If you’re at all familiar with the Audi lexicon, little more than mention of the letter ‘S’ is needed to get your blood going. Audi’s range of S cars has a long and storied history at providing strong performance for those looking to go fast. However, no one ever said these cars weren’t thirsty for fuel, especially the modern examples with their plethora of cylinders. This begs the question, would it be possible for Audi to build a range of cars that might get the attention of performance freak and the environmentally concerned alike? The answer might surprise you, and there’d be no need to even mention the word ‘Hybrid’. At least there doesn’t have to be.

Before last September at the Frankfurt IAA when Audi added the word ‘Hybrid’ to its repertoire, Ingolstadt was already quite proficient in diesel technology – never mind the recently announced diesel-powered R10 racecar which should raise that proficiency even more. Between Ingolstadt and Audi’s parent Volkswagen AG, there’s no shortage of industry-leading diesel motors. Granted, their marketability in markets like the United States is still limited, but equipping them in more sport-minded cars would raise the awareness of diesel as a performance alternative, in Europe for now and eventually in the USA.

Look at the formula of the S-cars nowadays. Audi’s days of high-strung turbos in S-cars may be past at this point, and some may lament that fact. However, the current mix of S models remain strong GT offerings in each respective class. Drop a large displacement engine in a smaller car, add sport kit like wheels, suspension and seats and the result is what we all lust for at the Audi dealer or on the show stand.

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by: George Achorn