{"id":271258,"date":"2016-04-21T16:49:55","date_gmt":"2016-04-21T16:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.supercars.net\/blog\/?p=271258"},"modified":"2024-12-27T12:54:48","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T12:54:48","slug":"2012-audi-r18-e-tron-quattro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/2012-audi-r18-e-tron-quattro\/","title":{"rendered":"2012 Audi R18 e-tron quattro"},"content":{"rendered":"

2012 Audi R18 e-tron quattro<\/h1>\n
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With Bosch as a technical partner, Audi Motorsport have prepared an electric hybrid version of the R18 Le Mans sport prototype (LMP1). This car is nearly identical to the 2WD version with an electric power recovery and deployment system on the front axle.<\/span><\/p>\n

During breaking a motor generator unit is used to power a electronic flywheel accumulator that sits close to the driver. After a corner, the rotational energy of the flywheel is transferred to the front wheels up to a 500 kJ maximum amount according to the regulations.<\/p>\n

Press Release.<\/h4>\n

Ingolstadt\/Munich, February 29, 2012 \u2013 Motor sport is used yet again by AUDI AG to pioneer new technology: the brand with the four ring\u2019s new Le Mans race car is the world\u2019s first LMP1 car to combine a highly-efficient TDI with a hybrid system. quattro drive also celebrates its comeback to the race track with the prototype \u2013 in a entirely new form.<\/p>\n

Ingolstadt\/Munich, February 29, 2012 \u2013 Motor sport is used yet again by AUDI AG to pioneer new technology: the brand with the four ring\u2019s new Le Mans race car is the world\u2019s first LMP1 car to combine a highly-efficient TDI with a hybrid system. quattro drive also celebrates its comeback to the race track with the prototype \u2013 in a entirely new form.<\/p>\n

Audi R18 e-tron quattro is the name of the new Le Mans prototype that makes its race debut on May 5 in the 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and fights for overall victory at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans (France) on June 16\/17. Audi unites two technologies in a fascinating way to create a new type of drive, which is also already being tested for future use in production cars: e-tron quattro.<\/p>\n

Hiding behind this description is the next generation four-wheel drive with which Audi combines the advantages of the proven quattro drive with the potential of electromobility. To this end one vehicle axle is powered conventionally, the second by electric motors.<\/p>\n

“Audi has always consciously selected championships and categories in racing that have a close relationship to production and therefore have technical relevance for the Audi customers,\u201d explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, who personally drove the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro onto the stage on Wednesday evening during its world premiere in the Audi Training Center at Munich airport \u2013 electrically and almost silent. “quattro, TFSI and TDI are three excellent examples of how motorsport has stimulated production development. A similar tendency is apparent with the e-tron quattro: we test a completely new technology on the race track before it\u2019s introduced to the Audi production line.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the Audi R18 e-tron quattro kinetic energy is recovered on the front axle during the braking phase. It is fed as electric into a flywheel accumulator before being retrieved under acceleration again above a speed of 120 km\/h. During this procedure only the front axle is integrated. The V6 TDI power plant producing 375 kW (510 hp) continues to transmit its power to the rear wheels. Both systems complement each other to create the new drive principle e-tron quattro.<\/p>\n

Project began in February 2010<\/h4>\n

The project e-tron quattro for motorsport started in February 2010. Only 18 months passed from the initial conceptual ideas to the first test. “This is a relatively short cycle for a technology that has never been tested in motorsport and which still doesn\u2019t even exist in production,\u201d stresses Dr. Martin M\u00fchlmeier, Head of Technology at Audi Sport. “The challenge is correspondingly big.\u201d<\/p>\n

Audi Sport developed the Audi R18 ultra in parallel to the Audi R18 e-tron quattro \u2013 because Audi takes a two-pronged approach this year in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the newly created FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) \u2013 the 2012 model year Audi R18 is built with and without hybrid drive. The trick: the base of both cars is completely identical, which is why the additional logistical effort is kept limited for Audi Sport and the race team.<\/p>\n

