With all the wild rumors flying around the blogosphere, it's hard to know what to believe anymore. And now after all the teases, limited media test drives, and concept "unveilings" of the R8 V12 TDI LeMans, now comes talk that if a diesel R8 is ever produced, there's a good likelihood it could "only" be a V8.

Now, the 4.2L TDI V8 just recently introduced in the Q7 SUV in Europe produces a healthy 326 horsepower and 561 lb./ft. of torque. That engine in the substantially lighter R8 would still make for a fun ride, but nothing like the 500 horsepower and 738 (757, depending on who you read) lb./ft. of torque from the mighty V12 diesel.

It seems the conundrum the Audi engineers ran into when trying to shoehorn the mammoth oiler into the back of the rear-engined sportster is that the engine bay was originally designed to fit a V8, maybe a V10. But the V12 proved to be a tighter squeeze than the engineers anticipated.

Well, boo-hoo. Suck it up and do it. You've strung us along this far, you can't backpedal now. Besides, if someone can afford the $110k for the gasser R8, the people that can afford to buy the TDI can pony up the $130-150k the V12 would probably cost. So do the necessary re-engineering to fit the V12.

It's easy for me as an armchair, penniless diesel enthusiast to ask a corporation to spend millions in development money to create a dream car I'll probably never be able to afford. But to win a LeMans victory, create a mouthwatering exotic concept, then say, "Well, we might not actually make it like that" is a big disappointment to your fans. If it's at all possible or conceivable, give us the whole schnitzel, all 6.0 liters and zwölf zylinderen of it.