Makers of supercars prefer to have them run on petrol. It puzzles many people who wonder whether any supercars have ever been made to run on diesel. Perhaps you would like to know which ones are those.
Although petrol supercars are more common, some car makers have made diesel supercars—models like Audi S5, JCB Dieselmax, and the Trident Iceni. The Mercedes Benz C111-IID, the world’s first diesel supercar, was also released in 1976.
Few people believe there have ever been supercars that run on diesel when anyone talks about a supercar. Read on to discover why you may invest in a diesel car and some of the diesel supercars ever made.
Why Drive A Car That Runs On Diesel?
Before we dive into some of the supercars that use diesel, it’s good first to understand why anyone would consider investing in a diesel car in the first place.
Fuel Efficiency
Diesel cars are more efficient than those that run on petrol in the long run. You generally use 15% to 20% less fuel when driving a diesel car. This contributes to significantly lower running costs in the long run.
Better Long-Distance Performance
A diesel car is best paired with an automatic transmission. This is because diesel cars offer significantly lower speed torque than petrol cars. It makes diesel cars more suitable for long journeys and driving on the motorway.
Enjoy More Mileage
Diesel cars are more fuel efficient compared to petrol cars. A diesel car is about 25% to 30% better regarding fuel economy. So, you get more fuel to drive extra miles. You will save much more fuel costs when driving a diesel car.
No Engine Tuneups
It’s worth buying a diesel car since they don’t need distributors or spark plugs. So, you don’t have to worry about engine tuneup. This is a great benefit if you rarely have time to inspect your car.
Improved Durability
Another wonderful benefit of investing in a diesel car is improved durability. So, diesel cars tend to have a longer lifespan and better resale value. You can easily sell your car at a good profit if it runs on diesel rather than petrol.
What Are Some Of The Diesel Supercars That Were Made?
After knowing why to invest in a diesel car, here are some examples of diesel supercars that have ever been made.
Mercedes Benz C111-IID
This was the first supercar to run on diesel. After the 1973 boycott of oil-producing countries, engineers in 1976 decided to give C 111-II a diesel engine. This low-consumption engine had five cylinders and produced 190 hp thanks to its intercooler and turbocharging.
The car was released and painted bright orange to make some record-breaking drives. This Mercedes Benz made an impressive performance at the Nardo circuit, Northern Italy, reaching an average speed of 253.770 km/h in 1976.
No one believed a diesel car would deliver such performance. The car went on to break nine records. Additionally, the fuel consumption of this car was an impressive 14.7 mpg (imp) in 12 hours.
Trident Iceni
On its release, it was presumed to be the fastest diesel supercar in the world. The car delivers incredible performance and speed. This is through exceptional fuel efficiency thanks to the manufacturer’s torque manipulation technology.
The British company behind this car is based in Norfolk and launched this beautiful, unique sports car with another model, the Iceni Magna. This supercar boasts a 6.6-liter Duramax V8 to output 430 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque.
JCB Dieselmax
This supercar is a strong contender to the Iceni. A streamliner diesel engine powers the JCB to deliver record-breaking speed. This car holds the diesel land speed record at 350.092 mph, achieved by Andy Green, an RAF Wing Commander, in 1996.
The record-breaking diesel car has other specialty-tuned JCB 444 power plant variants. A twin-turbo intercooler and after-cooled five-liter four-cylinder engine capped at 3,800 rpm. All produce 751 horsepower, which is five times better than the output from the production variant.
Audi S5
The stylish sporty car is available in three-door and five-door Sportback models. Apart from its S5’s 3.0-liter V6 bi-turbo diesel engine giving it exceptional fuel economy, the vehicle is a flexible performer.
Its 48-volt electrical system powers the electric compressors. This works with the standard turbocharge to output 345bhp and 516lb-ft of shove. The car has an electric sound generator to make the diesel engine sound like a petrol V8 engine.
BMW M340d
The BMW M340d Touring has a practical estate body and an inline-six diesel engine. This engine will shock you with its straight-line pace and 50mpg output. You can reach 0-62mph time in 4.8 seconds.
This car impressively picks up speed to give you the feeling of a 500bhp+ car. The turbo diesel engine in this car sounds like a petrol engine. Its 3.0-liter diesel engine can push the vehicle from 0-60mph to 155mph in just 4.6 seconds.
Why Do Some Car Makers Prefer Producing Petrol Supercars?
Petrol is the first choice for many car manufacturers when producing supercars because of the reasons highlighted below:
- Production of more power per kilogram
- Exceptional power-to-weight ratio
- Petrol engines are lighter and produce more power
- Higher thermal efficiency of the petrol motor
If you’ve been wondering whether diesel supercars existed before reading this article, you know the answer by now. Car makers like Audi and Mercedes Benz have tried their luck to produce diesel supercars, which were successful.
