Audi’s latest V8 engine will be its last as the automaker moves towards electric drivetrains.
A company source told British magazine that the automaker’s latest V8 engine will be the “last of its kind” and that Audi foresees between 25 and 35 percent of its vehicles being electric by 2025. The source says it’s a matter of investment priorities.
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“It would be very difficult to justify the huge investment in another new V8 because of the cost of developing electric drivetrains and battery packs. You have to ask what is the best use of investment money,” the source told .
The diesel version of Audi’s latest V8 was recently debuted in the 2017 SQ7 TDI model. The powerplant is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter diesel V8 with 435 hp and 664 pound-feet of torque, making the SQ7 one of the most powerful diesels on the market. The engine will also be going into the second-generation Porsche Panamera.
It isn’t just Audi, though. There’s a trend in the industry to downsizing engines in order to meet ever-more stringent fuel-economy standards around the globe. Some automakers, such as Volvo and Peugeot, only offer four-cylinder engines as their top offerings. Automakers are shifting to turbo-powered V6s as well as hybrid drivetrains to deliver performance.
[Source: Autocar]
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