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.”