“The TDI engine invented by Audi is still the most efficient drive in the world,\u201d says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We are convinced that the TDI has even more potential. This is why Audi not only supports the hybrid in motorsport as it does in production, but in parallel also the further development of the conventional drive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Innovation in transmission area<\/h4>\n

The R18 e-tron quattro\u2019s twin brother more than lives up to its model name \u2018R18 ultra\u2019: it is the lightest Le Mans prototype that Audi Sport has ever built. To compensate for the additional weight of the hybrid system the subject of lightweight design and construction was the focus throughout development of the 2011 Le Mans race winning R18 TDI. In addition to the many detail optimizations there is also a genuine innovation in the transmission area: a new gearbox with a carbon-fiber composite housing was developed for the R18 \u2013 a premiere for endurance racing.<\/p>\n

“The new R18 ultra is a distinct evolution of last year\u2019s Le Mans race winning car,\u201d summarizes Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Our drivers\u2019 impressions were very positive from the first moment. Without the weight optimized R18 ultra we would have not been capable of realizing the R18 e-tron quattro which is absolutely identical with the exception of the hybrid system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Le Mans 2012: two R18 e-tron quattro and two R18 ultra<\/p>\n

Audi Sport Team Joest will field two R18 e-tron quattro and two R18 ultra prototypes in the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 16\/17. The two hybrid cars are driven by last year\u2019s winning trio Marcel F\u00e4ssler (CH), Andr\u00e9 Lotterer (D) and Beno\u00eet Tr\u00e9luyer (F) as well as Dindo Capello (I), Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB) who boast a total of 13 Le Mans wins between them. New signing Lo\u00efc Duval (F) starts together with Timo Bernhard (D) and Romain Dumas (F) in an R18 ultra as do Marco Bonanomi (I), Oliver Jarvis (GB) and Mike Rockenfeller (D).<\/p>\n

Audi Sport Team Joest also contests the World Championship round at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) on May 5 in the same formation. At the same time the race doubles as a dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only Mike Rockenfeller will miss this race due to a clashing date with the DTM.<\/p>\n

After the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi plans to enter an R18 e-tron quattro and an R18 ultra in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Andr\u00e9 Lotterer and Allan McNish have been nominated as the drivers so far.<\/p>\n

At the World Championship opener at Sebring (USA) on March 17, Audi Sport Team Joest relies on the proven R18 TDI from last year, which are driven by Marcel F\u00e4ssler\/Andr\u00e9 Lotterer\/Beno\u00eet Tr\u00e9luyer, Dindo Capello\/Tom Kristensen\/Allan McNish as well as Timo Bernhard\/Romain Dumas\/Lo\u00efc Duval.
\nStory by Audi Communications Motorsport<\/p>\n

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\r\n Audi R18 e-tron quattro\r\n <\/div><\/figure>
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\r\n Audi R18 e-tron quattro\r\n <\/div><\/figure>
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\r\n Audi R18 e-tron quattro\r\n <\/div><\/figure>
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\r\n \r\n\t\t\t\t\"Audi\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Audi R18 e-tron quattro\r\n <\/div><\/figure>
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\r\n \r\n\t\t\t\t\"Audi\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Audi R18 e-tron quattro\r\n <\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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In Detail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
type<\/td>\nRacing Car<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
built at<\/td>\nGermany<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
engine<\/td>\nV6 TDI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
position<\/td>\nMid, Longitudinal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
aspiration<\/td>\nTurbocharged<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
displacement<\/td>\n3700 cc \/ 225.79 in\u00b3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
engine designer<\/td>\nUlrich Baretzky<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
body \/ frame<\/td>\nCarbon Fiber Monocoque<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
driven wheels<\/td>\n4WD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
transmission<\/td>\n6-Speed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n