# The Canceled Audi Skorpion: Unveiling a Diesel Le Mans Racer for the Road
## Introduction:
Audi’s dominance in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2000 to 2014 raised the possibility of a road car version of its winning prototype. The hypothetical “Project Scorpion” was rumored to bring Le Mans technology to the streets. Years later, a design study of this concept, known as the Skorpion, was revealed at the Horch Museum in Zwickau, Germany.
## The Unveiling:
The Skorpion design study showcased at the museum provides a glimpse of what could have been. Planned as a street-legal version of the R18 TDI series, positioned above the R8 in Audi’s lineup, the Skorpion was poised to be a diesel hypercar, a rare concept in the automotive world.
## The Vision:
The Skorpion was designed to house a powerful internal combustion engine generating between 400 and 550 horsepower, potentially powering all four wheels. The museum speculated that only 333 units would have been produced, aligning with its exclusive nature and lavish positioning.
## The Design:
The Skorpion bears a resemblance to Le Mans prototypes but with a more compact, muscular body, deviating from the R18′s intense aerodynamic features. Compared to some of Audi’s past racing designs, the Skorpion presents a more palatable aesthetic, evoking a sense of missed opportunity.
## Conclusion:
Though the Skorpion never materialized, its unveiling reignites the intrigue surrounding Audi’s ambitious diesel hypercar project. The legacy lives on in museum displays, leaving enthusiasts to wonder about its untapped potential.
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## FAQ
### What was the Skorpion designed to be?
The Skorpion was envisioned as a street-legal version of Audi’s R18 TDI series, aiming to translate Le Mans-winning technology into a road-legal hypercar.
### How many units of the Skorpion were planned for production?
The museum estimates that only 333 units of the Skorpion would have been manufactured, reflecting its exclusivity as a high-end, limited-production model.
### Why was the Skorpion concept ultimately canceled?
Despite initial plans and speculations, the dramatic turn of events like the VW Group’s Dieselgate scandal in 2015 likely contributed to the cancellation of the Skorpion project. This, along with potential cost considerations, may have led to its demise.
