What It Is: Audi's upcoming, race-bred hypercar, based directly on the R18 e-tron Quattro Le Mans racer that took victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year. Audi intends to use the new car, known internally as Scorpion, as a rolling showcase of the technologies the brand has developed throughout its racing endeavors. A design has yet to be finalized, but there are several proposals on the table, including a retro take on the future of racing as well as something that would closely resemble the R18. This rendering is our best interpretation of where the ongoing development of the car is at presently, following along the R18-inspired design that we understand to be favored within Audi.

Production of Scorpion likely will be limited to 333 units, as were the R8 GT and the A1 Quattro. That relatively low limited production run will save the company from the embarrassment of being unable to peddle all of its "limited" models, as has happened to Porsche with its Carrera GT and to Mercedes-Benz’s SLR McLaren.

Why It Matters: Scorpion will give Audi an instant presence in the ultra-high-performance segment, and its diesel-hybrid powertrain will sufficiently set it apart from the competition. It also serves as a morale booster for Audi's racing team and engineers, as well as the design department. On top of that, Scorpion will serve as a halo for diesel technology as a whole—something we’re sure Audi wouldn’t mind considering the number of TDIs that have been added to its lineup recently. The R8 V-12 TDI concept—had it been built—would’ve served a similar purpose, but probably came too early. Now, it would seem, the time is right.

Platform: Scorpion will be based on the architecture of the R18 race car. The centerpiece of the racer is a carbon-fiber monocoque, which has been reinforced using aluminum honeycomb. Audi will use as much of the structure as possible, but it’s likely that the monocoque will need to be modified for street use. Suspension and other chassis components will be made from aluminum to help save weight. The hypercar will receive advanced aerodynamics, which should assist in keeping the machine stable and tactile at speeds exceeding 200 mph.

Powertrains: This car's engine will be taken directly from the R18 e-tron Quattro and will be paired with a front-mounted hybrid module that’s yet to be specified. (Speculation of an upgraded version of Audi's more pedestrian 3.0-liter V-6 TDI residing underhood is inaccurate.) "It wouldn't make sense to use anything but the R18's racing engine in the Scorpion," a source at Audi tells us.

The R18’s 24-valve, 3.7-liter diesel is a V-6 situated at 120 degrees, and is fed by a single turbocharger. In race trim, this engine produces “more than” 500 horsepower and “more than” 625 lb-ft of torque, but its intakes are restricted. Output should be elevated for production to, say, 600 horsepower, plus the electric motor. When it’s all said and done, Scorpion should be capable of churning out more than 700 horsepower. The diesel will drive the rear wheels, while the fronts will be driven by the electric motor. We expect to see a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but that’s not finalized and there are other unknown (outside of the project, anyway) options on the table.

Competition: Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Porsche 918.

Estimated Arrival and Price: Scorpion remains roughly three years away from production, so don’t expect to plunk down a deposit until some time in 2016 or maybe even 2017. As far as how large of a deposit it’ll take to hold one, Audi has the sticker prices of McLaren’s P1 and Ferrari’s LaFerrari in its sights, so don’t expect anything less than a cool million.

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