Audi unveils 2015 R18 e-tron quattro

Audi is starting the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Le Mans 24 Hours season with a thoroughly revised R18 e-tron quattro.
 
The fifth-generation Audi R18 is said to have double the amount of hybrid energy, the next step in lightweight design, revised aerodynamics and a lot of detailed work.

“The possibilities of the revolutionary regulations that have been in effect for LMP sports cars since 2014 are far from having been fully used. The rules harbour so much potential that there is room for future developments,” says Jörg Zander, Audi Sport’s new Head of Engineering.

“We expect that the technological progress resulting from the fierce competitive pressure exerted by four automobile manufacturers that are now involved will significantly improve lap times this season – while concurrently reducing fuel consumption.”

Visually, the new R18 e-tron quattro differs clearly from its predecessor, even though its basic structure is closely akin to the previous model. The fresh look results from a new way of conducting airflow around and through the front end, in the area of the sidepods and at the rear of the LMP1 prototype. Large air inlets in the front wheel arches reduce aerodynamic drag of the body and have led to an all-new design of the headlights. The lighting units feature Matrix LED technology combined with Audi Laserlight – two innovations that improve active safety in road traffic and that Audi customers can now order for their production models as well.

While Audi has adopted the monocoque – the central safety cell of the race car – from the previous model, the bonnet with the front wing and wheel arches features a new design. As this body element incorporates the crash structure, Audi performed a new crash test for the 2015 season. Modified airflow through the side pods with new radiator configurations for cooling the engine and the hybrid system further optimises aerodynamic drag. The engine cover, which encloses the unit even more tightly and notably tapers off behind the cockpit, contributes to this as well.

This year, Audi is again preparing two different body styles (high-downforce and low-downforce) for the various tracks on the FIA WEC calendar. In combination with an optimised chassis and in close cooperation with tyre partner Michelin, Audi has further improved the performance potential of its sports prototype this way.

Audi is also taking the next step in the area of energy recovery. The company is the only manufacturer to date to have won the Le Mans 24 Hours with hybrid sports cars. Since 2012, the R18 e-tron quattro has been unbeaten in the French endurance classic. For this year, the engineers have doubled the amount of energy from 2 to 4 megajoules per race lap at Le Mans. During braking, energy is recovered which the system subsequently feeds back to the front axle on acceleration.

The electrical system now delivers an output of more than 200 kW, which is a significant increase compared to last year. Therefore, Audi has increased the capacity of the energy storage system as well. The encapsulated flywheel energy storage system that sits in the cockpit alongside the driver can store up to 700 kilojoules of energy that it subsequently returns to the electrical machine – which is about 17 percent more than in 2014.

Despite these performance increases, Audi has achieved the minimum weight of only 870 kilograms – notably in what is currently the world’s most complex racing category. The improved hybrid output, however, results in a restriction for the internal combustion engine. According to the sporting regulations the fuel-energy amount has to be further reduced if the engineers opt for higher hybrid output. As a result, the R18 e-tron quattro has to make do with 2.5 percent less diesel fuel per lap than in 2014.

Not least for this reason, Audi has further developed the four-litre V6 TDI engine to optimise fuel consumption. Claimed to be the most efficient power-plant in the field, it now delivers 410 kW. Due to its optimised consumption, the developers have managed to more than compensate for the loss in output resulting from the reduced amount of fuel. As another new rule this year, only five engines per race car may be used during the entire season. The power-plant now delivering even greater fuel efficiency continues a major trend.