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Audi’s unparalleled success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 2000 and 2014 with 13 victories might have led to a road version of their winning prototype, much like the requirements of a bygone era. In 2013, Audi entertained the possibility of such a car, supposedly named “Project Scorpion,” giving us our first glimpse over a decade later.
august_horch_museum via Instagram
The scant details we have suggest that Skorpion was envisioned as a street-legal counterpart to the R18 TDI series, similar to other road adaptations like the 911 GT1 Strassenversion or Mercedes CLK-GTR. Aimed to be positioned above the R8 in Audi’s lineup, this tantalizing vehicle was to harness a 3.7-liter turbocharged diesel V6 with hybrid capabilities, marking a potential first in diesel hypercar history. Previously, Audi had toyed with the idea with the R8 V12 TDI concept, but it did not progress to production due to high costs.
Reports from Car and Driver in 2013 indicated that Audi contemplated producing just 333 of these unique vehicles. They imagined an engine producing 400 to 550 horsepower, routed to either all four wheels or merely the rear, as part of their ambitious project to offer their top-tier diesel technology to fortunate enthusiasts.
august_horch_museum via Instagram
The Skorpion’s design concept mirrored a compressed Le Mans prototype, distinct in its shortened base and solid, clean body, unlike the R18 known for its strategic air channels. The R18’s look was polarizing and had debatably declined by 2016, making the Skorpion’s appearance, by contrast, as stunning as a Lamborghini Miura.
This is how the Audi R18 looked by the end of its tenure, in 2016. Yuck. Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images
In 2013, the production concept of the diesel hypercar seemed to have been shelved once again. And it probably would not have survived the Dieselgate scandal that shook the Volkswagen Group in 2015 anyway. The Skorpion’s demise remains a sore point for fans and enthusiasts, but at least those who followed the decade-old rumors can now find some closure.
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FAQ Section
What was the Audi Skorpion?
The Audi Skorpion was a rumored street version of Audi’s R18 TDI series Le Mans prototype, which was planned but never produced.
How many Audi Skorpio units were supposed to be made?
Audi reportedly considered producing only 333 units of the Skorpion.
What engine would the Audi Skorpion have used?
It would have likely used a 3.7-liter turbocharged diesel V6 with hybrid power, generating between 400 and 550 horsepower.
Why did Audi not proceed with the Skorpion project?
High production costs and the Dieselgate scandal were likely factors in not proceeding with the Audi Skorpion.
Conclusion
In a nod to its prestigious racing pedigree, Audi once explored the idea of the Skorpion, a diesel-hybrid hypercar inspired by its victorious Le Mans prototypes. Despite the project’s eventual cancellation, the Skorpion remains a tantalizing ‘what if’ in the arena of automotive development, illustrating the ceaseless exploration of innovation and the barriers that sometimes stand in its way. If the Skorpion had reached the streets, it would have nestled itself into a niche of exclusivity, enshrining Audi’s racing legacy in a tangible, revolutionary product. Alas, enthusiasts can only imagine the roar and hum of its mighty yet unrealized engine.
