement.Of course, many of GM's midsize cars will remain front-wheel-drive. The next Malibu will transition to the Epison 2 platform in late 2010, and the next Buick LaCrosse will also make use of the architecture, albeit a year earlier. Saab's next 9-5 and 9-3 will also be Epsilon-2 based, the report says.GM is believed to have previewed its Alpha platform with the Holden Torana concept (pictured) in 2004. Given the close relationship between GM Australia's Holden and America's Pontiac division, the next G6 will probably have a close counterpart at Holden.

Report: Rear-wheel-drive Pontiac G6 due in 2010

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Heading Over to Joe Gibbs Racing?

I just heard over on ESPN that Dale Jr. could be heading over to JGR within the next 14 days or so. Supposedly his sponsor will be Visa. Looks like Joe sticking by his guns and not allowing Budweiser to come with Jr. could pay off if this happens.

Even though J.J. Yeley had a strong 2nd-place finish at Lowes, I see Dale taking over the #18 ride. Whether JGR lets go of Yeley or makes a 4th team for him even though JGR says they do not plan on having a 4th team in 2008, this could well be his last season in the #18. Speaking of the #18, I wonder what will happen to Interstate Batteries. Nothing else much else I can say other than speculate along with millions of other people around the world.

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Ford RWD Sedan?

It appears that Ford has started importing some rear-wheel-drive prototypes from Australia into its U.S. engineering operations. The spies at KGP Photography caught this prototype for the next-generation Australian Ford Falcon at one of Ford's Detroit engineering centers, being unloaded from a shipping container.The packaging looks consistent with a car that has just made a trip across the ocean–in either a boat or a cargo plane.The appearance of this rear-wheel-drive prototype seems to support rumors that Ford is looking to Australia for much of its rear-wheel-drive future — a move eerily similar to GM's reliance on Holden to take the engineering lead on the Pontiac G8, Chevy Camaro, and the likely GTO and Impala spin-offs that are due to use GM's Zeta architecture.Ford's plans appear to be a little less locked-in than GM's, but some pundits say that the 2009-2010 Mustang may share some Aussie DNA. And if a rear-wheel-drive replacement for Ford's Crown Victoria is to come about, it will likely rely heavily on the new Falcon.On Ford's own media website, Australia's growing importance in Ford's global product plans was touted through a hopeful press release, which said: "An all-new Falcon model and future Territory models will form the basis of potential export opportunities for Ford Australia's globally competitive large rear-wheel drive vehicle platform…. The addition of left-hand drive engineering capability to our product development team will provide significant experience and assist us to develop a viable export program for our world class rear-wheel drive architecture."Something definitely appears to be stirring in Dearborn, and this Falcon prototype showing up in Detroit looks to be our first sign that things have progressed beyond mere talk.

Spied: Ford begins testing new RWD platform in America

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