General Description of the car itself

AUDI R18 E-TRON QUATTRO 2015

General description

Audi would revise their R18 e-tron quattro. Audi chose to upgrade the prototype to the 4MJ hybrid output class from the 2MJ. Although the 2015-spec car is a car that resembles the previous year's model, the aerodynamics been altered. The new aerodynamic package allowed for airflow through and around the front end, through the side panels, and at the rear of the car with the diffuser. The monocoque remains unchanged from last year, but there is modified sidepod airflow with new radiator configurations in the monocoque structure to not only aid in necessary engine cooling, but to cut down on the created drag from the openings. The engine cover at the rear of the car is slimmer, so the car can cut through the air more efficiently. The headlights have been updated with Audi Matrix LED and Laserlight technologies. With the increased megajoule output, the electrical hybrid machine in the front axle produced more 272 BHP, which recovers energy during braking. The flywheel (in passenger side of the car) can store up to 700 kilojoules of energy. The 4.0 liter V6 engine has been further developed to produce 558 BHP, with better-optimized fuel consumption, despite a reduction in the regulations for a lower fuel capacity. The prototype weighs in at 870 kg.

Audi chose to run car numbers #7, #8, and #9 for the 2015 season. The #7 and #8 entries would be full-time entries and the #9 car would only be utilized for the second and third rounds, at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans. The #7 would be driven by André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer, and Marcel Fässler. The #8 car would be driven by Oliver Jarvis, Lucas Di Grassi, and Loïc Duval. The limited round entry of the #9 car would be driven by Marco Bonanomi, Filipe Albuquerque, and René Rast. The #9 car would be only eligible for manufacturer points at Le Mans, while the drivers would be able to receive points based on finishing position for each race they raced.

lap on Spa-Francorchamps done with the #9 Audi e-tron Quattro from 2015

Audi R18 Engine

ENGINE SPECS

The car’s power unit produces in excess of 1,000bhp with a combination of a four litre V6 mono turbo diesel engine and front axle mounted motor generator unit – kinetic (MGU-K aka KERS). From a internal combustion engine development stand point the V6 is particularly impressive, a combination of rule changes and an increase in the potency of the hybrid system on the car it has a much smaller fuel energy allocation than it did in 2015.

The current V6 TDI consumes 32.4 percent less fuel than the first generation did in 2011. This progress is even more substantial in comparison with the original Audi R10 diesel engine, the current engine uses 46.4 percent less fuel at Le Mans. Still, it achieves lap times that are ten to 15 seconds better than a decade ago.

The basic concept of the V6 TDI engine dates to 2011. With its double-flow VTG mono turbocharger, 120-degree cylinder bank angle, the exhaust gas side within the V angle, and innovative detailed solutions the unit tends to be regarded as unusual. The initial displacement volume of 3.7 liters increased to four liters in 2014. “We’re now using the basic engine concept for the sixth consecutive year. This shows how sound the basic idea still is,” says Ulrich Baretzky. “Due to efficiency increases, we partially compensate for the lower amount of fuel.”